Fumio Ito

Born October 1939. In 1955, rode a 250 in the first Asama Highlands Race. Won race victory at the age of just 16 and feted as a young prodigy. The following year, joined the Yamaha team but temporarily switched to auto racing when the second Asama Volcano Race was postponed. In 1957, signed with Yamaha again and raced (DNF) in the second Asama Volcano Race in the 250cc class. In 1958, entered his first overseas race and took 6th place in the 8th Catalina Island GP (USA).

Subsequently, in 1960 raced in the World GP500 with the support of a BMW dealership in Japan (secured 6th place in the curtain-raiser French GP). From 1961, when the Yamaha Team entered its first World GP, Ito raced as a Yamaha Team rider in both the 250cc and 125cc classes. Achieved a ranking of 9th in the 250cc class. Then, in 1963, won the 250cc class in the US GP at Daytona, an independent event. In addition, brought Yamaha its first victory at a World GP (the Belgium GP) and achieved a placing of 3rd in the 250cc class. However, in 1964 when expected to finish as champion, he crashed and sustained an injury in the 500cc class of the Malaysia GP (independent event) prior to the World GP curtain-raiser. As a result, he only raced twice in the US and Japan (recording a DNF in both). With this he ended his active racing career. Died in 1991.