Display Honoring the Flying Finn: Jarno Saarinen

Honoring Finnish racer and 1972 250cc World Champion Jarno Saarinen at the Finnish embassy in Tokyo

Place: Tokyo, Japan
Date: April 14, 2019

At the “Feel Finland” event held to not only celebrate 100 years of diplomatic relations between Finland and Japan, but also to deepen the friendship and understanding between the two countries, Yamaha Motor put up a display honoring the legacy of Jarno Saarinen, a Finnish motorcycle racer held in great esteem by both Yamaha and Japanese racing fans, and a racing hero still widely known today in Finland.

Saarinen was the 1972 250cc World Champion and the first Finn to win a world title. His widow Soili was invited to Japan for the event, where Yamaha Motor President Yoshihiro Hidaka gave a nearly 50-year-old album containing photos of her and Saarinen to her with his heartfelt thanks.
For more on Jarno Saarinen:
Debut win in the GP500! Memories of Saarinen
https://global.yamaha-motor.com/race/wgp-50th/column/vol12/

Saarinen takes the championship title
https://global.yamaha-motor.com/race/wgp-50th/race_archive/season1970_79/1972/

Champions: Jarno Saarinen
https://global.yamaha-motor.com/race/wgp-50th/race_archive/riders/jarno_saarinen/