Kazuto Sakata

Kazuto Sakata
Kazuto Sakata at the 1994 Japanese GP
NationalityJapanese
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years1991 - 1999
First race1991 125cc Japanese Grand Prix
Last race1999 125cc Argentine Grand Prix
First win1993 125cc Spanish Grand Prix
Last win1998 125cc British Grand Prix
Team(s)Honda, Aprilia
Championships125cc - 1994, 1998
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
126 11 41 29 19 687

Kazuto Sakata (坂田 和人, born August 15, 1966 in Kōtō, Tokyo) is a Japanese former professional motorcycle racer. He competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing from 1991 to 1999. Sakata is notable being a two-time F.I.M. 125cc world champion.

Motorcycle racing career

Sakata began his Grand Prix career in 1991 and by the 1993 season, finished second to Dirk Raudies in the 125cc class on a Honda. In 1994, he became the first Japanese rider to race for a European factory when he signed with the Aprilia factory. He repaid them by winning the 125cc championship that year. He repeated as champion in 1998 after a tight points battle with Tomomi Manako and Marco Melandri. He retired after the 1999 season.

Motorcycle Grand Prix results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Class Team Machine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pos Pts Wins
1991 125cc ELF Kepla-Meiko Honda RS125 JPN
Ret
AUS
16
USA
ESP
DNS
ITA
Ret
GER
10
AUT
Ret
EUR
14
NED
11
FRA
7
GBR
8
RSM
8
CZE
Ret
VDM
MAL
2
13th 55 0
1992 125cc F.C.C./T.S. Venus-Honda RS125 JPN
Ret
AUS
Ret
MAL
6
ESP
4
ITA
Ret
EUR
GER
Ret
NED
6
HUN
7
FRA
4
GBR
6
BRA
14
RSA
Ret
11th 42 0
1993 125cc F.C.C. Technical Sports-Honda RS125 AUS
2
MAL
2
JPN
2
ESP
1
AUT
2
GER
2
NED
2
EUR
Ret
RSM
2
GBR
2
CZE
1
ITA
2
USA
2
FIM
3
2nd 266 2
1994 125cc Semprucci-Aprilia RS125R AUS
1
MAL
2
JPN
2
ESP
1
AUT
5
GER
2
NED
4
ITA
2
FRA
3
GBR
4
CZE
1
USA
Ret
ARG
9
EUR
7
1st 224 3
1995 125cc Team Krona-Aprilia RS125R AUS
2
MAL
10
JPN
3
ESP
6
GER
Ret
ITA
5
NED
4
FRA
12
GBR
1
CZE
1
BRA
Ret
ARG
Ret
EUR
4
2nd 140 2
1996 125cc Aprilia RS125R MAL
10
INA
14
JPN
Ret
ESP
5
ITA
3
FRA
8
NED
7
GER
11
GBR
5
AUT
9
CZE
4
IMO
12
CAT
3
BRA
11
AUS
Ret
8th 113 0
1997 125cc Aprilia RS125R MAL
2
JPN
2
ESP
7
ITA
6
AUT
6
FRA
Ret
NED
3
IMO
3
GER
Ret
BRA
5
GBR
Ret
CZE
9
CAT
2
INA
2
AUS
2
4th 179 0
1998 125cc Aprilia RS125R JPN
1
MAL
6
ESP
1
ITA
4
FRA
1
MAD
4
NED
2
GBR
1
GER
7
CZE
2
IMO
4
CAT
9
AUS
4
ARG
5
1st 229 4
1999 125cc Honda RS125 MAL
10
JPN
8
ESP
13
FRA
9
ITA
8
CAT
7
NED
10
GBR
13
GER
19
CZE
Ret
IMO
Ret
VAL
12
AUS
13
RSA
15
BRA
17
ARG
Ret
14th 56 0

References