Makoto Tamada
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Makoto Tamada (玉田誠) is a motorcycle racer from Japan, born November 4, 1976 in Ehime Prefecture. For 2007 he joins the Tech 3 Yamaha team in MotoGP, alongside French rider Sylvain Guintoli [1]. He is one of the few riders to win races in both MotoGP and World Superbike. He lists his favourite food as meat, and his favourite hobby as darts.
[edit] Early years
After a junior career in minibikes, he won a regional 250cc championship in 1994. He then spent 4 years in the main Japanese 250cc series, finishing 4th on a private bike in 1998. He entered the All-Japan Superbike series in 1999. He finished in the championship top 5 for the next 4 years, but came to international fame as a wild card in the World Superbike series at Sugo, upsetting the regulars to win both races in 2001, and a further race in 2002.
[edit] MotoGP
This helped earn him a call up to MotoGP in 2003, for Sito Pons' team, with Pramac sponsorship in 2003 and Camel a year later. The first season was a learning year, peaking with a 3rd place at Rio and two front row starts, finishing 11th overall. 2004 was his strongest MotoGP season to date, with wins at Rio and Estoril and 6th overall. He was the only Honda rider to use Bridgestone tyres, which appear to suit his style.
The Konica Minolta Honda team was formed in late 2004 with him in mind, and he spent 2 years therem now using Michelin rubber. Unfortunately a broken wrist sustained early in the season [2]prevented him from reaching the championship top 10, although he did finish 3rd at his home race. He was also short of top results in 2006. At the Sachsenring he ran 3rd early on, and was still in the top 6 when he went out wide to avoid Kenny Roberts Jr crashing, only to be hit by the American's riderless bike.
