Tohru UKAWA-HRC Rider(2002)
Born in the small town of Chiba, Japan, where most people were fanatic about soccer and baseball, Tohru Ukawa grew up with a special passion for motorcycles and races. With only ten years of age, he went into his first competitions aboard a 30 cc minibike..
With 16, Ukawa rode his first race on a 250 cc street production bike, crowning himself the Japanese Junior Champion two years later. Another year later he moved up to the prestigious All Japan Championship under the wing of Honda, the company he has been with since the very beginning of his career.
The HRC rider is an educated gentleman, very friendly, with a love for sports cars and for the quiet life that his hometown has to offer.
After five seasons in the 250cc category, which awarded him with one vice-championship, two fourth and two fifth places in the final classification.
And last year, Ukawa went into his first 500 season as the team mate of Alex Criville in team Repsol YPF Honda.
Now the Japanese rider goes into new motoGP class with the new four-stroke machine[RC211V].
His team mate is Valentine ROSSI.
At 28 years of age, Ukawa rode 77 GP´s in the 250 class, collecting 29 podiums, four victories, 15 second and ten third places along the way. Last year he rode 16 GP's in the first 500 class, he was the first podium in South AfricaGP(3rd). In his first ever Grand Prix as a wild card rider, the GP of Japan in 1994, Ukawa took third place behind Okada and Capirossi. One year later and still as a wild card entry, the brave Japanese went down, and so did many of his colleagues, as the real winner of this race was a torrential rainstorm.
In 1996, Ukawa started his first full 250 cc Grand Prix season. Until this moment, the HRC rider had showed outstanding talent and had surprised the Grand Prix world with thrilling action as a wild card rider.
After taking three titles in the All Japan Championship in 1993, 1994 and 1995 with Honda (followed later by three victories in the 8 Hours of Suzuka, 1997 with Shinichi Itoh, 1998 with Itoh again, and 2000 with Katoh), it was time for HRC to reward Ukawa for his efforts and for his results with the participation in the 250 world championship.
His over-aggressive riding-style threw him off his bike at various races that year, but he still took third place on the podium in Imola and a fine fifth place in the overall world championship classification.
In 1997, Ukawa had overcome his ups and downs of the previous season to now show a consistency that rewarded him with fifth in the championship once again. Out of 16 GP’s he didn’t finish in only three races, and in only two Grands Prix he finished behind fifth position. He was second in Japan and Indonesia, and he took third in Imola, Brazil and Catalunya, meeting all the hopes and expectations Honda had set for him in his second full world championship season.
In 1998, Tohru Ukawa took two second places in Malaysia and Madrid, finishing fourth overall in a difficult and complicated season.
1999 was a good year for Ukawa. With two victories, six second places and three thirds, Tohru Ukawa took the vice-championship behind Valentino Rossi. This good result alongside with his consistency - he took points in all Grands Prix but one made him a clear title favourite for 2000.
But the new season didn’t go as well as Ukawa had hoped for.
Even though he won in France and Holland, he took second places in Japan, Catalunya, Germany, the Czech Republic and Brazil, an even though he was in the title hunt until the last race, the competition with Jacque, Nakano and Katoh was too fierce. Ukawa´s crashes in Malaysia and Portugal finally cost him the points he needed to achieve his goal, and he had to settle for another fourth place in the final classification.
Last year his move up to the 500´s in team Repsol YPF Honda allowed him to ride in the highest category with all the technical support necessary, and with all the experience of a team that had won six world titles in the past seven years. He rode 16 GP's in the first 500 class, he was the first podium in South AfricaGP(3rd).
Tohru Ukawa will go out new motoGP class with the new four-stroke machine[RC211V].
"I fell many times last year and ended the season again with a result that, allow me to use a common phrase, I am not proud of. This year, I will renew my challenges by participating in MotoGP class under the new regulations riding the four-stroke RC211V.
We have already completed many tests and I am certain that the machine excels over last year's in everything including handling and engine power. RC-V is a very smooth easy-to-ride machine, and I've been enjoying testing it so much that I can hardly wait for the next season to open.
I take that the fact that I am where I am in spite of last year's results is because everyone believes in my potential. I will be making every effort this year in the hope that I can meet those expectations."said Ukawa.
Height 169cm
Weight 59kg
Hobbies Watching movies, driving cars, riding bikes(CBR600F4i, FORZA) and playing baseball
Food Every things
Career(WGP) Grand Prix contested in total 250cc:77 500cc:16
First Grand Prix 1994 JPN 250cc
First pole position 1999 CAT 250cc
First race fastest lap 1999 JPN 250cc
First podium 1994 JPN 250cc(3rd places)
First Victory 1999 FRA 250cc
Victories in total 250cc:4
2nd places 250cc:15
3rd places 250cc:10 500cc:1
Podiums 250cc:29 500cc:1
Pole positions 250cc:2 500cc:1
Race fastest laps 250cc:2 500cc:1
[Modificato da offalcon 14/06/2004 3.07]