In the Name of Daijiro Kato: The 74 Daijiro Cup Launches Tomorrow's Champions

Twenty-two years after his tragic passing, Daijiro Kato’s legacy to Japanese motorcycling is priceless.

Many young compatriots decided to race precisely because they were inspired by the unforgettable 2001 250cc World Champion— including those who, as in the case of Ai Ogura, for mere age reasons could only appreciate him through stories and dedicated DVDs. Kato’s legacy, however, goes far beyond that.

As a World Champion and MotoGP rider, Daijiro Kato always focused his attention on the very young. When he returned to Japan, he often personally attended minimoto races (in the Land of the Rising Sun they’re called "Pocket Bikes"), to the point that there are photos of him alongside a very young Takaaki Nakagami and the late Shoya Tomizawa. Daijiro always wanted to help children race motorcycles, a wish that was fulfilled even after his premature passing.

Delta Enterprise, the company that still manages the merchandising of Daijiro Kato and numerous Japanese riders who are now stars of the World Championship, decided back in 2003 to launch a championship in his honor and in his name: the 74 Daijiro Cup. It is a single-make minimoto series with affordable costs (4,000 yen, equal to 20 euros for entry to each race plus 8 euros for insurance coverage), held mainly at the Akigase facility. Two classes are provided: "Normal" (for children weighing under 40 kg racing on 30cc minimotos, otherwise 40cc) and "Open" (minimoto of choice based on needs).

With these minimotos expressly developed for the 74 Daijiro Cup, many Japanese riders who are now starring on the world stage have come up through the ranks over the 23 seasons held so far. Standing out among them are Ayumu Sasaki and Taiyo Furusato, both expected to line up in the 2026 Moto2 World Championship after racing and winning in Moto3. The 74 Daijiro Cup also featured Ryusei Yamanaka, Tatsuki Suzuki, plus three riders who built careers in production-derived series and beyond: Tetsuta Nagashima (now under contract with Honda HRC), Hikari Okubo (who has also competed in Supersport and MotoE), and Ryo Mizuno, who delivered Ducati’s first successes with Team Kagayama in All Japan Superbike. A list that reaffirms the value of a series that works and, no less importantly, fulfilled the wish of the late Daijiro Kato.