The future of Grand Prix racing?
Kawasaki Team Manager, Harald Eckl, together with rider, Shinya Nakano, took time out from their busy test schedule at Catalunya to welcome one of Japan`s young Grand prix hopefuls to the Kawasaki pit box.
14-year-old Takaaki Nakagami is one of the young riders who are selected each year for training at the Japanese Grand Prix Academy, which was founded to develop and nurture Japan`s Grand Prix stars of the future.

Nakagami was particularly interested to meet Shinya Nakano, not just because the Kawasaki star is currently the leading Japanese rider in MotoGP, but also because the pair are almost neighbours, with both living in the city of Chiba. In fact, the two riders have met before on a number of occasions as, like Nakano, Nakagami started his racing career on pocket bikes and was one of the leading contenders in the Shinya Nakano Cup before stepping up to full size racing machines.

Open only to Japanese youngsters on pocket racing bikes, the Shinya Nakano cup was the 28-year-old Kawasaki rider`s way of putting something back into the sport, and the development of young talent, following his elevation to the MotoGP class.

"There are fewer Japanese riders in MotoGP that before, so initiatives like the Grand Prix Academy are important if we are to ensure that a Japanese presence in the premier class is maintained, and even increased, in the future," declared Nakano.

"This is why I sponsor the Shinya Nakano pocket bike cup in Japan, to try and help young riders right at the start of their career. I remember Nakagami-kun when he was racing pocket bikes in this championship, and it is good to see he has now secured himself a place with the Japanese Grand Prix Academy."

"I think I will have to keep a close eye on Nakagami-kun in the future; if only to make sure he doesn`t have his eyes on my job," joked the Kawasaki rider.

"MotoGP is a truly global championship, but it is only through initiatives such as the Grand Prix academy that countries can develop the future stars of racing`s premier class," commented Kawasaki Team Manager, Harald Eckl. "Hopefully, at some point in the future, we will see young Takaaki Nakagami again in the Grand Prix paddock, but as a competitor rather than a spectator."

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