Yu Hirata adds to Yamaha assault
Saturday 25 January: This is the 'official' release from Yamaha-Motor NZ.
Yu Hirata during the All Japan Motocross IA1 Championships in
2013. Copy and image courtesy of Chris Ritchie Foto.
Japanese factory Yamaha rider, Yu Hirata, has arrived in New Zealand
to prepare for his 2014 assault on the All Japan Motocross IA1 (MX1)
title.
Hirata, from Aichi Japan, finished third in his national
championship in 2013 with the tightly contested title going down to the final
race at Sugo; the former World MX Grand Prix circuit located in northern
Japan.
Under the watchful eye of World MX GP legend, Josh Coppins,
29-year-old Hirata will train and ride in New Zealand on the all-new YZ450F
alongside Altherm JCR Yamaha’s MX1 rider Billy Mackenzie, defending New
Zealand MX2 Champion Scott Columb and MX125 title contender, Logan
Blackburn.
"I’m grateful to the Yamaha staff in Europe and
Japan, and also to Josh for this opportunity” said Hirata. "It’s an
honour to learn from one of the best in World.”
Hirata will get
his first taste of racing in New Zealand when he lines up to compete in the
MX1 class at the prestigious New Zealand International Motocross Grand Prix
to be held at Woodville this weekend.
Following the Woodville GP,
Hirata will then hit the road with Altherm JCR Yamaha team and contest the
opening two rounds of the 2014 New Zealand Motocross Nationals – starting
in Timaru on
8 February, before heading to Tokoroa on
23 February.
The concentrated effort in New Zealand will put Hirata in fine form for
when he returns to Japan to make final preparations ahead of his 10-round
domestic Championship that kicks off in April.
"I’m really
looking forward to racing in New Zealand, great to be here, it is a very nice
place,” says Hirata. "I have heard the riders are fast here, so that will
be good for me.
"I will be here riding and training for one
month with Josh and then I will return back to Japan for the All Japan
Championship.
"I’m grateful to the Yamaha staff in Europe and
Japan for organising this for me, and also to Josh for this opportunity,”
finishes Hirata.
Hirata has been a frontrunner in his homeland
over the past few seasons and a regular contender for race wins. He will be
eager to maximise the opportunity to train in NZ and build on his strengths
with local master, Coppins.
A preseason build-up in NZ will be the
ideal springboard for Hirata to gain an advantage over his rivals back
home.