Kazuto Sakata

Kazuto Sakata is a Japanese former professional motorcycle racer, born on 15 August 1966 in Kōtō, Tokyo, who competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing from 1991 to 1999. He is notable as a two-time FIM 125cc world champion. After finishing second to Dirk Raudies in the 125cc class in 1993 on a Honda, he became the first Japanese rider to race for a European factory when he signed with Aprilia in 1994, and repaid the team by winning that year's title. He repeated as champion in 1998 after a tight points battle with Tomomi Manako and Marco Melandri, and retired after the 1999 season. He now coaches the next generation of riders as principal of the MFJ Road Race Academy.