Shinya Nakano

Shinya Nakano is a Japanese retired Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Superbike rider, born in Tokyo on 10 October 1977 and raised in Chiba. He is not related to the former Formula One driver Shinji Nakano. He became All-Japan 250cc champion in 1998 and moved to international competition full time in 1999, finishing fourth overall in the 250cc Grand Prix class that year with five podium finishes. In 2000 he and his Tech 3 teammate Olivier Jacque battled Daijiro Kato for the title, which went to Jacque, and he set the fastest 250cc lap at Motegi, a record that stood until 2008. He moved up with Tech 3 to the 500cc class in 2001, finished fifth in the championship and won the Rookie of the Year award. He later rode for Kawasaki, Konica Minolta Honda and Fausto Gresini's team in MotoGP.