Tomoko Igata

Tomoko Igata is a Japanese former professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer, born on 30 October 1965, who competed in the Grand Prix world championships from 1992 to 1995. She was the second full-time female rider in Grand Prix history after Taru Rinne. After finishing in the top ten of the 125cc All Japan Road Race Championship every year from 1991 to 1993, she made her Grand Prix debut as a wild card at Suzuka in 1992, finishing 20th on a treacherous wet track. In 1994 she raced the full 125cc season for the FCC Technical Sports team on a Honda RS125, and in 1995 she reached a best finish of seventh at the Czech Grand Prix, the highest placing for a woman in the history of the championship. In 2016 she was named an FIM Legend, the first Japanese rider to receive the honor, and she is the sister of pioneering racer Mari Igata.