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Kazuki Watanabe raced to a double podium at the opening round of the All Japan Road Race Championship at Mobility Resort Motegi.
After finishing second in both JSB1000 qualifying sessions, Watanabe raced to second in the opening race and then took another podium with third position in the second race.
Watanabe, who was part of Endurance World Championship-winning Yoshimura SERT Motul in 2021, has joined the new Yoshimura Suzuki Ridewin team to compete in the hotly-contested Japanese series.
Team Director Yohei Kato decided to make a comeback to the All Japan Championship JSB1000 this season, and still Team Director of the EWC Yoshimura Suzuki Endurance Racing Motul team.
He put former Suzuki MotoGP, World Superbike Japanese Superbike and Suzuki test rider Yukio Kagayama in charge of managing the team. Before the race, the long-time Suzuki rider was honoured by his team and various riders in a special ceremony for his work over the years.
“I am taking a new step this year and I am proud to tell you that I am appointed as team manager of the JSB1000 team Yoshimura Suzuki Ridewin- said Kagayama - Since 2003, I have been working with Yoshimura as a rider and there are so many memories we made together. The time we spent together was always positive and I was able to understand the Yoshimura mind and spirit. The major change this time is my position as a rider to a Team Manager, but I will make the best use of my racing experience. I am sure Yoshimura Suzuki Ridewin is possible to create the best team with Kazuki Watanabe and our first goal is to make him the JSB1000 Champion and I am really motivated with the new challenge. I would like to thank to all the valuable sponsors, partners and fans to support our new challenge!”
Championship Calendar:
2nd – 3rd Apr. 2022 Rd.1 MOBILITY RESORT MOTEGI (Tochigi)
23rd – 24th Apr. 2022 Rd.2 Suzuka Circuit (Mie)
21st – 22nd May 2022 Rd.3 AUTOPOLIS (Oita)
19th – 20th Jun. 2022 Rd.4 SPORTSLAND SUGO (Miyagi)
26th Jun. 2022 Rd.5 Tsukuba Circuit (Ibaraki) *No JSB1000 Race at this round.
27th -28th Aug. 2022 Rd.6 AUTOPOLIS (Oita)
17th -18th Sep. 2022 Rd.7 Okayama International Circuit (Okayama)
5th -6h Dec. 2022 Rd.8 Suzuka Circuit (Mie)
