Kazuto Sakata

Kazuto Sakata (坂田 和人; born August 15, 1966 in Kōtō, Tokyo) is a Japanese former professional motorcycle racer. He competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing from 1991 to 1999. Sakata is notable being a two-time F.I.M. 125cc world champion.

Sakata began his Grand Prix career in 1991 and by the 1993 season, finished second to Dirk Raudies in the 125cc class on a Honda. In 1994, he became the first Japanese rider to race for a European factory when he signed with the Aprilia factory. He repaid them by winning the 125cc championship that year. He repeated as champion in 1998 after a tight points battle with Tomomi Manako and Marco Melandri. He retired after the 1999 season.

After retirement, Sakata has become a motorcycle coach and trainer, for the next generation of racers. He is the principal of the MFJ Road Race Academy.^[1] In 2018, Sakata participated in the All Japan Road Race Championship at Tsukuba Circuit in the J-GP3 class.^[1] It was his first return to the All Japan Championship in 13 years.^[2] His participation in the race was at the behest of his students.

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)