Daijiro Kato

Daijiro Kato
Daijiro Kato at the 2003 Japanese GP
Nationality	Japanese
Born	(1976-07-04)July 4, 1976 Saitama, Japan
Died	April 20, 2003(2003-04-20) (aged 26) Suzuka, Japan
Bike number	74 (retired in honour)
Motorcycle racing career statistics Grand Prix motorcycle racing Active years 1996 - 2003 First race 1996 250cc Japanese Grand Prix Last race 2003 MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix First win 1997 250cc Japanese Grand Prix Last win 2001 250cc Brazilian Grand Prix Team(s) Honda Championships 2001 - 250cc Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 53 17 27 11 11 775

Daijiro Kato (加藤 大治郎, Katō Daijirō^?, July 4, 1976 – April 20, 2003) was a Japanese Grand Prix motorcycle road racer, the 2001 250cc world champion, and the 2000 and 2002 Suzuka 8 Hours winner. He died as a result of injuries sustained during a crash at Suzuka race circuit, Japan.

Kato was born in Saitama, and started racing miniature bikes at an early age, becoming a four-time national champion in the Japanese pocket-bike championship.

He began road racing in 1992, and entered his first Grand Prix in 1996, as a wild-card rider. In the 250cc class, Kato finished third after debuting at his home circuit of Suzuka Circuit. The next year, he won the Japanese Championship, and again entered the Japanese Grand Prix with a wild card, winning the race at this occasion.

In spite of these successes, Kato did not ride his first full Grand Prix season until 2000, when he started in the 250cc, riding a Honda. He won four races that season (of which two in Japan), and placed third in the championship. In 2001, he dominated the 250cc championship. He won no fewer than 11 races, a record in 250cc, and easily won the title. In that season he set a new record for the most points in a single season in 250cc class with 322 points.