Tetsuya Harada

Tetsuya Harada
Tetsuya Harada on the Yamaha TZ250 (1993)
Nationality	Japanese
Motorcycle racing career statistics Grand Prix motorcycle racing Active years 1990 - 2002 First race 1990 250cc Japanese Grand Prix Last race 2002 500cc Valencia Grand Prix First win 1993 250cc Australian Grand Prix Last win 2001 250cc Pacific Grand Prix Team(s) Yamaha, Aprilia Championships 250cc - 1993 Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 145 17 55 21 21 1546

Tetsuya Harada (原田哲也, Harada Tetsuya^?, born June 14, 1970) is a Japanese former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was the 1993 250cc World Champion.

Born in Chiba, Japan, Harada won the Japanese 125cc Junior championship in 1988, and was runner-up to Tadayuki Okada in the All-Japan 250cc series in both 1990 and 1991, before taking the crown in 1992. In all three years he competed in the Japanese round of the 250cc World Championship, twice starting on the front row and twice scoring points. His performance earned him a sponsored ride in the 1993 250cc World Championship.

Riding a Yamaha TZ250, he won four races including his home race and won the 1993 250cc World Championship in his first attempt defeating Honda's Loris Capirossi. A wrist injury affected his performance in the 1994 season, finishing 7th overall with only a single podium finish. In 1995 Harada was Max Biaggi's main competitor for the 250 title. He won one race and finished 2nd eight times. In 1996 his bike was underpowered and he only reached the podium four times. He was on the verge of retiring when Aprilia offered him a bike for the 1997 season. Although his 235 points were the most he scored in a season, he finished the season in third place behind Biaggi and Ralf Waldmann.