HRC Development Rider Takaaki Nakagami Interview
Takaaki Nakagami was born in February 9, 1992 at Chiba prefecture Japan. He started racing with pocket bike from 4 years old, then to mini bike.
From age of 13, he started attending All Japan Championship and became champion at 14 years by winning all the races on GP125, the youngest champion ever. From 16 years old, he joined World GP GP125 with 7 seasons on MotoGP after carrier with Moto2 class. 2025, he started his new challenge as development rider of HRC.
Honda's idea for recovery
2020, due to COVIT 19, all activities has been limited even transporting in Japan. MotoGP had started the season in July by this status. Marc Marquez, top rider of Honda had crash and injured. It took about 2 years for him to fully recover. Also instead of Japanese team, European was able to develop their bikes in Europe especially progress by Ducati on their winglets and aero devices which they started. Other European team also followed. Importance of aero devices had increased with recruiting engineers as well. Without Marc and COVIT status, Honda went into trouble for lack of performance of the bike. To rely Nakagami as development rider was the idea to recover.
'It is not because of the speed of the bike. I was trusted so was requested by Honda to develop the bike and I accepted. I started thinking my life for future when I became 30 years old and was best timing for this occupation. I was not able to make good record as a rider but I have done everything I can in GP. I suffered in recent years but I did not take myself negative'
His riding performance has not lowered. Only the title became regular rider to development rider however, new chapter has been started in his carrier.
'When I changed from Moto2 to MotoGP, it was really a different world. Same paddock but the way of work, how things look like, everything was amazing at top category. I was satisfied in Moto2 how I was treated but always "rider first" in MotoGP. More activities on advertisement and events made by busy but I enjoyed a lot'
Best and the worst
Takaaki raced 2 years in GP125, 6 years in Moto2 and 7 in MotoGP.
'Best race for me was when I won first in GP, 2026 Moto 2 in Assen. I lived for racing in my life and was able to arrive in world GP and was really happy to win there. It is now my best memory. It took long time to win so can never forget. The worst one was 2020 MotoGP at Turel when I got pole position', He crashed right after the start.
'It was like a nightmare, cannot believe, what happened?', but no regret anymore.
'If I was not able to ride MotoGP, not be as regular rider or had to leave from racing, there was a regret but did not happened. Everything what I did, every time I spend and every single results, I have no regret'
World of development
By ending up as regular rider in the last race, Nakagami started development from the day after.
'I started racing overseas from 14 years old, the Spanish championship and was not able to speak or understand English. It was not possible to learn since I was not living there. Even able to start speaking, I still had difficulties to explain the details and was stressful. I became better when I started MotoGP where there was necessity to be in media or using SNS which English was a must. There were interviews in Moto2 but just only when you are in Perc Ferme. More demanding for English in MotoGP made me better'
It is not only the English required by the team.
'When you say rigidity, it is not the word "hard" to use, also "hard" tire needs to explain differently some times', and this is one of the advantage for Nakagami as development rider.
'From December to February this year, I was with Europe test team and Japanese staff in Buriram Thailand and Sepang Thailand for testing and act also as translator. Some members have no experience for bike or lack of experience, it is difficult for them to understand in English. I tried to explain by their eye points among their position of the team', and this is the first time for Nakagami to react with this kind of behavior.
'I had no contact to these test people when I was racing. I now found what is going on the back door. Rider may feel bike is turning but data sometime shows not. Rider may feel OK if bike leaning and handle has an angle but what is important is after the first part of the turn. Remaining part of corner sometimes not doing the job'
Work for riding
For development rider, it is not only the track to do the job.
'I need to attend the meeting with HRC and explain my feeling through data, video or photograph. For example, to explain the start, there are engineers who work specific and I need to explain until they understand. I change the position where I sit, use one foot or both and test with multiple style and test it. Until last year, I did as my preference for seating position but these are changing year by year. Starting devises may go with low height like drag race so I had to find if putting both legs are better and think what seat width to be. It depends on rider body size so need to make them fit. Also, when we check by video how much bike moves while the clutch is released and found it was 2 centimeter and rider cannot feel. Then we consider how much the load will become smaller in front tire. This kind of activities are the developments we do'
Just a start, development takes lot of time to do.
'It was not able to recognize when I was a regular rider. But now I understand how it is important to make bike racing'
He also rides in oval track.
'Before it was tested by Honda people. I was asked to "lean this angle with this speed" and will be told you have technique enough'
Nakagami started to enjoy the development.
'Honda is trying to win so I think this is the reason I was asked to join HRC. Until Honda was not using regular rider for development. Purpose is to "accelerate development speed with Nakagami". I am really happy they rely on my performance with expectation and would like to continue with more challenges'
Both Nakagami and Espargaro were active in MotoGP until recently, and having them in charge of development is undoubtedly a great investment from Honda.
Light at tunnel exit
The result came up after Nakagami joined with development team. Luca Marini the GP rider won points in 5 races in row. Johann Zarco, was teammate of Nakagami last year, won French GP which took Honda 2 years since the last one. Nakagami also was 6th at the same race attending by wild card as development rider.
'I did not realize it became such a tough race. I may ride more faster but 6th position was a surprise, a good one. We understood the bike and had good results. In last part of the race, I was counting how much the laps are remained and thinking to finish but happy that I was able to survive'
Aleix Espargaro also joined team as HRC test rider.
'Alexis and me are short people. We will be uncomfortable if someone says just "do it". We should be really serious to race for test team to be excited when we race on wild card.'
It is now the time Nakagami and Honda Moto GP team is changing.
