The Dream Born at Motegi Lives On:

Takaaki Nakagami Heads to His Final MotoGP Race

It all started with a childhood dream of becoming a "real GP rider" after watching a race at Motegi. Driven by that dream, he reached the top of the All Japan Road Race Championship and moved onto the world stage. Even after returning to Japan once, Takaaki Nakagami pushed the door to the world open again and became a full-time MotoGP rider. He has served as an HRC development rider since 2025.

Now, Nakagami will make a wild-card appearance at the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix. With the regulations changing next season, this is likely the final Japanese Grand Prix for the current 1000cc machines, and it may also be Nakagami’s very last actual race. What goes through his mind, and what is he aiming for as he rides at Motegi, the place where his dreams began? We spoke to him about his origins, his career so far, and his thoughts for the future.

^{※ Note: This interview was conducted before the announcement that he would race as a replacement for Joan Mir at the Austrian GP.} 

■Text: Hiromi Sato　■Photos: Takashi Akamatsu, Masamasa Matsumoto

■Special Thanks: Honda

A collaboration article with the web edition of Mr. Bike

Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) has announced that development rider Takaaki Nakagami will enter as a wild card in the "2026 FIM MotoGP World Championship Series Round 16 MOTUL Grand Prix of Japan," held at Mobility Resort Motegi from Friday, 2 October to Sunday, 4 October 2026.

At age 14, Nakagami dominated the All Japan Road Race Championship (JRR) GP125 class, winning every single race. He then moved up to the World Championship (WGP) and performed strongly in the Moto2 class. In 2018, he reached the top MotoGP class, where he raced full-time until 2024. In 2025, he became an HRC development rider, supporting the development of Honda's MotoGP machines.

Nakagami has also helped promote the Japanese GP. He took part in a promotional run riding a Honda RC213V-S alongside the Haga-Utsunomiya LRT "Lightline" wrapped in special MotoGP Japanese GP designs. This promoted a new route to the event: the "Mobility Resort Motegi x LRT Smart Access" (https://youtu.be/wRqiYggGugk).

Still as popular as ever, Nakagami gave fans plenty of dramatic moments at Motegi when he raced there full-races.

What was he thinking during those key moments, and what is he striving for next? We began by asking Nakagami where his Motegi story all started.

■The "Real Deal" He Saw at Motegi

── Please tell us your earliest memory of Mobility Resort Motegi.

"I started riding pocket bikes at four and moved to minibikes at nine. Around that time, I went to watch the Motegi GP as part of a magazine feature.

I was allowed into the paddock to meet the GP riders. At the time, Japanese riders like Toru Ukawa, Daijiro Kato, Norick Abe, Makoto Tamada, Shinya Nakano, Tetsuya Harada, and Nobuatsu Aoki were racing in the premier class. I got to meet riders I had only ever seen in magazines or on TV. I even won a rock-paper-scissors game and got a pair of boots from Daijiro-san. I still keep those boots as a treasure.

Stepping into the paddock I had always dreamed of and talking to MotoGP riders made me think, 'The real riders are so cool.' Just seeing them walk past made my heartbeat. I ran after them with an autograph book to get signatures. It was an exciting experience."

── Is there a rider who stood out in your memory?

"Everyone was very kind, so they all left an impression. But with Daijiro-san, even though he was an incredible rider on track, he was just so mellow and spaced out—not aggressive at all, just totally chilled once he took his helmet off. I remember being surprised by that gap."

── Did that experience make you focus on racing internationally?

"That single day might be a day that made me strongly feel that I wanted to enter this brilliant world."

── After winning many minibike championships, you won every single race in the 2006 All Japan Championship GP125 class to take the title. You were a 14-year-old junior high school student. Even then, people noticed your strong awareness of the global stage. Was that early GP experience the main reason?

"Experiencing that dream world as a child gave me something clear to work towards. Because of that, I wanted other people to have dreams too. I always hoped that one day I could invite children to the track myself.

After I became a MotoGP rider, I invited children who were working hard riding at the Chiba-Kita Pocket Bike Course. I was overcome with emotion at having been able to offer that kind of opportunity. Swapping roles like that made me really happy."

■Even with No Precedent, I Will Be the First

── In 2008, you began racing full-time in the WGP125 class. However, you returned to Japan two years later. Even though you won the JRR J-GP2 title in 2011, people thought it would be very difficult to open the door to the World Championship again.

There had never been a rider who returned to Japan and then made it back to the World Championship. But I was still young at 20, and I kept believing strongly that my place was over there. I told the people around me that if there was no precedent, I would just be the first one to do it."

── And then you grabbed your chance.

"I raced as a replacement rider for Italtrans Racing Team in Moto2 at the Japanese GP in Motegi. I went into it with a strong mindset that I couldn't waste this chance. After the season ended, I received an offer for a test audition in Malaysia. I showed my speed there, which secured my seat for the following year."

── You set a new example.

"Looking back, if I had stayed in JRR, I wonder how long I could have kept my motivation to return to the world stage."

── You experienced setbacks, earned a chance with your own strength, and returned to WGP. Which Motegi race stands out the most to you?

"Out of the whole calendar, my home GP at Motegi is the one I value most. I put extra energy into it because I want to live up to the expectations of the fans t Getting pole position in Moto2 in 2017, right in front of my main sponsor Idemitsu, remains a very special memory."

── The following year, you stepped up to MotoGP.

 "MotoGP was my big goal. Honda gave me an opportunity, and I felt like I stepped onto a solid path they laid out for me. However, no Japanese rider had raced full-time in MotoGP since Hiroshi Aoyama in 2014. As a child, I saw many Japanese riders in the paddock, but now I felt a bit lonely being the only one.

Even so, I knew how special it was to have that seat. Having built my career and won several races in Moto2, I felt it was the right time for the challenge."

── You joined the top class, racing against extraordinary riders.

"Having raced in all three classes, MotoGP is completely different. You cannot ride these bikes without high technology and skill. It is an exclusive world with only around 20 bikes on the grid. It is not just about racing; the promotional side and global attention are huge too. If you don't get results, things turn around very quickly. It is a world of paper-thin difference."

── Paper-Thin?

 "Naturally, there are many riders targeting your seat. Riders can be replaced mid-season. Even with a one-year contract, if you don't get results between winter testing and the summer, you lose your seat for the next year. It is a world filled with constant tension."

── You kept fighting at the front line. Is there a season that stands out?

"In 2020, we couldn't race at Motegi due to the pandemic, but I took pole position at another round and finished in the top 10 in every race. It was a season where I maintained consistent speed."

── You faced your final Motegi race as a full-time MotoGP rider in 2024. Many fans were moved to tears and burned the image of your final ride into their minds.

"During my last few years in MotoGP, I was mentally at my limit. So I decided to step back from full-time racing and rode in front of the Japanese fans in 2024. Seeing so much support brought back many emotions, making it an unforgettable race."

■Moving from Dreaming of MotoGP to "Building" It

── Since 2025, you have become a Honda development rider. Through your wild-card entries, fans could see you race again. Fans were also thrilled to see Honda's bike improve and get better results with your input.

"I didn't retire because my speed or fitness dropped, so I told the racing department that I wanted them to use my experience. There is no language barrier, so I join various meetings and share data. We talk until the rider's feeling matches the data, carefully looking into what is needed.

I have always been able to feel bike behavior accurately and instantly. I thought I might be well-suited as a development rider, so I find it very rewarding. Joining HRC at a time when their structure changed significantly was also important, and we have built a good relationship.

I want to help build an ideal bike that maximises the Honda engine's power while remaining predictable and easy for riders to exploit.

── You are making another wild-card entry this year.

 "Because the regulations are changing next season, wild-card entries will no longer be available. So as things stand, this will likely be my last race. Last year had a strong focus on testing future parts for the advanced prototype machine, but this year I feel I can focus more purely on the race."

── Does this relate to the engine capacity changing to 850cc next season, making this the last season for current bikes?

"That's right. Still, tests might be brought into the race weekend, so I can't say for sure... Right now, my main focus is testing the 850cc bike, which has a different displacement and uses different tyres, so I'll be switching back from that. It will be a tough challenge for me, but it's an opportunity to race in front of everyone, so I want to treasure it."

── What are the highlights of the Motegi track?

"The 90-degree corner, where you see a lot of overtaking. Also, at the start, you can feel the incredible power of the engine noise and speed. Fans actually taught me these points!"

── What keeps you attracted to motorcycles even today?

 "People often ask me, 'Aren't you scared?' In a race, you control speeds over 300 km/h, so I think a healthy amount of fear is necessary. But riding bikes, which I have done since I was a child, feels natural and comfortable. It brings me back to my roots and remains fun. That has never changed."

── Do you have a message for the fans?

"There is the ZERO Pass for 16-to-23-year-olds to watch for free, and there is a new travel option called the 'Mobility Resort Motegi x LRT Smart Access.' Shuttle buses run from Haga Town, so you can easily come by train. I hope you use these options to visit Motegi with family and friends. This is the last race in Japan for the current 1000cc MotoGP machines, and it could also be my final competitive race, so I would love for you to come and watch it live at the track."

■MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix at Mobility Resort Motegi (October 2–4)

●16–23 "0-Yen Pass"
https://www.mr-motegi.jp/ticket_m/motogp/zero.html

16–23 "0-Yen Pass" [3-Day Pass]: Free admission for race viewing and attractions for ages 16–23!

Application period: Sunday, May 10, 11:00 AM – Sunday, October 4 *Applications may close without prior notice before the deadline.
Target audience: Born between October 5, 2002, and April 1, 2011

Details:
Unreserved Seat Viewing Ticket (Valid for 3 days)
Special invitation to V-stand seating! (Advance application required / Lottery)
Paddock Tour & Grid Walk Experience (Lottery)
Free Shuttle Bus Ride between Haga Industrial Park and Mobility Resort Motegi (Advance reservation required / Limited quantity)
Park Passport (Valid for 3 days)

How to Apply:
Apply for the [16–23 "0-Yen Pass"] on the MobilityStation online shopping site during the application period.
※Once your application is complete, log in and check your e-ticket under [MENU] -> [My Tickets] -> [Viewing Tickets].
If you are using MobilityStation for the first time, please register for a new account. When you log in to MobilityStation, a selection screen for "Suzuka Circuit" or "Mobility Resort Motegi" will appear.
Select "Mobility Resort Motegi" and proceed to the ticket selection screen.

▼LRT Smart Access
https://www.mr-motegi.jp/motogp/access/

▼LRT Access Video
https://youtu.be/J1_GyCg0Mvk

▼LRT x Takaaki Nakagami Special Parallel Ride Video
https://youtu.be/wRqiYggGugk

●Pre-Event: September 30 at Bellesalle Akihabara
https://www.mr-motegi.jp/motogp/event/pre-event.html

Date & Time: Wednesday, September 30, 12:00 PM (Doors open) – 7:00 PM (Doors close)
Provisional Venue: Bellesalle Akihabara 1st Floor Hall & Event Space, B1 Floor Hall (Sumitomo Fudosan Akihabara Bldg., 3-12-8 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

Participating Riders:

MotoGP
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team)
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™)
Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol)
Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP™)
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)
Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP™ Team)
Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR)

Moto2
Ayumu Sasaki (Momoven Idrofoglia RW Racing Team)
aiyo Furusato (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia)

Moto3
Ryusei Yamanaka (AEON Credit-MT Helmets – MSI)
Zen Mitani (Honda Team Asia)

MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group
※Participating riders are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.
Admission: Free

Viewing details:
Depending on crowd conditions and viewing locations on the day, you may not be able to view the stage. We appreciate your understanding in advance.
Entry to the stage viewing area will be in order of numbered tickets. *Information regarding distribution start times and locations for numbered tickets will be announced once finalized.
Please note in advance that viewing will be standing room only.

Important Notes:
The event will proceed in light rain; however, in the event of severe weather accompanied by strong winds or thunderstorms, the event will be canceled for safety reasons.
Please refrain from reserving spots prior to the start of the event.

Organizers: Honda Mobilityland Corporation, MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group