Akira Ryō
Racing fans outside Japan will know him for his regular wild card entries into international championships, primarily in the Japanese rounds. In the Superbike World Championship he entered between and , taking a win in the Japanese round in , as well as three further podiums. He was the main development rider for Suzuki's GSV-R MotoGP bike, and raced in several times in 2002 and 2003. He nearly caused a major upset at the 2002 Japanese Grand Prix by leading for much of the race, before finishing second to Valentino Rossi.