36 Facts About Takaaki Nakagami

Takaaki Nakagami is a Japanese former Grand Prix motorcycle racer, competing for Idemitsu Honda LCR in MotoGP class until retiring from competition after the 2024 season.

Takaaki Nakagami won the Japanese Road Race Championship 125cc class in 2006 and J-GP2 class in 2011.

Takaaki Nakagami stayed in the Japanese 125cc championship for 2006 with Harc-Pro again, winning every race of the season; becoming the youngest-ever Japanese 125cc champion.

Also in 2006, Takaaki Nakagami joined the MotoGP Academy which gave him the chance to compete overseas for the first time in the Spanish CEV 125cc series.

Takaaki Nakagami decided to focus on the CEV 125cc championship in 2007 with the MotoGP Academy.

Takaaki Nakagami's results improved in 2007, and he finished in 6th place overall with a 3rd-place finish at Valencia as his best result.

Takaaki Nakagami received his first 125cc World Championship wildcard entry at the final round of the season in Valencia, qualifying in 20th position but failing to finish the race.

Takaaki Nakagami improved his overall performance, finishing 16th overall with his best results being two 5th places at a wet Le Mans and at Donington Park.

Takaaki Nakagami won the first race of the season at Tsukuba.

Takaaki Nakagami remained with Harc-Pro in 2012, but changed classes and entered the J-GP2 class aboard a Honda HP6.

Takaaki Nakagami won 5 of the 6 races during the season and the championship, despite not competing in the Okayama round due to injuries sustained when he was substituting at the Motegi Moto2 World Championship round for the Italtrans Racing Team.

Takaaki Nakagami did enough during his substitute display to earn a full-time ride for the Italtrans Racing Team in the 2012 Moto2 World Championship riding a Kalex with a Honda CBR600 engine.

Takaaki Nakagami finished his rookie season 15th in the standings with a best result of 5th at Jerez.

For 2013, Takaaki Nakagami remained in Moto2 with Italtrans aboard a Kalex.

At the opening round at Losail, Takaaki Nakagami achieved his first podium in Grand Prix racing with a 3rd-place finish.

At Le Mans, Takaaki Nakagami earned his first pole position in Grand Prix racing.

Takaaki Nakagami achieved his second career Grand Prix podium with a second-place finish behind Esteve Rabat at Indianapolis; he led most of the race but was passed in the closing laps and finished less than a second from victory.

Takaaki Nakagami took his second pole of the season at the Czech Grand Prix, at Brno; he went on to take his second successive second-place finish, behind Mika Kallio.

Takaaki Nakagami took pole at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and again finished second, this time behind Championship leader and home rider Scott Redding.

At Misano, Takaaki Nakagami finished second for the fourth race in a row; he led the majority of the race before he was passed by Pol Espargaro in the closing laps.

Takaaki Nakagami finished the season 8th overall with 149 points.

Takaaki Nakagami struggled for the rest of the year with bike set-up, and finished the season in 22nd position.

Takaaki Nakagami managed to improve and finished on the podium in Misano, ultimately matching his 2013 result of 8th overall with 100 points.

Takaaki Nakagami collected three third-place finishes and eight top-5 finished to end the season 6th in points, his overall best finish in the Moto2 class.

Takaaki Nakagami moved up to MotoGP in 2018, signing with LCR Team to ride a year-old Honda remaining with Idemitsu sponsorship.

In October 2018, it was confirmed that Takaaki Nakagami would remain at LCR Honda on a 2018-spec machine for the 2019 MotoGP season beside teammate Cal Crutchlow.

Takaaki Nakagami elected to prematurely end his season after his home Grand Prix to undergo surgery repairing his damaged shoulder, and recover before the 2020 season.

Takaaki Nakagami was replaced for the final three rounds by KTM-exile Johann Zarco.

Takaaki Nakagami ultimately finished the season in 13th position with 74 points, more than doubling his point tally from his rookie season.

In mid-October 2019, LCR Honda confirmed Takaaki Nakagami would remain with the team for another season on a year-old machinery in 2020.

Takaaki Nakagami finished the year 10th in the championship, with 116 points.

In October 2020, based on his strong early season performances, Honda and LCR announced that Takaaki Nakagami would remain with the team at least until the end of 2022 and would receive factory-spec machinery from 2021.

Takaaki Nakagami's season high result was a 4th place in Jerez, overall ending the season just 15th in the standings, with 76 points, 6 in front of teammate Alex Marquez.

Takaaki Nakagami stayed with the same team for the 2023 season, partnering his 2023 teammate Alex Rins.

Takaaki Nakagami finished p18 in the standings with 56 points 2 ahead of teammate Alex Rins.

Takaaki Nakagami continued with LCR Honda, this time partnering with Johann Zarco.