Companies Nurturing People Through JRR Participation

The All Japan Road Race Championship (JRR) is the pinnacle series of Japanese motorcycle racing. While there are factory teams that compete for the prestige, and teams that focus on parts production and sales as the core of their racing activities, there are also teams that view their participation as a “forum for human resource development and corporate growth.” This issue of Behind the Scenes introduces how Honda Power Products support these teams.

How a leading Honda motorcycle dealership in Japan, and a mobility R&D company, differ in their approach to human resource development

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Honda Dream RT Sakurai Honda is a team managed by Sakurai Honda Co., Ltd., one of the largest Honda motorcycle dealerships in Japan operating in Tokyo. The team has been involved in racing for many years, competing in the premier class and the Suzuka 8 Hours since 1990, and has experienced victories in both.

Team ATJ is managed by Auto Technic Japan Co., Ltd., a company that is involved in design, analysis, and research required for mobility development, spanning motorcycles, automobiles, and power products. Auto Technic Japan is also involved in research and development for Honda motorcycles and automobiles, and actively participates in races with Honda motorcycles.

Dealership mechanics thrive under extreme pressure

All Honda Dream RT Sakurai Honda team staff are employees of Sakurai Honda. In other words, they are professional mechanics working at motorcycle dealerships, involved in sales and repairs on a daily basis. Their work on the race track, however, is in a different dimension. Mistakes are not tolerated, and adjustments must be made with the utmost care and precision within a limited time to provide their riders with the best racing bike possible.

“In racing, we work in an extreme setting, so with this experience, we are often able to perform ordinary repairs and maintenance on motorcycles at the dealership with ease. As a company, that is what we are aiming for, and that goal has not changed since Sakurai Honda started its racing activities in 1990,” says team manager Tamotsu Kawano. Many of the employees who have worked as team staff have honed their mentality and skills through racing activities, and are now in charge of maintenance at Sakurai Honda and other dealerships.

Team ATJ’s challenge to nurture independent thought and action

As a company, Team ATJ officially began participation in the JRR in 2019. Prior to that, current Team ATJ team manager Takahiro Nakatsuhara competed in the series as the company’s unofficial club activity. Since 2019, all team staff members are employees of Auto Technic Japan, similar to Sakurai Honda. These staff members are, of course, professionals handle motorcycles and automobiles through their development work on a regular basis, but as they are often commissioned by manufacturers, there are times when they must wait for instructions to proceed with their tasks.

“In racing, you cannot just wait for instructions and expect good results. You need to think and act on your own. Furthermore, riders’ demands are very detailed. Working in this kind of tense environment will certainly develop your ability to think and act on your own. By bringing this experience back to the company and applying it to their work, staff can contribute to the company, our clients, and the people we work with,” says Nakatsuhara. The company has also established a Motor Sports Planning Office to officially address race participation as part of its business, and seems intent on developing human resources through racing and spreading this influence widely within the company.

Riders feel the sense of unity between the team and its customers

Sakurai Honda and Auto Technic Japan’s goals and aspirations are felt by their riders as well.

Kazuki Ito, Honda Dream RT Sakurai Honda since 2023, described the unique atmosphere of the team operated by a motorcycle dealership.

“Sakurai Honda come by motorcycle to the race track to support the team, and they also visit us at the pits and paddock.

My mechanic sometimes greets customers from the dealership be works at, and talk with them about the race. I don’t know of any other team that is this friendly. Even when I am racing in the tough conditions of the Suzuka 8 Hours, I sometimes think, ‘Everyone is cheering me on, so I can’t give up.’”

Satoru Iwata, team rider since Team ATJ began JRR participation in 2019, not only races for his own results, but is involved in nurturing team staff and younger riders.

“Team staff are all professionals in terms of working on motorcycles and cars, but none of them have any prior experience in racing. So, rather than asking them to support me, I am trying to improve their team spirit by instilling my attitude that we’re all racing together. Team staff are company employees, and once they leave the team, are replaced by company employees. So, new team staff inherit the team spirit from the leaving staff, which results in a stronger Team ATJ, and the strength of Auto Technic Japan as a company.”

Honda Power Products behind the scenes at the state-of-the-art facilities

Both teams are supported behind the scenes is Honda Power Products. Racetracks are places where large amounts of power is needed for equipment and supplies, as well as electrical appliances. The power outlets provided at the racetrack are used by all the teams at the same time, occasionally resulting in power outages. For this reason, generators are indispensable even at race tracks with state-of-the-art facilities.

Tire temperature management, especially in road racing, can make or break a race. If the tires are not at the optimum temperature, the bike cannot be safely ridden, let alone finish in the top positions. This is why tire warmers, which warms the tires and maintains optimum temperature, are so important. Honda's generators, in this case the EU55is, can provide a stable and abundant supply of electricity, supporting the activities of Honda Dream RT Sakurai Honda and Team ATJ behind the scenes.

Tire warmers are also used on the starting grid before the start of the race, when the bikes are lined up to start. Here, Honda’s EU18i portable power generator provides the power.

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Team ATJ has a waiting room set up in the back of a truck where the riders can rest and focus their minds. Even here, Honda’s EG25i generator supplies electricity to the air conditioner, and various other appliances that do not usually get much attention, Honda’s Power Products support teams in various ways to compete in the JRR.

Professional riders describe Honda’s appeal as event staff

Both Ito and Iwata are involved with Honda Power Products in a different away from the track. They participate in Enjoy Honda, an event for the whole family to enjoy various aspects of Honda, including motorcycles, automobiles, power products, and motorsports. Ito and Iwata work as event staff at the Power Products booth during Enjoy Honda.

Not all visitors at Enjoy Honda know a lot about cars and bikes. I have become a bit better at explaining how Honda products are fun to visitors, including families and kids,” says Iwata.

“I was uncertain at first, but now I approach visitors looking at the exhibits. I have become accustomed to this role, and try to make visitors feel their time at the event was worthwhile,” says Ito.

Honda Power Products have built a tight partnership with the All Japan Road Race Championship.