Fast Wash means Fast Bike: The Battle with Mud and Dust

Honda Power Products Supporting All Japan Motocross Champion

Motocross is a form of motorcycle racing held on dirt, off-road circuits. Among motorcycle motorsports, it is considered one of the most physically demanding disciplines. For first-time spectators, the sight of motorcycles flying across the track at high speed is nothing short of overwhelming.

Today, one rider stands at the top of the motocross world as its reigning “queen.” Manaka Kawai of T.E.SPORT has claimed three consecutive titles in the Ladies class of the All Japan Motocross Championship from 2023 to 2025, bringing her total championship count to five at just 24 years old.

T.E.SPORT, the team Kawai belongs to, stands for Tofukuji Enterprise Sports and was founded by team owner Yasuo Tofukuji. Tofukuji remains a legendary figure in Japanese motocross, often described as the strongest rider in the sport’s history in Japan after winning nine titles in the All Japan Motocross Championship between 1980 and 1990.

After retiring from competition in 1992, Tofukuji established T.E.SPORT with the goal of promoting motocross and motorsports from the grassroots level. He purchased land in Kawagoe, Saitama Prefecture, and built a roughly 50-meter by 15-meter riding course where children could experience motorcycles for the first time, beginning his efforts to develop young riders.

The connection between Tofukuji and Kawai dates back to around 2006.

At the time, four-year-old Kawai lived in Saitama. Riding in her father’s car, she often saw children riding small motorcycles on the very course Tofukuji had built. Each time they passed, she begged her father to let her ride, like a child asking to go on a favorite theme park attraction. It was there that the future “queen” first encountered both motocross and the legendary rider who would shape her career.

Tofukuji looking back on those days with affection:
“You could often hear a child crying near the course, and when I went over thinking someone had crashed, it was always Manaka saying, ‘I don’t want to go home’ or ‘I still want to ride.’ Everyone would tell her, ‘Your riding time is over for today. You can ride again next time.’”

Kawai steadily emerged as a standout motocross rider. At 12 years old, while still in elementary school, she made her debut in the Ladies class of the All Japan Motocross Championship. Two years later, at age 14, she claimed her first victory. That win remains the record for the youngest winner in Japanese women’s motocross history.

In 2020, at age 18, Kawai claimed her first championship with a perfect season. After reclaiming the title in 2021, she went on to secure three consecutive championships from 2023 through 2025.

When asked about the secret behind Kawai’s speed, Tofukuji explained:
“Manaka absolutely hates losing. That hasn’t changed since kindergarten or elementary school. Once she started winning races, my advice became very specific — things like mindset or race approach, rather than riding technique. She absorbs everything incredibly quickly. One of Manaka’s strengths is her ability to change racing lines lap by lap. While other riders stick to one ideal line, she can instantly adapt and choose a different path. That’s why she’s fast. That’s her natural talent.”

When Kawai speaks about Tofukuji, her respect is clear.
“The team manager never says too much. He always keeps our motorcycles in perfect condition. These days, when I start hesitating or overthinking, he gives me just a few words of advice. They’re simple, but they really stay with me. Before I became champion, during a difficult period when I couldn’t win, he once told me, ‘Manaka, are you enjoying your riding? If you don’t enjoy it, you can’t ride well.’ That still remains the biggest lesson for me.”

Honda Power Products beside the team — on race weekends and practice days

Because motocross takes place on dirt tracks, riders and machines are constantly covered in mud and dust. After every session, riders use high-pressure washers to clean mud from their gear and boots.

At T.E.SPORT, the team uses the Honda WS1513 high-pressure washer from Honda. It quickly cleans riding gear and boots, helping the team prepare efficiently for the next session. According to Tofukuji, three things are essential in motocross: “riding, maintenance, and washing.”

“To keep the motorcycle in perfect condition, everything starts with washing and maintenance. You can’t even begin maintenance properly if the machine is still dirty. The sooner you finish washing, the more time you have to prepare for the next session.”

That is why the washer is considered an essential maintenance tool, and why the WS1513 has become an indispensable part of the team’s operation.

T.E.SPORT also relies on the Honda EU28is generator at motocross tracks where no power supply is available. It powers air tools for maintenance as well as electrical equipment used by team staff, supporting the team throughout race and practice weekends.

Beside the “queen” of Japanese motocross, a legendary rider and Honda Power Products continue to provide quiet but essential support.