Yoshimura History Series
Part #20: 1985 New Kids on a New Weapon
Team Yoshimura Motul’s first rider, #15 Kevin Schwantz, in the 1985 Suzuka 8 Hours. It was his second time to ride th...
Part #19: The Dawn of the 750cc Era
Graeme Crosby taking pole at the 1983 Suzuka 8 Hours aboard the Yoshimura-Moriwaki-Suzuki GSX1000SZ. This was Pop’s o...
Part #18: From the 8V GS to the 16V GSX Katana
As the 1982 AMA Superbike season concluded, Yoshimura entered Cooley’s AMA-spec GSX1000SZ Katana Superbike (notice th...
YOSHIMURA HISTORY #17 The Technological Innovation Behind Cooley's First Daytona Victory
1980-1981 Some Big Changes
“We’re gonna sue you! Be prepared!” Fujio was yelling at the U.S. Kawasaki mechanics, foll...
Yoshimura History #16: The Decision that Secured the Second Suzuka Victory
1980: A Man with a destiny
June 1980, Isle of Man TT. Pop and Graeme Crosby were upset. Pop, in perplexed disgust, su...
YOSHIMURA HISTORY #15 The Crankshaft that Swept the Daytona
1980: Crank up!!
Pop seldom drank alcohol but that evening he was in a bad mood as Honda America had announced it was...
YOSHIMURA HISTORY #14 Pierce, Cooley, and Emde Complete a 1-2-3 Finish at Daytona
Although not able to secure a 1st place finish –– 2nd in Rd.1 at Daytona, 3rd in Rd.2 at Bryar (Loudon), 3rd in Rd.3...
YOSHIMURA HISTORY #13 Behind the First Suzuka 8H Victory
(Header Photo) From left to right: Yoshimura mechanic Asakawa, Pop, mechanic Oya and Shohei. The Yoshimura Suzuki GS1...
Yoshimura History #12 1978: The Family’s First Victory in AMA Superbike
(Headline Photo) Yoshimura machines being prepared to enter the Daytona Speedway, 1978. From left to right: Wes Coole...
Yoshimura History #11 1976~1977: The Dawn of Yoshimura Suzuki
The Birth of Yoshimura Suzuki GS750/944
Yoshimura posted this advertisement in Cycle News (America’s weekly motorcyc...
Part #10: 1973~1977: Taming the Four-cylinder Monsters
The Early Days of AMA Superbike Racing
While Yoshimura's U.S. subsidiary was taken over by its stateside business par...
Part #09: 1972~1975 Starting Over as Yoshimura R&D of America
Yoshimura History #09: Returning to the U.S. with a New Identity
Finally achieving their long-desired dream of establ...