Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Daijiro Kato, 25, was named the 2002 MotoGP Rookie of the Year today by Dorna Sports. Kato rode for the Fortuna-sponsored Gresini Honda team spending the first portion of the 2002 season on a NSR500 two-stroke and ending the season on a RC211V four-stroke. Kato finished on the MotoGP podium twice in 2002, second both times, once on the NSR500 in Jerez and once on the RC211V at Brno. Kato also earned one pole position at Motegi Twin-ring and had one fastest race lap at Brno. Kato finished seventh in the final MotoGP World Championship standings with 117 points.

Kato made his first Grand Prix appearance as a wild card at Suzuka in 1996 and finished third in that race. Kato returned to win the 1997 and 1998 Suzuka 250cc Grand Prix races as a wild card before getting his first full-time FIM 250cc GP ride in 2000. Kato won four races in 2000 and finished a close third in the Championship behind Olivier Jacque and Shinya Nakano and ahead of Tohru Ukawa. Kato dominated the 2001 250cc Grand Prix World Championship by taking a record number of wins (11) and record number of points (322) for a single season.