Longtime industry figure Don Sakakura has retired from his role as President of Yoshimura Racing LLC, ending a 43-year career with Yoshimura.

Sakakura started working for Yoshimura R&D of America, Inc. in January 1980 as a race mechanic. That year, he helped Wes Cooley win the second of his two AMA Superbike Championships.

Sakakura went on to become the Sr. Vice President of Yoshimura R&D of America, Inc. a position he held from 2005 until 2018, when Yusaku Yoshimura was appointed CEO/COO of Yoshimura R&D of America, Inc.

Sakakura then moved into an advisory role with Yoshimura R&D of America, Inc. and continued as President of Yoshimura Racing LLC, a position he held from 2002 until his retirement at the end of December 2022.

During much of his time at Yoshimura, Sakakura oversaw not only the company’s activity in professional racing (road racing, Supercross/motocross, ATV, and more) but he also led the company’s parts manufacturing business.

In Sakakura’s tenure at Yoshimura, the brand won 24 AMA Pro road racing Championships (14 in Superbike, six in 750 Supersport/Superstock, three in Supersport, and one in Formula Xtreme) and 294 races road races (208 in Superbike, 57 in 750 Supersport/Superstock, 24 in Supersport, and five in Formula Xtreme), according to the company.