MISSION 2010

It’s that time of year again - time for the All Japan National MX Championship Series opener - and here I am, thousands of miles away in Japan. Though traveling has lost its luster for me after 18 years of flying here, there, and everywhere for work, I still enjoy coming to Japan. Sure, a lot of that has to do with me being Japanese-American, but I think that regardless, I would enjoy the sites and sounds of the supreme Asian country.

Thanks to the global economy being in the crapper, I understand that both Honda and Yamaha have dropped their factory motocross efforts in the homeland. That’s right, though Akira Narita won the number-one plate as a member of the factory Jubilo Yamaha team in 2008, he is basically a privateer for 2010. Rumor has it he will be provided with a factory bike, but it will NOT be the super-trick 2010 prototype that I’ve heard plenty about.(EFI, forward-tilted engine, all-new chassis, etc…)

That said, I’m not sure what cool bikes there will be to see at this year’s series opener. I’m assuming that the EFI Suzuki RM-Z250 will be at Kumamoto, but I’ve also heard rumors of the bike making an appearance as early as TODAY in the United States, somewhere… (Stay tuned to transworldmx.com for shots!)

Anyway, be sure to check back on Saturday for photos of what I see at the series opener! And keep your fingers crossed for some bad-ass works bikes!

For now, here’s a few shots that I snapped off with my pocket camera…

I stopped by the Shoei Helmets factory to see where the new VFX-W helmet is made. Though I’d already taken the factory tour a few years ago, it is still an amazing thing to see. There is a reason that Shoei helmets are the best in the world…

This advertisement for chewing gum was plastered on the wall inside of a subway train. I’m not sure where they were going with this one, but I’ll tell you what…we need this ad in TransWorld Motocross. Hey, Pete, are you listening? hahah

I call this photo, “Bring Bring!” On Halloween, I dressed up as a rapper. Surprisingly, this Japanese bling was cheaper than the crap I bought at the “Iced Out Jewelry” cart in the Tyler Mall back at home. haha!

Getting around Japan is an adventure, to say the least. Having been here a few times now, I know my way around the subways pretty well. A few years ago, I remember Scott Hoffman from Dirt Rider showing up at the first All Japan National, and I sure enjoyed hearing his travel horror stories!

Today, I was shocked when this Red Bull Mini Cooper zipped up to the curb next to me in the Harajuku district. Two Red Bull girls jumped out with their cooler backpacks and handed out free “Led-oh Boo-luh.” The Austrian energy drink company never ceases to amaze me.

“Harajuku girls, you’ve got the wicked style.” - Gwen Stefani

“Harajuku boys, you’ve got my art director’s style.” - Donn Maeda