This is the third installment of a column by Yoko Togashi, who was involved in HRC's overseas racing activities from 1986 to 2008, looking back on 1993 250cc World Champion Tetsuya Harada.

Below is a summary from the article. Please refer to the original text for the full version.



#  "That Won't Happen to Me"

In 1993, Tetsuya Harada became the 250cc World Champion. But that year was not defined by glory alone.



In May, Nobuyuki Wakai, his close friend and a figure he regarded almost as an older brother, was killed in an accident during the Spanish Grand Prix. The following day, Harada dominated the race and took victory in Spain. With tears blurring his vision, he rode to the finish and dedicated the win to Wakai.



Harada would later lose other friends and rivals as well. In 1995, his senior Yasumoto Nagai was killed at Assen. In 2003, Daijiro Kato, a rival since their 250cc days and a fellow competitor in the 500cc class in 2002, suffered a fatal accident at Suzuka.



In the world of racing, death is always close by. No one understands that better than the riders themselves, yet they continue to race. But do riders really feel no fear?



I asked Harada that question at the end of 1995, after Nagai's death.



"Well, you know, everyone thinks they're not going to die. When someone dies, you see it as bad luck, but you also think, **'That won't happen to me.'** I think that's how most riders go racing."



"Once you start riding and become fully focused, I think the fear just disappears. If fear starts creeping in while you're racing, then maybe it's time to quit. If that ever happens to me, I'll stop racing."



#  Team Rainey

In 1994, Harada entered the season carrying the number one plate in defense of his 250cc world title. However, he broke his right wrist in the opening round and was plagued by mechanical problems throughout the year. He finished the season seventh in the standings without a single victory, while the title went to Max Biaggi.



Even so, Harada took the setback in stride. He felt that many races had been lost because of machinery rather than a lack of speed on his part.



In 1995, Harada joined the team led by Wayne Rainey.



Harada admired Rainey's approach to racing. Even when things went wrong, Rainey never made excuses and always tried to win through his own efforts. Harada felt a strong affinity with that attitude. Rainey, for his part, held Harada in high regard.



"Harada's dedication is very similar to mine."



That was how Rainey described him before the start of the 1995 season.



When I asked Rainey whether Harada could become champion in 1995, he replied:



"I think Harada can do it, but Yamaha will have to give him maximum support. Still, he's the best rider in the 250cc class."



The day before, I had asked Harada what he thought of Rainey as a team manager.



Harada answered:



"What I like about Rainey is that he doesn't force his opinions on you."



When I relayed those words to Rainey, he responded with a smile:



"That's because I'm still a racer. I think it's easier for Harada that way too. I try not to talk too much. I just give him something to think about."



The results were consistently strong. Harada won only one race, but he finished inside the top five in almost every round and ended the season second in the championship. Even so, the advantage of Biaggi's Aprilia was clear.



**"I didn't lose to Biaggi. I lost to Aprilia."**



Those words would become one of the most memorable quotes of his career.



In 1996, Harada began his second season with Team Rainey. However, this was also the year in which the relationship between rider and team began to deteriorate.



With the team's entry into the 500cc class, a contract was signed with Michelin. Harada, who had previously raced on Dunlop tires, was also required to switch to Michelin.



Michelin tires offered excellent durability over race distance, but they lacked grip during the opening laps.



Harada finished second in the opening round in Malaysia and won the second round in Indonesia. However, he crashed in the Japanese Grand Prix and struggled to produce strong results during the European rounds that followed.



He appealed directly to Rainey for permission to return to Dunlop tires, but the request was rejected.



During his own racing career, Rainey had even switched from a factory chassis to a ROC Yamaha chassis in pursuit of better results. Because of that, Harada believed Rainey would understand his position. Instead, his request was denied.



The decision damaged their relationship, and tensions grew to the point where the two barely spoke to each other inside the pit garage.



After the Imola Grand Prix in early September, Harada ended his 1996 season with three races still remaining on the calendar. Rumors circulated that Rainey had lost faith in him and dismissed him from the team, but Harada returned to Japan without commenting publicly.



Then, in 1997, he became a factory rider for Aprilia.





**Previous Posts**

[Yoko Togashi’s World GP Journey / Tetsuya Harada Vol. 1 The True Meaning Behind the Controversial Remarks After Winning the Championship](https://www.reddit.com/r/motogp/comments/1tmdkb9/yoko_togashis_world_gp_journey_tetsuya_harada_vol/)

[Yoko Togashi’s World GP Journey / Tetsuya Harada Vol. 2 The first time Harada experienced the World Grand Prix, and the death of a teammate](https://www.reddit.com/r/motogp/comments/1tq1ez6/yoko_togashis_world_gp_journey_tetsuya_harada_vol/)





Yoko Togashi’s World GP Journey: Tetsuya Harada Vol. 3 | "If Fear Starts Creeping In, It's Time to Quit Racing"