About Makoto Tamada
Makoto Tamada (玉田誠) (born November 4, 1976, in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese former professional motorcycle racer currently working as a rider instructor at Suzuka Racing School. He is one of the few riders to win races in both MotoGP and Superbike World Championship. == Career == === Early career === After a junior career in minibikes, Tamada won a regional 250cc championship in 1994. He then spent four years in the main Japanese 250cc series, finishing fourth on a private bike in 1998. He entered the MFJ Superbike championship in 1999. He finished in the championship top-five for the next four years, but came to international fame as a wild card in the Superbike World Championship round at Sugo, upsetting the regulars to win both races in 2001, and a further race in 2002, being the only rider other than Colin Edwards or Troy Bayliss to have won a race during the 2002 season. === MotoGP World Championship === This helped earn Tamada a call up to MotoGP in 2003, for Pramac Honda. The first season was a learning year, peaking with a third place at Rio and two front row starts, finishing 11th overall. He joined Sito Pons' Camel Honda a year later. 2004 was his strongest MotoGP season to date, with wins at Rio and Motegi and sixth overall.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.