Wanted a helicopter, ended up on the Moto3 podium - Ryūsei Yamanaka

He has been in the Moto3 World Championship for several years and even if he has not yet won a race or fought for the title, he has been making progress each season until achieving his first podiums. This is Ryūsei Yamanaka, now racing with the Frinsa - MT Helmets - MSi Racing Team.

Born in 2001, Yamanaka showed great skills in Japan and later on in series like Asia Talent Cup, Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and Moto3 Junior World Championship, as he won races and made podiums. The Japanese rider then made his full-time move to the Moto3 World Championship in 2020 and since then he raced with more teams: Estrella Galicia 0,0, PrüstelGP, Aspar Team and now MSi Racing Team. In particular, he contested the 2022 season with the team managed by Óscar Manzano, and then he re-joined them in 2024 to score his first world championship podium at Mugello, followed by two more top 3 finishes during the current season (3rd in Qatar, 2nd at the Red Bull Ring). A fruitful cooperation that will also continue in 2026, as Yamanaka will miss the final two GPs of this year (Portimão and Valencia) due to a surgery in his left pinky finger.

Palmen in Motorradsport had the chance to interview Ryūsei Yamanaka to talk about 2025, his career and much more, including the fact he still lives in Japan and has never moved to Europe (yet).

Ryūsei, how is the 2025 season going?

It has not gone as well as I wanted. In some races, I am strong, but I often miss the last part of the race and then the result is not what I expected. Moreover, I missed some opportunities due to a crash and a few mistakes. The feeling is getting better, though.

What has been your best race so far? And what's your goal now?

Qatar, where I fought for the win and finished on the podium for the first time in almost one year. Regarding my goal, I hope to get my first victory in the world championship as soon as possible.

How do you feel working with the MSi Racing Team?

I am super happy, because the team is really professional, and I am very glad to work with my crew chief. He really wants to get that victory and we always look at small details to see how we can improve. I feel really comfortable, because they help me a lot and make me feel like I am part of a family.

How have you changed as a rider and as a person compared to when you first came to the World Championship?

Compared to the beginning, I pay more attention to small things. For example, I try not to get injured or have any kind of accident in my daily life, even with the car, because it would also affect my racing. I also think about my reputation: if people recognise me outside of racing and I do something wrong, that image stays, so I try to be careful with that too. As a rider, I control my weight and try to work on small details, since they can make a big difference. Finally, I take good care of my sponsors, because they are very important in motorsport.  

Looking back at the past seasons since you joined the World Championship, what have been your best and most difficult moments?

My best memory is my first podium (at the 2024 Italian GP, ed). That is always special. My biggest regret was the Spanish GP at Jerez in 2023, when I was racing with Aspar Team: I was fighting for the victory, but then the footpeg came loose and so I was forced to go to the pits.

Can you tell us how your racing career started?

I have a brother, Shota, who is four years older than me. He started racing first, and I followed him. The beginning was quite funny. When I was three years old, I wanted a helicopter. I asked my dad to buy me one, but of course he said no because it was very expensive. The next day, I had my first race. I was nervous and did not want to compete because I was very slow and thought I would finish last. I even started to cry. Then my father told me that if I won the race, he would buy me a helicopter as a present. He said that because he thought I would not win, but thinking that I could get the helicopter I was dreaming of, I went into the race with very high motivation. Many riders in front of me crashed, and in the end I won.

And how did it end with the helicopter?

I immediately asked my father for it. In that moment, he had Pokémon cards with him, and so he asked me: "What do you want? The helicopter or the Pokémon cards?". And I chose the Pokémon cards...He played with the fact that I was still a little child (laughs, ed).

Do you remember your time in the Asia Talent Cup?

I was very small then and struggled a lot, because they added 15 kilograms of ballast to my bike and that made it very heavy. I also had a leg injury that needed surgery and after that, I did not feel good. Still I made progress and I ended up staying in the series for three years. I managed to take one victory (Race 1 at Motegi in 2017) and nine more podium finishes, and then I moved to the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.

How was your experience in the Rookies Cup?

In my first year, I got a podium in Brno in the rain. That was my first podium in the Rookies Cup, and I was very happy about it. In the second year, I achieved my first pole position and my first victory in the series. I also have another memory from that time. I had a big crash with Deniz and Çan Önçü (at the start of Race 1 at Jerez in 2017, ed): before that, we were close friends, but after that crash, we never talked again. We kind of broke up (laughs).

What do you consider the best season of your career so far?

Maybe 2019, when I raced in the JuniorGP, which was called the Junior World Championship at that time. That season was probably my best in terms of results: I got several podiums, some victories, and I felt very competitive.  

Do you have friends in the paddock in MotoGP?

Maybe yes, maybe no. I have some friends, but I prefer not to be too close since we are competing against each other. For example, I was quite good friends with Xavi Artigas, even outside the paddock. Another good friend of mine was Joel Kelso, until about two years ago. We are still friends, but if we are fighting for the same position, then it changes. So, maybe I do not really have close friends (laughs).

You still live in Japan, don't you?

Yes.

Most Asian riders move to Spain during their career. You are an exception!

Apart from missing the Japanese food, the training environment in Spain is not ideal for me. I do not have a bike or a helper there, so I would need to buy a bike, a car and find a garage, all by myself. I do not know the circuits or the system well, and that makes it difficult. I am also a person who prefers to train with a motorbike rather than a bicycle or just in the gym. In Japan, I can train five times a week on my bike, but in Spain I could do that maybe only once or twice a week. Basically, in Japan I have everything I need: my bike, my car, my garage, my mechanic, and the circuits I know.

But have you even thought of moving to Spain?

At the beginning of 2024, I tried to find a house and a garage in Spain by using a specific application. I sent messages, but they never replied. I called, but they did not speak English, so it was impossible to find anything. It was stressful, so the easiest option was to stay in Japan.

How was it in the beginning when you were racing in Europe and traveling back and forth from Japan? What about jet lag?

For me, managing jet lag is not a problem. I can sleep anytime and anywhere, so I do not struggle with it.

Moving back to your career, in 2021 you were the team-mate of Jason Dupasquier, who unfortunately died following a crash at Mugello. Do you have any special memory of him?

Me and Jason Dupasquier were quite good friends. We had a little habit together: after a good race, we would buy a cheesecake and eat it together. It was our small tradition. Sometimes we did it, sometimes not, but it was something special between us.

Finally, would you like to thank anyone in particular for your journey so far?

I want to thank my personal sponsors, my team, my father, my mother, and all my family. My dad did not give me the helicopter, but he gave me the motivation to keep going.

Palmen in Motorradsport thanks Ryūsei Yamanaka for his time and Miriam Triguero (MSI Racing Team Coordinator) for making the interview possible. Best wishes to both rider and team for the next races and seasons.