Yoshimi Katayama

Who is Yoshimi Katayama?

Yoshimi Katayama is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Japan. Katayama began his Grand Prix career in 1964 with Suzuki. He enjoyed his best season in 1967 when he won two races and finished the season in second place behind his Suzuki team-mate, Hans-Georg Anscheidt in the 50cc world championship. He also finished the 1967 season in fourth place in the 125cc championship. Katayama won four Grand Prix races in his career.

Katayama would later switch to cars, competing in domestic series mainly as Mazda's factory driver until he retired at the end of 1990. He finished second in the 1983 James Hardie 1000, held at Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia co-driving with four time winner Allan Moffat in a factory supported Mazda RX-7. His previous visits to the race were in 1977 when he spectacularly rolled his Mazda RX-3 at Murray's Corner on lap 103 and 1982 where he finished in 6th place again partnering Moffat.