Honda veteran Okada retires.
Japanese Honda rider Tadayuki Okada, who won six MotoGP grands prix, has retired from racing after a 14 year career.
Okada, who won four 500 and two 250cc grands prix, will mastermind Honda's domestic superbike effort next year, and may also help as a development rider and even make a one-off return in the Suzuka 8 hour race.
Japanese Honda rider Tadayuki Okada, who won six MotoGP grands prix, has retired from racing after a 14 year career.
Okada, who won four 500 and two 250cc grands prix, will mastermind Honda's domestic superbike effort next year, and may also help as a development rider and even make a one-off return in the Suzuka 8 hour race.
Okada began his career in his late teens, winning his fist Japanese championship in 1986. His 250cc world championship debut was in Japan in 1989, which led to Okada getting a full season ride in 1993. Okada didn't do badly, for a new face to the series, ending the season in eigth position.
1994 was Okada's best season in the 250cc class, coming second overall in the world championship. This led the way for him to 'upgrage' to 500cc in 1996. Okada scored his first 500cc win in 1997 and this was to be his best season in the class, ending in second place in the standings.
Three more wins came Okada's way in 1999, but he only managed third in the championship that year. 2000 wasn't so kink to the Japanese rider who only managed eleventh overall with 107 points, causing him to make a change for the following season.
Last year 'Tady' competed in the World Superbike Championship for the factory Castrol Honda team with American, and then reigning champion, Colin Edwards.
However, he found the switch from two to four-stroke machinery a difficult one and a second season in WSB always looked unlikely.
