Moriwaki Engineering

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Moriwaki Engineering Co., Ltd.
Company typePrivate
IndustryTransportation
FoundedSeptember 30, 1973
Headquarters,
Japan
Area served
10+ countries and regions including North America, Europe and Australia
Key people
Mamoru Moriwaki, Founder and Representative Director
Namiko Moriwaki, Senior Managing Director
Midori Moriwaki, Managing Director
ProductsMotorbikes
Revenue10,000,000 JPY
WebsiteMoriwaki Engineering

Moriwaki Engineering is a Japanese manufacturer of speciality high performance products and motorcycle accessories.

Company founder[edit]

Mamoru Moriwaki is a Japanese motorcycle tuner, race team owner and founder of Moriwaki Engineering, a Japanese specialty engineering company that designs, manufactures and sells high performance parts for motorcycles and cars.[1]

His motorcycle industry career is closely intertwined with that of Pops Yoshimura, another respected motorcycle tuner.[2]

Moriwaki began his career as a motorcycle racer for Hideo "Pops" Yoshimura, a respected motorcycle mechanic and tuner involved in Japanese motorcycle racing.[2][3] Moriwaki received no formal training in engineering while working for Yoshimura. Instead, he became self-taught, learning about mechanical engineering from books borrowed from his local high school.[2] Moriwaki married Namiko Yoshimura, Pops’ eldest daughter, while he was working for the company.[2][3] While working for the Yoshimura racing team, Moriwaki also successfully competed in auto racing, driving a Yoshimura-prepared Honda S800 sports car to a class victory at the 6 Hours of Fuji endurance race on July 26, 1970, and the GTS1 Class at the 1971 Japan Grand Prix.[4]

In 1971, Yoshimura made the decision to move his company to the United States to take advantage of the burgeoning American motorcycle market.[5] Moriwaki did not agree with Yoshimura and refused to leave his home in Japan.[2] This created a rift between the two men; however, within a year Yoshimura had returned to Japan and sought Moriwaki for help after he had been cheated out of all his money in a business transaction in America.[2] Moriwaki loaned Yoshimura money to re-establish himself.[2] Yoshimura would go on to establish one of the premier manufacturers of motorcycle high performance parts in the United States and became closely associated with the Suzuki racing program.[5]

Moriwaki Kawasaki ridden by Wayne Gardner in the 1981 Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race

Moriwaki remained in Japan and in 1973 he founded Moriwaki Engineering in Suzuka City, Japan. He became known for modifying engines and constructing frames for the Kawasaki Z1.[2] His bikes were successfully raced in the Australian Superbike championships in the late 1970s by New Zealander Graeme Crosby.[6] Crosby and co-rider Tony Hatton finished in third place at the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race in 1978.[7][8] Moriwaki's reputation continued to be enhanced when Crosby and Akitaka Tomie qualified a Moriwaki Kawasaki on pole position at the 1979 Suzuka 8 Hours, ahead of all the major factory racing teams.[9] At the 1980 Suzuka 8 Hours race, the Moriwaki team of Dave Aldana and David Emde qualified in a respectable second place ahead of the official Kawasaki factory-backed team of Eddie Lawson and Gregg Hansford.[10]

After Crosby went on to race in the world championships, Moriwaki hired Australian rider Wayne Gardner in 1981.[2] Also in 1981, Moriwaki developed the world’s first aluminum frame for large capacity motorcycles and entered them in competitions.[1] Gardner and John Pace qualified their Moriwaki Kawasaki on pole position at the 1981 Suzuka 8 Hours, once again beating all the major factory racing teams.[11][12] Gardner then rode the Moriwaki Kawasaki to an impressive fourth place finish at the 1981 Daytona Superbike race behind Yoshimura Suzuki riders Crosby, Wes Cooley and Honda's Freddie Spencer.[13] Moriwaki and Gardner proceeded to compete in the British championship, winning their first race in England.[6] Gardner entered the final race of the season with a chance to win the title but, an engine misfire relegated him to third place overall in the championship.[6] Gardner's impressive results on the Moriwaki Kawasaki eventually earned him a contract with the Honda factory racing team and an eventual world championship in 1987.[2][6]

1984 Moriwaki Honda Zero X-7

In the 1980s, Moriwaki became closely associated with Honda Racing Corporation, the racing division for the Honda parent company.[2] Moriwaki was the first outside firm allowed to use one of Honda's racing engines.[2] From 2003 to 2005, Moriwaki competed in the premier MotoGP class with a Honda RC211V engine in a Moriwaki designed frame.[3][14] The firm gained valuable knowledge from this experience and in 2010, a Moriwaki-framed machine run by Gresini Racing took the inaugural Moto2 title with rider Toni Elias.[2][15][16] On the MD600, Elias won 7 races with the bike and secured the championship with a fourth place at the Malaysian Grand Prix, held at Sepang.[17]

The Moto2 formula is based on a universal engine and engine-ancillary equipment specification, with identical controlled engines supplied to teams via the organisers, previously based on the Honda CBR600RR superseded by the Triumph Street Triple RS 765 from the 2019 season.[18] Fuel, oil brakes and tyres are also controlled. Teams are able to use any supplier of chassis, suspension and bodywork under strict regulations to enable no one team to dominate by technology or expenditure.[19]

Midori Moriwaki and World Superbikes[edit]

In late 2018 at EICMA, it was announced that Moriwaki would join with Honda Racing Corporation to run the Honda Fireblade in World Superbikes during 2019 with riders Leon Camier and Ryuichi Kiyonari. Initially using Japanese Superbike race series specification as a base-setting, the team collaborates with Europe-based Althea Racing.[20][21][22] Previously Honda's alliance was with Ten Kate Racing,[23] but due to poor results Honda decided on full-factory backing with long-term partner in Japan motorsport Moriwaki Racing. [24][21] Previously Midori Moriwaki was Team Manager for KYB Moriwaki Motul Racing in Endurance events.[25]

Results[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Bike Team Tyres No. Riders 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Points RC Points TC Points MC
R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2 R1 SR R2
2022 Honda CBR1000RR-R MIE Racing Honda Team P 27 Chile Maximilian Scheib SPA
SPA
SPA
NED
NED
NED
POR
POR
POR
ITA
ITA
ITA
GBR
GBR
GBR
CZE
CZE
CZE
FRA
FRA
FRA
SPA
SPA
SPA
POR
POR
POR
ARG
20
ARG
21
ARG
21
INA
INA
INA
AUS
AUS
AUS
NC 0 13 13th 258 5th
35 Malaysia Hafizh Syahrin SPA
21
SPA
22
SPA
20
NED
20
NED
22
NED
17
POR
19
POR
16
POR
19
ITA
17
ITA
13
ITA
Ret
GBR
17
GBR
19
GBR
20
CZE
Ret
CZE
15
CZE
12
FRA
20
FRA
17
FRA
19
SPA
WD
SPA
WD
SPA
WD
POR
Ret
POR
23
POR
19
ARG
ARG
ARG
INA
13
INA
15
INA
14
AUS
15
AUS
12
AUS
17
23rd 10
36 Argentina Leandro Mercado SPA
20
SPA
20
SPA
21
NED
19
NED
18
NED
15
POR
Ret
POR
14
POR
18
ITA
19
ITA
19
ITA
18
GBR
Ret
GBR
20
GBR
17
CZE
17
CZE
17
CZE
15
FRA
21
FRA
20
FRA
Ret
SPA
18
SPA
19
SPA
27
POR
23
POR
21
POR
20
ARG
Ret
ARG
17
ARG
19
INA
Ret
INA
16
INA
17
AUS
17
AUS
14
AUS
15
29th 3
2023 Honda CBR1000RR-R Petronas MIE Racing Honda Team P 35 Malaysia Hafizh Syahrin AUS
15
AUS
19
AUS
17
INA
16
INA
17
INA
15
NED
19
NED
18
NED
14
SPA
14
SPA
16
SPA
Ret
EMI
Ret
EMI
15
EMI
15
GBR
17
GBR
19
GBR
15
ITA
DNS
ITA
DNS
ITA
DNS
CZE
DNS
CZE
DNS
CZE
DNS
FRA
18
FRA
18
FRA
14
SPA
19
SPA
19
SPA
Ret
POR
20
POR
19
POR
Ret
SPA
15
SPA
16
SPA
19
11 21st 12 13th 205 5th
20 Italy Roberto Tamburini AUS
AUS
AUS
INA
INA
INA
NED
NED
NED
SPA
SPA
SPA
EMI
EMI
EMI
GBR
GBR
GBR
ITA
18
ITA
21
ITA
18
CZE
CZE
CZE
FRA
FRA
FRA
SPA
SPA
SPA
POR
POR
POR
ARG
ARG
ARG
0 NC
36 Argentina Leandro Mercado AUS
AUS
AUS
INA
INA
INA
NED
NED
NED
SPA
SPA
SPA
EMI
EMI
EMI
GBR
GBR
GBR
ITA
ITA
ITA
CZE
CZE
CZE
FRA
FRA
FRA
SPA
SPA
SPA
POR
POR
POR
JER
17
JER
20
JER
21
0 NC
38 Estonia Hannes Soomer AUS
AUS
AUS
INA
INA
INA
NED
NED
NED
SPA
SPA
SPA
EMI
EMI
EMI
GBR
GBR
GBR
ITA
ITA
ITA
CZE
Ret
CZE
19
CZE
19
FRA
21
FRA
17
FRA
15
SPA
SPA
SPA
POR
POR
POR
ARG
ARG
ARG
1 25th
51 Brazil Eric Granado AUS
16
AUS
18
AUS
19
INA
DNS
INA
19
INA
DNS
NED
21
NED
21
NED
17
SPA
Ret
SPA
DNS
SPA
DNS
EMI
EMI
EMI
GBR
19
GBR
24
GBR
18
ITA
Ret
ITA
24
ITA
19
CZE
Ret
CZE
17
CZE
Ret
FRA
FRA
FRA
SPA
Ret
SPA
Ret
SPA
19
POR
21
POR
DNS
POR
DNS
JER
JER
JER
0 NC
88 Japan Ryo Mizuno AUS
AUS
AUS
INA
INA
INA
NED
NED
NED
SPA
SPA
SPA
EMI
21
EMI
19
EMI
Ret
GBR
GBR
GBR
ITA
ITA
ITA
CZE
CZE
CZE
FRA
FRA
FRA
SPA
SPA
SPA
POR
POR
POR
ARG
ARG
ARG
0 NC

* Season still in progress.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Moriwaki Company History". moriwaki.co.jp. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Moriwaki Engineering Company - Nature's Tuning Shop". sportrider.com. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Moriwaki dream to beat factory team". crash.net. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Yoshimura Racing History". yoshimura-jp.com. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Pops Yoshimura at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d "Wayne Gardner's 1980 Moriwaki Kawasaki". ma.org.au. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Graeme Crosby - The Early Days". graemecrosby.com. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  8. ^ "1978 Suzuka 8 Hours results". motoracing-japan.com. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  9. ^ "1979 Suzuka 8 Hours qualifying results". motoracing-japan.com. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  10. ^ "1980 Suzuka 8 Hours qualifying results". motoracing-japan.com. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  11. ^ "1981 Suzuka 8 Hours qualifying results". motoracing-japan.com. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  12. ^ "MORIWAKI's Spirit Alive and Well After 9 Years Away". honda.com. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  13. ^ Ulrich, John (1981). Yoshimura Dominates Superbike Production Again. Retrieved 29 January 2016. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  14. ^ "Moriwaki MotoGP Project". moriwaki.co. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  15. ^ Moriwaki unveil latest Moto2 contender Motor Cycle News 24 April 2009. Retrieved 2015-07-21
  16. ^ Latest evolution of Moriwaki MD600 Moto2 bike Motor Cycle News 2 September 2009. Retrieved 2015-07-21
  17. ^ Toni Elias confirms Gresini Moto2 ride Motor Cycle News 18 January 2010. Retrieved 2015-07-21
  18. ^ "Triumph announced as Moto2 engine supplier from 2019". motogp.com. 2017-06-03. Archived from the original on 2017-06-24. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  19. ^ Regulations - Moto2 defined - The Racing Rules Dunlop Motorsport, Retrieved 2015-07-21
  20. ^ Moriwaki Althea Honda Team Announces Team Structure Honda Global Racing, 17 February 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019
  21. ^ a b Fast Talk – Midori Moriwaki Australian Motorcycle News, 2 February 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019
  22. ^ WSB: Where are Honda? Motorcycle News, 28 January 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019
  23. ^ Honda unveils bike for factory World Superbike return Yahoo! Sport, 17 February 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019
  24. ^ Moriwaki Althea Honda Team officially launch their 2019 colours and team Honda Racing Corporation, 17 February 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019
  25. ^ KYB Moriwaki Motul Racing ends the 2018 Suzuka 8 Hours Race in 8th overall Moriwaki Engineering, 29 July 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2019

External links[edit]