is a Japanese former professional motorcycle racer. He competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing from 1991 to 1999. Sakata is notable being a two-time F.I.M. 125cc world champion.

Motorcycle racing career Sakata began his Grand Prix career in 1991 and by the 1993 season, finished second to Dirk Raudies in the 125cc class on a Honda. In 1994, he became the first Japanese rider to race for a European factory when he signed with the Aprilia factory. He repaid them by winning the 125cc championship that year. He repeated as champion in 1998 after a tight points battle with Tomomi Manako and Marco Melandri. He retired after the 1999 season.

After retirement, Sakata has become a motorcycle coach and trainer, for the next generation of racers. He is the principal of the MFJ Road Race Academy. In 2018, Sakata participated in the All Japan Road Race Championship at Tsukuba Circuit in the J-GP3 class. It was his first return to the All Japan Championship in 13 years. His participation in the race was at the behest of his students.

Motorcycle Grand Prix results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) Year Class Team Machine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pos Pts Wins 1991 125cc ELF Kepla-Meiko Honda RS125 JPN AUS USA ESP ITA GER AUT EUR NED FRA GBR RSM CZE VDM MAL 13th 55 0 1992 125cc F.C.C./T.S. Venus-Honda RS125 JPN AUS MAL ESP ITA EUR GER NED HUN FRA GBR BRA RSA 11th 42 01993 125cc F.C.C. Technical Sports-Honda RS125 AUS MAL JPN ESP AUT GER NED EUR RSM GBR CZE ITA USA FIM 2nd 266 2 1994 125cc Semprucci-Aprilia RS125R AUS MAL JPN ESP AUT GER NED ITA FRA GBR CZE USA ARG EUR 1st 224 3 1995 125cc Team Krona-Aprilia RS125R AUS MAL JPN ESP GER ITA NED FRA GBR CZE BRA ARG EUR 2nd 140 2 1996 125cc Aprilia RS125R MAL INA JPN ESP ITA FRA NED GER GBR AUT CZE IMO CAT BRA AUS 8th 113 0 1997 125cc Aprilia RS125R MAL JPN ESP ITA AUT FRA NED IMO GER BRA GBR CZE CAT INA AUS 4th 179 0 1998 125cc Aprilia RS125R JPN MAL ESP ITA FRA MAD NED GBR GER CZE IMO CAT AUS ARG 1st 229 4 1999 125cc Honda RS125 MAL JPN ESP FRA ITA CAT NED GBR GER CZE IMO VAL AUS RSA BRA ARG 14th 56 0

References