Japanese team Speed Heart DOG FIGHT Racing Yamaha has recently confirmed its official debut in the 2020 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. The team, which has been a part of the Japanese racing circle since 1996, will join teams Akeno Speed and Team One For All as one of three private Japanese teams competing this season.
The team will be fielding Rei Toshima astride the Yamaha-R6 in the SuperSports 600cc class. The 21 year old is not a complete stranger to the the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. He has previously raced on an AP250 wildcard ticket at Suzuka in 2016 and 2017. Most recently, Rei was also a Suzuka wildcard entry in the SuperSports 600cc class in 2019.
The presence of Speed Heart DOG FIGHT Racing Yamaha is expected to add zest to the competition and lend their engineering prowess to keep Yamaha’s domination in the SuperSports 600cc class.
Year 2020 marks the 20th season of the SuperSports 600cc class. Since its introduction in 2000, Yamaha has clinched nine out of the 20 titles to date. Honda is in position to equal the score with eight titles in hand, while Kawasaki has won two and Suzuki one.
Below are the list of SuperSports 600cc champions since 2000:
2000 – Chia Tuck Cheong (Yamaha)
2001 – Chia Tuck Cheong (Yamaha)
2002 – Toshiyuki Hamaguchi (Suzuki)
2003 – Toshiyuki Hamaguchi (Honda)
2004 – Toshiyuki Hamaguchi (Honda)
2005 – Toshiyuki Hamaguchi (Honda)
2006 – Toshiyuki Hamaguchi (Yamaha)
2007 – Decha Kraisart (Yamaha)
2008 – Toshiyuki Hamaguchi (Yamaha)
2009 – Chalermpol Polamai (Yamaha)
2010 – Decha Kraisart (Yamaha)
2011 – Katsuaki Fujiwara (Kawasaki)
2012 – Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda)
2013 – Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (Honda)
2014 – Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi (Honda)
2015 – Yuki Takahashi (Honda)
2016 – Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi (Honda)
2017 – Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman (Kawasaki)
2018 – Ratthapong Wilairot (Yamaha)
2019 – Peerapong Boonlert (Yamaha)