A Thorough Explanation of the Trajectory of "Team Matsunaga KDC": From Formation to Finishing the Suzuka 8 Hours, and Future Prospects

The Origins of the Racing Team

The current team owner, Matsunaga, and the current team manager, Suzuki, were initially conducting their racing activities independently, but they eventually met and decided to tackle the sport together.

In 2018, Matsunaga won the championship in the "JSB1000" class, which had specific license requirements at the time. Following this achievement, the two discussed their future path in depth and decided to launch a new team to expand the scale of their activities.

The team name was created by combining Matsunaga's surname with the name of "KDC Service," a company that operated the garage where they were based and also manufactured the team's cowlings (exterior parts). Thus, the name "Team Matsunaga KDC" was officially decided and has been used to this day.

The team was co-founded by the two of them

In 2019, current team manager Suzuki (Yamaha TZ125)

In 2019, current team representative Matsunaga (Yamaha YZF-R1)

2019: Official Activities Begin Under the Name "New Team"

In 2019, Matsunaga was promoted to the "International" class and entered his first season under the new structure. Having significantly improved his competitive ability, he positioned this year as a crucial year for new challenges. With an eye on participating in the "Suzuka 4 Hours Endurance Race" and stepping up to the "Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race" in 2020, he made the bold decision to enter both the "Inter JSB1000" and "Inter ST600" classes in the five-race series.

In the JSB1000 class, he achieved a season ranking of 5th, highlighted by a victory in the 4th round. In the ST600 class, he also achieved excellent results, including a win in the 2nd round and a 2nd place finish in the 3rd round, ultimately finishing 3rd in the rankings.

In the Suzuka 4 Hours Endurance Race, he paired with Akane Nakatani of Team All Auto, finishing 6th in the International class qualifying and 9th in the final race.

Meanwhile, Keita Hayashi, a member since the team's inception, participated in all five rounds of the domestic ST600 series and the Suzuka 4 Hours Endurance Race. While he finished 22nd in the series rankings, he was forced to retire from the 4-hour endurance race.

Furthermore, the team's roster was expanded that year, with a total of six riders participating in the domestic ST1000 and ST600 classes, further strengthening the team's lineup.

Even after being promoted to the Inter class, Matsunaga's momentum did not stop

Also participated in the Suzuka 4 Hours Endurance Race

2020: Arakawa Joins, Team Structure Strengthened, and Reaching the Suzuka 8 Hours Milestone

At the beginning of 2020, Arakawa, who had finished 3rd in the rankings in the year Matsunaga won the domestic JSB-1000 championship, officially joined the team. He switched machines from the Ducati Panigale he had used the previous year to a Yamaha YZF-R1 and started a new season in the International JSB1000 class.

Additionally, Mitsuhiro Kuno, a rider from Tottori who joined midway through the previous season, continued to compete in the same International JSB1000 class.

With the structure in place, the three main riders of the International class began full-scale activities aimed at the goal of participating in the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race scheduled for July. Meanwhile, new riders also joined the domestic classes. The 2020 Suzuka Championship Series (Suzuka Sunday Road Race) was originally scheduled to start earlier, but due to the spread of COVID-19 early in the year, the 1st round in April and the 2nd round in May were forced to be canceled. As a result, the 3rd round in July became the de facto opening round.

In this opening round, where the International and domestic JSB1000, ST1000, and ST600 categories ran together, a total of 12 machines from the team lined up on the grid, creating a truly spectacular sight.

In 2018, Arakawa, who was ranked 3rd in the domestic JSB series, joined the team

In 2020, the team gradually increased its members

However, entering 2020, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on society far exceeded expectations. The qualifying rounds for that year's Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race were canceled one after another, and although the team eventually secured a spot through an organizer's invitation, the main race itself was subsequently canceled.

Furthermore, the qualification spot they had earned could not be carried over to the following year and was automatically voided due to the cancellation of the race.

Later, Kuno from the Inter team also joined the team

Statement regarding participation issued in 2020 prior to the cancellation announcement

Press conference regarding race suspension — Team Representative Suzuki

2021: Achieving Good Results in the "Suzuka Championship & Tryout," the Team's Third Season, and Successfully Closing the Season

From the beginning, the team set its sights on participating in the "Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race." In 2021, Matsunaga competed in both the "International JSB1000" and "ST600" classes in parallel. The team boasted a powerful lineup, including Arakawa and Kuno, who also competed in the International JSB1000 class, as well as riders in the domestic ST1000 and ST600 classes.

Due to the cancellation of the previous year's Suzuka 8 Hours, the qualification spot the team had previously earned was voided. Therefore, to regain qualification, they had to participate in the "All Japan Suzuka 2&4 Race" held in April, which also served as a selection event (tryout), and pass the narrow gate of qualifying.

In the selection race, Matsunaga utilized a machine setup refined through repeated adjustments with "GEARS Suspension" to record a personal best time of 2 minutes 13.206 seconds. He successfully passed qualifying and started from 43rd on the grid in the final race. This was his first time competing in an All Japan Championship final race.

In the final, he steadily moved up the ranks while executing a calm and calculated ride. He ultimately finished 20th among the tryout participants, successfully earning a spot in the Suzuka 8 Hours.

Pit walk at the All Japan Suzuka 2&4 Race (Suzuka 8 Hours selection round)

Pit walk at the All Japan Suzuka 2&4 Race (Suzuka 8 Hours selection round)

Originally scheduled for July, the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race was eventually postponed to November due to the spread of COVID-19. Even under such circumstances, the team worked energetically on tests aiming to participate in the race, and at the same time, realized participation in the MFJ Grand Prix held at Suzuka to give rider Arakawa practical experience at the All Japan Championship level.

Although it ended in a qualifying exit, the team steadily moved forward toward the goal of participating in the Suzuka 8 Hours.

However, the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race, which had been postponed to the autumn, was ultimately canceled again. As a result, participation in the race was not realized for two consecutive years (2020 and 2021), and the season ended in disappointment.

A notable highlight of this season was the performance of Koji Yamagiwa, a rider in the domestic ST600 class who joined the team midway through the season. Riding a special YZF-R6 equipped with a GEARS suspension system, he successfully won the series championship in the Okayama Road Race Championship.

As a result, his promotion to the International license class (International class) was decided for the following 2022 season. He would go on to compete in the JSB1000 class riding a YZF-R1, while also continuing to take on advanced development work for the GEARS suspension system.

Although the Suzuka 8 Hours was canceled, the team's activities continued

Shock absorber setup completed

2022: The Team Officially Starts Its History of Participating in the Suzuka 8 Hours

While the impact of COVID-19 remained, thanks to the efforts of the organizers, the 43rd "Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race" was held in 2022. For this race, which was the team's first participation in an international competition, they conducted careful testing from the beginning of the season and prepared thoroughly.

In this race, their first appearance at the Suzuka 8 Hours, the team started from 12th in the SST class qualifying and finished 9th in the final. Finishing in their first attempt proved that the riders and the entire team possessed extremely high capabilities and skills.

In the following 44th tournament in 2023, the team appointed Matsunaga, Arakawa, and Kishimoto as riders. Competing in the NSTK class, the team achieved results of 13th in qualifying and 12th in the final, achieving the major accomplishment of finishing for two consecutive years.

In 2022, the long-awaited Suzuka 8 Hours was held

In 2022, the long-awaited Suzuka 8 Hours was held

In 2023, they also achieved consecutive race finishes

In the 45th tournament held in 2024, the team teamed up with "Team Nagano," based in Shinshu, and welcomed Shigeru Sakurayama, a rider with extensive experience in the Suzuka 8 Hours. Originally, the plan was to participate with three riders: Arakawa, Sakurayama, and Matsunaga, but because Matsunaga was injured in a prior tryout, Hisayo Kato, who joined the team that year, participated as a substitute.

Kato showed a powerful performance that met expectations, and the team, competing in the EWC class, finished 29th in qualifying and 26th in the final, achieving the good result of finishing for three consecutive tournaments.

Collaboration with Team Nagano

In the 46th tournament of the 2025 season, the team challenged the 8-hour endurance race with a structure consisting only of their own riders: Arakawa, Matsunaga, and Kato. During the race week sessions, all tests and adjustments were completed smoothly. Although they suffered a fall during the final race, the support crew's quick repair work allowed the machine to return to the course. Ultimately, the team finished 36th overall and 22nd in the EWC class, reaching the milestone of finishing for four consecutive years.

The night session is also one of the highlights of the Suzuka 8 Hours

The pit walk is also an important promotional opportunity for sponsors

Future Vision from 2026

In addition to the main riders currently competing in the International class, the team is focusing on supporting and nurturing riders competing in domestic classes and is actively expanding its structure.

Furthermore, from the 2025 season, they are planning a drastic organizational renewal. With Matsunaga retiring from active duty (including the championship series and the Suzuka 8 Hours) after this season, they have newly appointed Takayoshi Sakai and Takumi Hane. Both riders, who have brilliant track records with Honda-affiliated teams, will compete as the team's mainstays in the 2026 championship and the Suzuka 8 Hours, aiming for even higher rankings.

In addition, the team is achieving great results in rider development. They have produced riders such as one who won the top ranking in the 2024 domestic ST600 class and was promoted to the International class, and another who won the championship in the 2025 domestic ST1000 class in the final round and will step up to the International class from the next season.

Moving forward, the team will continue to promote daily operations and development activities with a focus on thickening the layer of next-generation riders who can compete at the top of the Suzuka 8 Hours.

New rider Takumi Hane

Newly joined, Takashi Sakai

Key players in the team's debut series

2026 and Beyond: Future Development Vision (II) — Commitment to Sustainable Development

To deepen understanding of motorsports culture, our team actively participates in two-wheeled motorsport promotion events and traffic safety awareness campaigns led by the government. At these events, we set up booths displaying the race vehicles used in the "Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race" and also hold talk shows by riders and the team manager.

In the talk shows, we explain race regulations and motorcycle technology and rider equipment related to safety in an easy-to-understand manner, while also conveying the mindset and principles for safe riding on public roads. We will continue to engage in these activities to contribute to the healthy development of motorsports and the promotion of traffic safety in the local community.

Exhibition at event booths

Participating in traffic safety awareness activities

Participating in joint projects with government agencies

Giving speeches at talk shows and panel discussions

A Thorough Explanation of the Trajectory of "Team Matsunaga KDC": From Formation to Finishing the Suzuka 8 Hours, and Future Prospects

2026.9.6

The Origins of the Racing Team The current team owner, Matsunaga, and the current team manager, Suzuki, were initially conducting their racing activit...