Challenging the world's toughest rally! Shinya Fujiwara talks about his "determination" as the only Japanese rider at the pep rally for the "Dakar Rally!

The Shinya Fujiwara Road to Dakar Rally Project Office announced that the initiator of the project and trial rider Shinya Fujiwara ("Mr. Fujiwara") and the project supporter Matsuo Manufacturing Co. The event was held at Shibuya Cast (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) on December 2, 2025.

The three-year progress of the project will be reviewed in a commentary and talk session. There will be some surprises along the way!

With the strong support of Matsuo Seisakusho, the project was launched in April 2024, and has continued with a three-year plan to achieve Mr. Fujiwara's dream of completing the Dakar Rally in 2026 (host country: Saudi Arabia), known as "the world's toughest motor sport competition. Finally, in July of this year, Fujiwara officially obtained the right to enter the rally, and is now ready to take on the challenge of competing in the event. The event was attended by the general and motorcycle media, sponsors, related parties, relatives, and riders who participated in the "Africa Eco Race 2025" with Mr. Fujiwara. After that, Mr. Fujiwara and Mr. Motoi Matsuo, President of Matsuo Seisakusho ("President Matsuo"), greeted the audience, followed by a talk session, Q&A, photo session, interviews, and a reception. [During the talk session, Fujiwara shared the episode of his encounter with President Matsuo, the many difficulties he faced after the project was launched, and his excitement when he received the "letter" officially informing him of his decision to participate in the project. ＝Fujiwara's impressions of the Honda CRF450 RX Rally, the bike he will be riding in the Dakar Rally, and his preparations just before the event. Fujiwara also talked about his preparation for the event. In addition, a surprise "message video" and "cheering song" from artist ET-KING were performed.

President Matsuo gave enthusiastic encouragement to the participants, saying, "I want you to complete the race without any injuries, but to "go on the offensive" and finish it.

Motoi Matsuo, president of Matsuo Seisakusho, the main sponsor of the race, took the stage at the pep rally. President Matsuo said, "I met Fujiwara around August 2023. Since our company was founded in 1948, we have been in the manufacturing business of precision parts for automobiles and home appliances, so we decided to support Fujiwara because we sympathized with his attitude to pursue his dreams and take action on his own in the world of motorsports, a field with which we have a close relationship. I also hoped that this support would lead to a deeper understanding of motorsports in Japan. However, as the project progressed, I realized that it would not be easy to enter the Dakar Rally, so I was very happy when we were officially selected to participate. I want him to just concentrate on his bike and the Dakar Rally. He is so versatile that he is able to play multiple blades, but if he makes a mistake, he could be seriously injured in the race. I want him to concentrate on his riding, drive safely, but be aggressive and finish the race.

I will complete the 8,000 km race and return safely to Japan with the Japanese flag on my head! He expressed his determination to complete the 8,000-km race!

Mr. Fujiwara took the stage after the MC explained the project, and in his speech expressed his gratitude to the sponsors and the many people who supported him. He then went on to talk with President Matsuo on the stage. During the discussion, when asked by the MC how he felt looking back on the project, he replied, "It went faster than I expected. Perhaps it was because of the many difficult events, but it really went by very quickly. The most difficult of all was the World Rally Raid Championships "Morocco. Although this was my first World Rally Raid Championships entry, coming from a trials background, I knew that I had to finish the race in order to enter the Dakar Rally. The road map, which I was experiencing for the first time, looked like a series of symbols, and I had to page through it while driving at more than 150 km per hour. To top it all off, a mass food poisoning outbreak occurred on the eve of the final day: ....... Even so, I was happy when we completed the race safely," he said. Looking ahead to the "Dakar Rally," which is now less than a month away from its opening, he said, "The past three years have been filled with many things: unbelievable, painful, tearful, and joyful ...... events. But even so, I am proud and filled with gratitude that I have managed to make it to this day and be here today. Now all I want to do is to complete the 8,000 km of the Dakar Rally and return safely to Japan with the flag of the rising sun. I will do my best! He expressed his determination. At the end of the talk session, President Matsuo presented Fujiwara with a flag with many messages of support from Matsuo Manufacturing employees as a surprise gift. I will take it with me to the Dakar Rally! Fujiwara was so moved by the message that she said, "I will take it to the Dakar Rally!

Fujiwara was the only Japanese rider in the rally!　The bike was a special one made by the Japanese manufacturer Honda!

Fujiwara's bike for the "2026 Dakar Rally" is the CRF450 RX Rally, a special bike limited to 50 units worldwide and equipped with competition parts developed by Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), Honda's motorsports specialist. Riding for the first time in October at the World Rally Raid Championship in Morocco, I was impressed with the CRF450RX Rally's machine balance and high dynamic performance. He felt a sense of confidence in Honda's motorcycles and in his riding skills. Thanks to the smooth-running engine and six-speed transmission, the machine has very little vibration, which is an advantage in terms of physical strength," said Fujiwara. Fujiwara's special bike will be maintained and supported throughout the event by RS moto RACING, a prestigious Italian team with extensive experience in rally competition and high technical capabilities. The team and HRC are not only providing technical support, parts supply, and maintenance services during the rally, but are also working to build a system to support riders participating in the rally by assisting them with various procedures related to the event. As the only Japanese rider in the event, Fujiwara's first challenge in the Dakar Rally will be very reassuring.

The "2026 Dakar Rally" will be held in Saudi Arabia, covering a total distance of approximately 8,000 km in two weeks!

The "Dakar Rally" has been held since 1979 as a competition to see how fast motorcycles, cars, and trucks can cover deserts, mountains, and muddy terrain in the shortest possible time. It is called "the world's toughest rally" because it requires strong physical and mental strength in a harsh environment, and is therefore called "the world's toughest rally." The rally has been held on the African continent for 30 years, and on the South American continent for 11 years. The start/finish line for the 2026 event will be in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu. The route includes two marathon stages (sections without maintenance support), divided stages by category, and the newly introduced "Power Stage. The race will be held from January 3 to 17, 2026.

What is SMRP?

The SMRP (=Shinya Fujiwara Matsuo Manufacturing Racing Project [Shinya Fujiwara Road to Dakar Rally supported by Matsuo Manufacturing]) is a three-year project that aims to complete the "2026 Dakar Rally. The project started in April 2024. In June of the same year, the team participated in the "FIM Red Bull Erzbergrodeo" held in Austria, and after that, they continued to participate in races and training in Japan, and in October, they competed in the World Rally Raid Championship "FIM RALL du Morocco" for the first time and finished the race. In October, he completed the World Rally Raid Championship "FIM RALL du Morocco" for the first time, and was able to obtain the right to participate in the "Dakar Rally. After that, he also participated in the "Africa Eco Race 2025" and the "ISDE 2025. He continues to participate in competitions in Japan and abroad and to train with the aim of completing the "2026 Dakar Rally.

Crowdfunding is now underway to support the "Challenge Project for the Dream Finish".

The "Shinya Fujiwara Road to Dakar Rally Project Office" started a crowdfunding campaign in November, and has achieved a 495% achievement rate.The project is supported by Matsuo Seisakusho and many other companies and organizations, but due to the recent depreciation of the yen and other factors, the crowdfunding support will be used mainly for travel, local activities, and training expenses.URL of thecrowdfunding｜https://camp-fire.jp/projects/890776/view（Closed on December 9, 2025)

Profile of Shinya Fujiwara

Born on January 6, 1990 in Hyogo Prefecture, Fujiwara started trial riding at the age of 7. He won the domestic Class A series champion at the age of 16 and the international Class A series champion in 2014. 2018, he chaired the organizing committee of the trial event "City Trial Japan 2018 in OSAKA" at Tsutenkaku, in the middle of Osaka. In 2018, he chaired the organizing committee of the "City Trial Japan 2018 in OSAKA," a trial event held at Tsutenkaku in the heart of Osaka. Since 2016, he has also challenged himself in hard enduro. He also competed in the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, the world's toughest race, aiming to "become a rider who gives dreams come true". He also continues to do various activities, such as giving trial demos in various places in Japan. To the gallery (7)