From a press release issued by Yamaha:

Defending Japanese 250 champion Tekkyu Kayo is to make his World Supersport Championship debut in round three at Sugo, Japan (25-27 April).

Fresh from his wild-card appearance on the two-stroke Yamaha TZ250 at the recent Japanese 250GP, 21-year-old Kayo will again ride as wild-card, but this time in the colours of Yamaha Belgarda Team. It should prove to be an exciting time for Kayo. Sugo will mark his first outing on both the production-based four-stroke Yamaha YZF-R6 and the official Pirelli tyres used by the Italian team.

Kayo’s machine will be in the same specification as those of regular team riders Jurgen van den Goorbergh and Simone Sanna. Kayo brings with him the technicians from his domestic championship team, but together they will work closely with the Belgarda engineers to find an optimum set-up for the demanding Sugo circuit.

Kayo’s previous four-stroke experience is limited but he is keen to gauge his performance against the World Supersport regulars. He said: “This is the first time I will race a 600cc machine. I have not had many opportunities to ride a four-stroke but have participated twice on a YZF-R7 in the Suzuka 8-hour endurance race. Last year I finished fifth so I now have a good feel for the characteristics of a four-stroke bike.

“I am anxious about racing in World Supersport but on the other hand I am also excited. I am expecting very much and can’t wait for the race week to come. I am also looking forward to racing with fellow Japanese rider (Katsuaki) Fujiwara. I think that this class is a good opportunity to test my ability in a close race, because the regulations mean that the results depend on not only the machine performance but also the rider’s skill.”

Profile
Nationality: Japanese
Date of Birth: 22.11.81
Place of Birth: Setagaya Tokyo, Japan
Resides: Tokyo, Japan
Marital Status: Single
Height: 168 cm
Weight: 56 kg
Hobbies: Cinema, motorcycle racing

Career highlights
2003 GP250 Japanese National Championship
GP250 World Championship wild-card Suzuka (ninth)
2002 Japanese GP250 Champion
2001 13th GP250 Japanese National Championship
2000 3rd GP250 Japanese National Championship
1999 3rd GP250 Japanese National Championship
1998 10th GP250 Japanese National Championship
1997 GP125 Western Japan Area Champion