Akira Narita giving back.

What a Character that guy is, I remember around 2000 or so at Glen Helen , Saturday of the National I was all the way at the top of Mt St. Helen and Here he comes blasts the berm at the top then Launches off the lip down the Mountain screaming something like yaa hoo. did it every lap He came by too.

Then the time He got the hole shot in SX and was celebrating the whole lap. I think He knew He would get passed so He made the most of it.

Narita always had a tight presentation. Trick, trick, trick.

and bike looks rad! Nice

He gave Pastrana all he could handle at High Point around 2000 or so. Was really fast that day in the mud.

I don't know how he's been doing it for so long. It seems like every time a new fast kid moves up from 250s, or an established 450 guy finds another gear, Akira just kicks it up a notch and beats them. Dude's a badass for sure.

What's cool is Narita has been doing that for a while now. At least five years that I can think of.

Always been a huge fan of that guy! I don't know if many guys know this , but Akira has been a national pro here in the states for like 18yrs! He's raced everything from 125 / 250 2 strokes all the way up to the 450's. Hell he took a 26th O/A at Washougal in 2013. And man oh man.....can you imagine some of the trick stuff on his bikes that he has got to ride with over the years? Very cool seeing him stick around to help the young guys.

He got 15th at Unadilla in 2013, ahead of some good company:

15 Akira Narita 16 15
16 Tyla Rattray 11 20
17 Malcolm Stewart 34 11
18 Mike Alessi 12 39

That's 15 years after his first US race in 1998.

His best result was getting 2nd the 1st 125 moto at Mt. Morris in 2001 behind Pastrana.

He also podiumed in Lites Supercross at the Anaheim 1 mudder in 2005

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WbOcex1b7o

Good rider.

I remember Narita and Pastrana battling. That was sick. It's a shame we don't have that type of racing anymore. I mean, really; when's the last time you've seen more than a few laps of dueling? It's been a long time.

Thank goodness for the MXGP's. At least when I watch that, you just don't know what will happen unlike today's SX or MX.