Japanese Champion in 1993 and 1994, Tohru Ukawa was recruited by Honda in 1996 for the 250 Grand Prix class. He immediately became a regular top 5 finisher and took his first two victories in 1999, finishing runner up to Valentino Rossi. The following year he finished 4th despite two more wins and boosting his podium tally to 29 in 5 seasons. Ukawa switched to the 500cc class in 2001 but made just one podium in a year blighted by crashes. His status as a winner of the Suzuka 8-hour made him the Japanese factory\'s choice to partner Rossi on the four-stroke RC211V in 2002, claiming his MotoGP win in South Africa. In 2003 he moved to the Pramac Pons team for his final full season, with additional wild card appearances with Honda in 2004 and 2005.