Kuroyama big in Japan

Having recently turned Thirty-three years old, Kenichi Kuroyama – Yamaha made a welcomed return to the SPEA FIM Trial World Championship as he placed fifth on the opening day of the Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi that marked round seven and the penultimate stop of the current series. Absent as a regular contender on the World scene since 2005, the ever-smiling Kuroyama however remains a title challenger in the Japanese domestic series having won the second round of the 2011 campaign earlier this month. Finishing on half the marks of his nearest rival on that occasion, the veteran campaigner continues to show the kind of form that made him a top World runner back in the late nineties. Kenichi’s strongest run in the then FIM Trial World Championship came during 1996, 1997 and 1998 when he finished fourth, third and third respectively in the final rankings over a three year period. However a nasty crash early in 1999 when he sustained two broken wrists due to a fall at Sheffield Indoor trial was to halt his progress and ultimately change the direction of his career. With most of 1999 lost to injury Kuroyama managed to secure a top five finish in the 2000 final standings before he began to slide down the order and finally retire from the World scene in 2005.