500 Career
In 1999 Harada moved up to the 500cc class to compete on Aprilia's 380cc V-twin race bike. Five top 5 finishes in the first 10 races, including podium results at Paul Ricard and Donington Park, got him off to a flying start, but the bike's performance then faded and he couldn't improve his results. In 2000 he was less competitive again, coming 16th overall. In 2001 he made another attempt at an elusive second 250cc world championship, taking 8 poles but only three victories as countryman Daijiro Kato claimed the title. For 2002 he entered the MotoGP class aboard a Honda two-stroke, but this proved to be his final year of professional racing, as he retired after a difficult season that saw him finish 17th overall. He ended his career with 17 Grand Prix victories, all in the 250cc class.
Read more about this topic: Tetsuya Harada
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“Like the old soldier of the ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Goodbye.”
—Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964)