Tadahiko Taira
# Tadahiko Taira

Tadahiko Taira (born November 12, 1956) is a Japanese former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.

Born in Minamisōma, he won three consecutive All Japan 500cc championships in 1983, 1984 and 1985. Taira began his Grand Prix career in 1984 with Yamaha. He enjoyed his best season in 1987 when he finished the season in sixth place overall in the 500cc world championship. His only Grand Prix victory came in 1986 at the 250cc San Marino Grand Prix. In 1990, he teamed with Eddie Lawson to win the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race.

## Grand Prix career statistics

Points system from 1969 to 1987:

| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Points | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |

Points system from 1988 to 1992:

| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Points | 20 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

| Year | Class | Team | Machine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Points | Rank | Wins |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1984 | 500cc | Marlboro Yamaha | YZR500 | RSA - | NAT - | ESP - | AUT - | GER - | FRA - | YUG - | NED 6 | BEL 6 | GBR - | SWE - | RSM - | | | | 10 | 16th | 0 |
| 1985 | 500cc | Marlboro Yamaha | YZR500 | RSA - | ESP - | GER - | NAT 15 | AUT 9 | YUG - | NED - | BEL - | FRA - | GBR - | SWE - | RSM - | | | | 2 | 21st | 0 |
| 1986 | 250cc | Marlboro Yamaha | YZR250 | ESP - | NAT 22 | GER 9 | AUT 8 | YUG NC | NED 6 | BEL 9 | FRA 10 | GBR NC | SWE 13 | RSM 1 | | | | | 28 | 9th | 1 |
| 1987 | 500cc | Marlboro Yamaha | YZR500 | JPN 6 | ESP 7 | GER 4 | NAT 6 | AUT 9 | YUG 7 | NED 18 | FRA - | GBR 8 | SWE 13 | CZE 3 | RSM 4 | POR NC | BRA 7 | ARG 8 | 56 | 6th | 0 |
| 1988 | 500cc | Yamaha Racing Team | YZR500 | JPN 5 | USA - | ESP - | EXP - | NAT 10 | GER - | AUT - | NED - | BEL - | YUG - | FRA - | GBR 10 | SWE 14 | CZE 5 | BRA - | 36 | 15th | 0 |
| 1989 | 500cc | Tech-21 Yamaha | YZR500 | JPN 8 | AUS 6 | USA NC | ESP 8 | NAT - | GER - | AUT - | YUG - | NED - | BEL - | FRA - | GBR - | SWE 10 | CZE 9 | BRA - | 39 | 14th | 0 |
| 1990 | 500cc | Tech-21 Yamaha | YZR500 | JPN 6 | USA - | ESP - | NAT - | GER - | AUT - | YUG - | NED - | BEL - | FRA - | GBR - | SWE - | CZE - | HUN - | AUS NC | 10 | 23rd | 0 |
| 1991 | 500cc | Y.R.T.R. Yamaha | YZR500 | JPN NC | AUS - | USA - | ESP - | ITA - | GER - | AUT - | EUR - | NED - | FRA - | GBR - | RSM - | CZE - | VDM - | MAL - | 0 | - | 0 |
