A Moriwaki moment
Motorcycling is a fantastic way to meet like-minded people but it also leads to long-term friendships which can border on to an extended family.
Leif Martinsen is part of the bike builders business and over the years has affectionately mentioned both his and his wife Estee’s friendship with Midori Moriwaki and Moriwaki products in general. Leif builds race bikes as well as roadies and regards the Moriwaki products as some of the best. He and his business partner Yosuke (Yoshi) have realised their dream by being granted distributorship, so now stock and sell the Moriwaki product in Brisbane. Midori Moriwaki was in town recently so Leif, Estee & Yoshi thought it was a good excuse to get together with friends and share a bit to eat and drink (appropriately labelled a ‘Meet and Greet’) with Midori. I went with curiosity as I didn’t really know much about the Moriwaki story but did a little research beforehand. I discovered Midori’s Dad had started Moriwaki Engineering in 1973. Moriwaki’s main business was the development of race bikes. Initially, and for many years after, they used Kawasaki engines but now predominantly use Honda units.
Moriwaki Engineering was instrumental in the careers of many Antipodean riders. In the late ‘70s a Moriwaki Monster Z1000 secured Graham Crosby many wins and podiums. Graham is currently a Moriwaki distributer in NZ and remains a good friend of the family. Leif told me that it was Graham who was responsible for him and Estee making initial contact with Midori. 1980 and 1981 saw Wayne Gardiner ride a Moriwaki Monster Z1000, again with many successes. Wayne built a replica of one of his Moriwaki race bike which is on display in the National Motor Racing Museum in Bathurst. I was also lucky enough to see this motorcycle at the Australian Historic Motorcycle Championship at Lakeside in 2014. Graham Crosby and Tony Hatton rode Wayne’s replica on a lap of honour at that meeting. Luckily, it still retained the dual seat so both got around in comfort. Peter Goddard rode a Moriwaki Zero X750 in local and Japanese events from 1986 to 1988. The 2000 and 2001 seasons saw Brock Parkes race with success on a Moriwaki in the Japanese Championship. Andrew Pit rode a Moriwaki MD211VF in a few races of the 2004 MotoGP. A story of the Moriwaki MH80R was featured in OBA 63 and it was to play a large part in the careers of Ant West, Josh Brookes, Chris Vermeulen, Brock Parkes and many others. Midori is the Managing Director of Moriwaki Engineering and runs the Moriwaki race team. To my delight I found she has no problem sitting down with an ordinary person (she had only just met) and discussing anything, including very personal stories. I found her so humble and down to earth that it was easy to overlook her status and achievements. At one point I spent the best part of 15 minutes conversing one on one and I noted a few interesting facts which I will share. Midori’s Dad, Mamoru Moriwaki, who started Moriwaki Engineering, is very much alive and still very passionate about motorcycles. He actually raced for ‘Pops’ Yoshimura and married his eldest daughter, so Midori is an offspring of both famous motorcycling dynasties. The original Moriwaki logo and the colours they use for all their race teams is based on nature. 70% blue for the sea and sky and 30% yellow for the earth and Moriwaki spirit. Their factory and race teams continue with this same colour philosophy to this day.
Midori’s other siblings do share a motorcycle passion but they have their own careers and Midori is the only one who is fully devoted to the business. She has a passion for the history of Moriwaki and even had to hide the old race bikes for a while as Mamoru told her that he was only interested in the future, not the past. She went on to say that all changed one day when she dragged out one of their old race bikes and fired it up. She said a glow lit up Mamoru’s face and he then realised how special the memories and his past creations were. Swinging her Dad around to embrace her view was a very special moment for Midori. She told the story of Mamoru being the pioneer of using aluminium motorcycle frames. She explained that Mamoru was approached by a large manufacturer who said that they had the rights and that he would not be able to continue without infringement. She remembers in particular when he replied that they had better check the intellectual property registry. It was in fact they who were in breach but Mamoru was not bothered to pursue any retribution. Another of her special moments as a race team boss was when Tony Elias, riding a Moriwaki MD600, won the Moto2 World Championship in 2010. This was the inaugural year for Moto2 and she proudly showed some photos of the celebration on her smart phone. She shared a story of how she been badgered for many years to join the FIM but declined until recently. Her achievements in the sport were never in doubt but she went on to explain that she couldn’t agree until she felt she could devote enough time to carry out her role properly. She has recently accepted an FIM role is as an ‘Expert Member’ representing circuit racing in the CFM (Women in Motorcycling Commission). In the end I found it such a pleasure to learn so much about a truly devoted motorcycle family. The realisation of the responsibility that rests on Midori’s shoulders, all her achievements and the fact that she still has time to share with grass roots motorcyclists made my experience a very special one indeed.