EXOTIC DISH

For anyone who was obsessed with GP racing in the late 1980s and 1990s, like I was, then the traditional season-opening GP in Japan was one of intrigue, mainly as all the local Japanese hotshots would turn up and stick it to the regular GP riders. The Japanese lads were often on full factory bikes, YZRs and NSRs, even RGVs, as well as tricked up RS Honda and TZYamahas too. It was fascinating.

But what I loved even more was the paint schemes - there was just something about them that ensured they looked different and stood out. The Cup Noodle Hondas being one such example; I think it was the fact it was noodles (remember, in the UK this was when a chicken and mushroom Pot Noodle was considered something of a continental and exotic treat) so a proper trick racer, ridden by a Japanese with a name that