# Pist6: a model, a partner, or a rival to DerbyWheel?

*By Simon | April 10, 2024*

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![332039593_737834687733674_8170104445395989675_n.jpg](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/332039593_737834687733674_8170104445395989675_n.jpg.jpg)

## 󠀁[Pist6: a model, a partner, or a rival to DerbyWheel?](https://globalkeirin.com/2024/04/pist6-a-model-a-partner-or-a-rival-to-derbywheel/)󠁿

10 April 2024

DerbyWheel is not the only initiative seeking to reinvent, and expand the
audience for, keirin racing.

Operating from the new indoor facility in Chiba, 40km east of central Tokyo,
Pist6 – pronounced, as an English speaker would expect, ‘pist six’ – looks much
more like UCI style racing.

The track at the Tipstar Dome, opened in 2021 and named after a Japanese betting
app, is an international-standard 250 metres in length, with 42 degree banking.

Riders compete on familiar carbon fibre frames, typically with 5-spoke carbon
front wheels, and rear discs. Collaboration in ‘lines’ is not permitted.

![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/K4bXl3eOsyk/maxresdefault.jpg)

_A recent Pist6 highlights package_

Unlike conventional Japanese and Korean keirin, with its monochrome jerseys,
Pist6 competitors have their choice of skinsuit design. They wear coloured
helmet and shoe covers, whose base colours match the traditional race numbers;
but riders line up in a randomised order.

As befits a brand new venue, the spectator experience is very different to
traditional Japanese tracks. ‘If you’ve ever been to a JKA racing track,’
[writes one tour guide](https://www.digtokyotours.com/post/pist6-the-thrills-of-japanese-keirin-track-bike-racing-for-a-different-crowd)
, ‘Tipstar Dome will come as quite a shock to the system.

‘Food from their signature restaurant Orange & Pizza that’s been curated for
Instagram, Airstream food trucks, a dedicated craft beer bar, designer PIST6
merchandise, free wifi (still rather unusual for Japan), cash-free transactions
only and completely non-smoking.’

![434527180_1084229999508954_3582140500022973807_n.jpg](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/434527180_1084229999508954_3582140500022973807_n.jpg.jpg)

Riders are introduced one by one, with fancy on-screen graphics, sound effects
and flashing lights. They each pause as they enter the arena: some give a
traditional bow or a simple hand gesture, others bring something rather more –
er, extravagant.

Racing takes place to the sound of thumping techno and a very enthusiastic
commentary.

The Chiba track was mentioned by James Pope in his Piste Take podcast
appearance, as a possible venue for Japanese DerbyWheel meetings. DerbyWheel
organisers
[visited Chiba](https://www.derbywheel.com/post/june-2022-japan-visit) in June
2022, and ‘agreed to utilize the venue for 250m DerbyWheel Races in Japan’ –
although it’s worth noting, several similar agreements were announced, but have
not yet led to events being scheduled.

With the two operations sharing such a similar vision, it’s highly likely that
some collaboration or crossover will take place. It’s been reported that a
number of notable Pist6 competitors attended DerbyWheel induction in January
2024.

Race meetings are streamed in full on
[Pist6’s YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@pist6_official): we urge you
to skip through one of their recent seven-hour video streams, to take in the
full experience. Its [website](https://www.pist6.com/) is in Japanese only; but
the homepage features a calendar of forthcoming meetings.

**Categories:** Original
**Tags:** dwnews, japan, sportinnovation, velodromes