World keirin champion Kento Yamasaki is already back competing on the Japanese pro circuit, and dealing with some decidedly non-UCI conditions and race tactics.

The 31 year old returned to competition at a wet Takamatsu outdoor track on 29 October, less than two weeks after his historic victory in Ballerup.

Dressed in white, by virtue of being drawn number 1 – but sadly, a white jersey without rainbow stripes – Yamasaki took the front with more than a lap and a half (600m) left, but was swarmed left and right out of the final corner, and could only finish fourth.

But he bounced back on day two to take the victory in his semi-final, exiting the final bend ahead and winning by 3/4 of a length; and won day three’s S-Class final in similar fashion, and by a similar margin.

Then, racing at Gifu this week, he took the win on day one, followed by two second places, with day three’s S-Class final being particularly hard-fought.

Local rider Ryusei Shida 4, fourth in last year’s Young Grand Prix, showed little deference to the world champion 2, delivering several headbutts as the sprint got underway – and barging him into the infield area as they entered the final lap.

Body contact which would certainly earn a disqualification in UCI racing is tolerated in Japanese men’s races, which do not follow the world governing body’s rulebook.

With Yosuke Kakusei 6 charging from back to front into the last lap, Yamasaki found his way between Shida and front rider Masaki Ogata 7, but couldn’t close the gap to Kakusei.

Yamasaki will race next week at Kokura’s Keirin Festival, as will women’s world champion Mina Sato. Yamasaki is also listed for the year-ending 2024 Keirin Grand Prix meeting at Shizuoka, but he has not yet secured a place in the Grand Prix race itself.