# Rain instead of rainbows as Kento comes home to Japanese keirin

*By Simon | November 13, 2024*

---

![Screenshot](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/takamatsu4th.jpg)

## 󠀁[Rain instead of rainbows as Kento comes home to Japanese keirin](https://globalkeirin.com/2024/11/rain-instead-of-rainbows-as-kento-comes-home-to-japanese-keirin/)󠁿

13 November 2024

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.

_Yamasaki 1 finishes fourth in a physical contest on a damp surface (keirin.jp)_

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.

_Yamasaki 2 tussles with local rider Shida 4 (keirin.jp)_

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](https://www.shizuoka38.jp/2024grandprix/)
, but he has not yet secured a place in the Grand Prix race itself.

**Categories:** Original
**Tags:** japan