Masao Azuma

Masao Azuma (born March 24, 1971, in Kōchi, Japan) is a Japanese former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer who competed in the 125cc class from 1996 to 2003.

Azuma competed in the full 1997 season for the LB Racing Team and showed good consistency regularly finishing just outside the top 10.

The remaining six rounds saw erratic and relatively poor results from Azuma, while his title rivals Marco Melandri and Emilio Alzamora gained on him in the Championship.

Melandri scored 5 race wins in the latter half of the season, and Champion-to-be Alzamora's consistent podium finishes would eventually relegate Azuma to 3rd in the Championship.

He put together a good string of results towards the end of the season with a fifth, two second places and a win at the final round in Australia, but the inconsistency up to then meant he couldn't challenge for the title.

Moving to the Ajo Motorsports team, Azuma struggled to make headway, with only 4 Top 10 finishes all season and 7 DNFs.