RIZLA SUZUKI rider Yukio Kagayama rode a motorcycle last week for the first time since the accident that cut his season short at Cadwell Park last August - starting out on one wheel before graduating to both wheels.

At Suzuki's own Ryoyo test track in Japan, Yuki was given a Factory GSX-R1000 racer to ride. After slinging his leg over the bike, he pulled a monster wheelie out of pitlane before settling onto two wheels and steady lap times.

Yuki has been recovering from a broken pelvis that he sustained during a practice crash at Cadwell Park in August 2003. While he has been out of hospital since Christmas, this is the first time he has ridden a motorcycle.

Suzuki is giving Yuki all its support in a bid to have him as fit and fast as possible for the first race of the BSB season at Silverstone on March 28th. His speed is already returning and he managed a lap time close to his best ever despite his six-month lay-off. Yuki will be riding regularly during February, with his support crew in Japan encouraging him to build his race fitness before pushing him to find the limits of his bike.

The Japanese rider is due to join Rizla Suzuki for pre-season testing at Valencia in Spain early in March before returning to the UK for the Donington official test day on March 14th.

"I enjoyed that very much," smiled Yuki after his first day of riding a bike. "But my fitness is very poor. I expected that and riding all day long was difficult and tiring, but I kept going because my mind is strong and wants to race.

"I will be training now to get fit for racing. I am lucky that I have seven weeks before the racing starts, so I have time to improve my body condition. I am looking forward to riding with John-san to test my speed and try the 2004 Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000. Thank you again to my English and Japanese fans for supporting me during my recovery."

Team manager Paul Denning said: "It is great news that Yuki is riding again and now it is his and our priority to get him fit and back up to speed in time for the start of the season. He is undergoing intensive physical training and we have absolute faith in his ability and desire to race again. He's already enjoying himself on a bike and that's a great sign."