Like the very young Takuma Matsuyama currently in Moto3, or the experienced Tatsuyuki Nakasuga In All Japan, many Japanese pilots have, over the years, decorated with Arai helmets with two big eyes, a symbol of Japanese pilots that has become iconic thanks to Shinya Nakano.
It's a tradition that dates back to the 60s... But which, originally, does not come from Japan at all.
Explanations…
John “Moeyes” Cooper
John Cooper was an English driver who competed in a multitude of international events in the 60s and early 70s. He was known as "Moeyees", because he had two eyes painted on his helmet. In his first year as a professional, in 1964, Cooper entered a race with a helmet hand-painted by himself. But the race stewards didn't let him go out with the Jiminy Cricket (like his initials JC) decorating him. So, Cooper decided to repaint the helmet leaving only the character's eyes.
At a time when riders were dressed entirely in black and wore solid-colored helmets, the eyes seen on the Briton's helmet caused a sensation... Until Japan, where a Japanese motocross rider named Tadashi Suzuki saw Cooper's victories in magazines. The photo of the helmet with eyes struck him and he also adopted these in 1967.
Semi-official Yamaha rider despite his last name, Tadashi Suzuki won 21 national motocross events, and also became a tuner, creating his own parts for competition.
More than 30 years ago, he founded Special Parts Tadao, for short SP Tadao, whose logo still displays the “moeyees” today.
Commercial success led him to sponsor Japanese pilots… Like Shinya Nakano, who began to proudly display Tadao's eyes.
All Japanese pilots who wear or have worn their eyes on their helmet may not know who was John Cooper, but with their homage to Tadao, they perpetuate a tradition maintained by Arai which produced numerous replicas decorated with both eyes.
In Europe, the late Italian pilot Renzo Pasolini also showed up with a helmet with painted eyes as a humorous response to those who made fun of his vision problems. AGV has produced a replica, the X70 Renzo Pasolini “Montjuïc Silver”.
The tradition therefore continues with the younger generation, Takuma Matsuyama being only 16 years old...
