NewsInformation

A current university student competing in BMX racing shares an activity report and future goals.

Hyoukai Kiuchi, a BMX racer and recipient of the second JPF Scholarship, which is supported by JPF Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as JPF), recently visited the JPF main office and paid a courtesy call to President and CEO Shuntaro Watanabe.

Because Kiuchi was on an overseas tour at the "JPF Scholarship Award Ceremony" held on April 1st, the award certificate was presented to him again at this time.

On the day of the event, participants shared reports on last season's activities and goals for this season. A wide range of opinions were exchanged regarding BMX racing, a sport in which participants continue to compete on the world stage, including experiences abroad, the competitive environment, and differences in sports culture.

Last season, Kiuchi achieved 16th place in the UCI BMX Racing World Cup and was the runner-up in the Asian Championships, while also participating in pump Track clinics at PIST6. He has been working to convey the appeal of cycling to a wide range of generations, from children to adults.

During the visit, they also spoke about their thoughts on promoting cycling and nurturing the next generation, saying things like, "It's important to create an environment that serves as an 'entry point' for people to start cycling," and "I think that as the community expands, the number of people participating in cycling will also increase."

Furthermore, Kiuchi, who is currently based in France, has been exposed to the local sports culture and competitive environment, and is conducting research on the theme of "Differences in Sports Culture between Japan and France" for his graduation thesis at university.

This season, we aim to reach the finals of the BMX Racing World Cup, perform well at the World Championships, and win a gold medal at Asian Games, and will continue our activities both domestically and internationally. JPF will continue to support athletes who are not only striving for competitive results but also contributing to the spread of cycling culture and the development of the next generation. Some of the competitions in which we plan to participate will be streamed on the UCI's official YouTube channel and other platforms. Please check the related links for details.

[Kiuchi Hyougai Player Profile]
Originally from Izunokuni City, Shizuoka Prefecture, he competes in domestic and international BMX racing competitions while enrolled in the Faculty of Sports Management at Nippon Sport Science University. He is a member of Team Sarrians BMX in France and also trains overseas. He placed second in the Men's U23 category of BMX racing at the 2025 Asian rider.

[About the JPF Scholarship]
The JPF Scholarship is a program that supports students involved in cycling, helping them balance their studies and athletics while developing into individuals who can thrive in society in the future. Beyond simply improving athletic performance, the program aims to cultivate individuals who can give back to society the experience gained through their sport. For the 2026 academic year, nine student cyclists were selected as the second cohort of scholarship recipients. Through this program, JPF will continue to support the challenges of students involved in cycling, promoting the development of cycling and fostering the next generation of talent.

[Related Links]
The event will be streamed on the UCI's official YouTube channel and other platforms.
 UCI BMX Racing World Cup Round 1 & 2 Streaming Page:
https://www.youtube.com/live/hoadJ5MPQD4?si=afqGKrOm50jpJ2Is
https://www.youtube.com/live/pgM3w2pmsXw?si=dVTmwgo420-bmxZW
 
UCI BMX Racing World Cup Round 3 & 4 streaming page:
https://www.youtube.com/live/kZAZAyXOd-Q?si=kOjbQGWHexneTVdY
https://www.youtube.com/live/pgM3w2pmsXw?si=JsDkMYsYQPfTZwFL