Kiwi Lineage At The Forefront For The 'Jean Machine'

Scoop

3 days ago

It's just as well Jean Kento Turner enjoys flying.
This year he'll be making at least 10 return trips from his home in Osaka to various European race circuits, and a trip to New Zealand in 2026 is not out of the question.
Jean – as in the 'Jean Machine' – is a busy 16-year-old Japanese schoolboy, contesting the Japanese Suzuka stock 600 series, as well as the European-based FIM Yamaha Blu Cru R3 World Cup and the Italian CIV Moto3 Championship with Team POS Corse.
The Japanese national, who was born in Hiroshima, the middle of three children, also holds dual nationality through his Kiwi passport via his father Simon Turner.
And for those wondering, yes, Jean's father is the Simon Turner who raced in New Zealand back in the 1980s and 90s.
Jean, who turns 17 in September, has emerged this year as a rising talent, drawing on his years of European racing experience as he graduates to the bigger classes.
He is equally at home in all three categories, father Simon says, though a recent growth spurt would suggest his immediate future lies in Moto2 or World Supersport.
'He's at the crossover phase.'
'He's now too tall for NSF250 Talent cup bikes/format and too young for full Moto2, so he's just enjoying exploring these three different categories and gaining new skills every time he gets on a bike.'
The CIV series also suits Jean, where the bikes are slightly bigger than regular Moto3, running Yamaha 450cc engines.
'But, yes, a big bike is probably where Jean needs to be heading soon, Moto2 ideally.'
This is Jean's first year racing on Japan's full-size circuits and in April he made his stock 600 debut on a Honda at Suzuka.
'He was most impressive on his 600 debut, in my eyes,' says Simon.
'He's still kind of unknown here in Japan, though Suzuka results have made people take notice.'
Jean, riding for and under the guidance of former HRC rider and tester and Suzuka Eight-Hour pole-sitter Shinya Takieshi, finished second in his debut race at the famed Japanese track. He backed that up at the recent second round with a win.
Takeishi san comments: 'Kento recently joined my team with the initial goal of using the Japanese domestic races at Suzuka on the 600cc as a training platform for his overseas efforts.
'However, it was clear from watching him at the first test that he had exceptional adaptability and natural speed, enough that I could see he would be a title contender right away.
'His curiosity and ability to absorb instructions then immediately convert them into action, even during a race situation, is unique.
'Feedback is precise and accurate, which makes my job very thrilling and rewarding. In the first two races of the season, he has achieved a second place and a win with the fastest laps on both occasions, much exceeding our expectations.
'We are looking forward to nurturing his considerable future potential.'
It was also a new experience for Jean on the Yamaha. He had never ridden an R3before the first round of the R3 World Cup at Portimao.
He learned quickly, and in just the second round at Misano earlier in June, Jean claimed a second-place finish – the first World Series podium in Europe by a member of the Turner family since uncle Keith 54 years ago.
Jean currently sits seventh overall in the Yamaha R3 World Cup, with four rounds – 8 races – remaining.
Jean's route to the world stage has been an interesting one, starting with
Japanese pocket bike series until age 10, before moving on to 100cc minibikes and flat-tracking.
At the age of 13, Jean made the big step to Premoto3 in the Italian Championship.
After showing promise, he was picked up by Paulo Oliviera (Miguel Oliveira's father) to do the ultra-competitive 2023 ESBK Spanish Championship in Premoto3.
Again, consistent improvements saw him running towards the pointy end of the field by year's end.
However, 2024 was a frustrating year, a growing Jean no longer fitting comfortably on the NSF250 Talent Cup bikes and picked up an injury.
Come 2025, and it was time to rethink bike choices and strategy, says Simon.
'Originally, I was planning on doing the Asia Pacific Yamaha R3 series,' Jeansays.
'But during the application process, Yamaha Japan intervened, and I was invited to go straight into the world series.
'It was a big leap into the unknown for me, but as it turns out Yamaha's judgment was the correct one.'
Like so many teenage racers, Jean's family is funding his race programme.
'Yes, it's coming out of our pockets, and sustaining it for four years in Europe is certainly a huge family commitment so far,' says Simon, who runs an inkjet technology supply business based in Osaka.
No decision has yet been made regarding the path Jean will take in 2026.
'We have an open mind, and several teams have seats available for him in FIMJuniorGP both Moto3 and Moto2, although funding is always a vital consideration,' says Simon.
'Certainly, Jean's podium and real pace at Misano was a big result and has already opened some new doors.'
As for making a debut New Zealand race appearance, Jean says 'never say never'.
'Maybe if a nice summer race package came up . . . who knows.'
Regardless, Jean is very proud of his New Zealand heritage and points to his helmet design by Starline – who create designs for MotoGP stars, including JorgeMartin, Pecco Bagnia and Joan Mir – 'Southern Cross and the silver ferns'.