Written by HitachiSunairSplendor at 18:37 11/6-2014
Season 28, the 7th season that the Hitachi-Sunair-Splendor team have participated in has been a mixed bag of results. Optimism was high at the start of the season with the big money move of Japan international rider Umino Tomonori from Team Blund, while Russian Garry Tabernakulov was looking to build upon a solid season last time out.
Tomonori hit the ground running and ended the season with 3 wins, in Austria, India and Italy, as well as two podium positions in Spain and China. He finished the season 5th in the Japan tour rank with 215 OCM tour points.
This success is a marked constrast to Tabernakulov's season, where leading the B team he failed to score a single result of note, his best being 6th in three tour events. Hitachi-Sunair-Splendor team boss Ryoku Kenta must now make an important call on if he is the correct man to be vice-captain, at the age of 26 Tabernakulov is still improving and it is certainly not the last we will hear of his rider, be it at Hitachi-Sunair-Splendor or a rival team.
Ryoku spoke very highly of the two youngsters in the team, Shigeta Daisuke and Kabaya Seiichi. While they are seen as of high potential, they have not featured in many races this season and there are rumours they have been concerned at their lack of training. Seiichi's agent is on record as saying "Kabaya did not join this season to be the mascot or waterboy, if he is not given the opportunity to play a bigger role in the team we will look elsewhere". Ryoku has said that two will embark on an extensive training camp over the pre-season with a view to giving them a chance to stake a claim on the A and B teams.
In contrast to these, the sun is setting on the pairing of Osada Tatsunori and Fukagawa Hideki, who provided many great memories for Hitachi-Sunair-Splendor fans, and it is widely acknowledged that they will be retiring sooner rather then later. Both have expressed an interest in taking on a staff role when their time as riders comes to a close.
With three wins, this has been the most successful season for the team thus far, though this hides the truth that five podium places in the lowest the team has managed in a full season, and wholesale changes will need to be made if this is repeated next season. Ryoku was also very disappointed with the performance of the team in the classic events, and called for more climbing tours to be included in next year's calendar.
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