"This was first year for me in Elite Men. I felt really good there and took the win. Akifumi got 2nd." Redline congratulates Masa on his first No.1 Pro title in Japan. It looks like all of his time spent recently with Joey Bradford is rubbin’ off. And to celebrate the title, Masa showed up in Delaware for another round of the UCi points series. And he was looking mighty fast and was considered a main-event contender until he was stopped short in the semi’s.
And to make it known to all BMXers around the World, Redline and HotShoppe are creating a special Japan National Champion jersey for Masa to run for the rest of the year.
It's been a long time coming: MASA SAMPEI and his Flight Pro XL recently defeated defending Champion Akafumi Sakamoto for the No.1 Pro title in Japan. "I did All Japan Championships," Masa tells us in his slightly broken-English with his typically big grin on his face. 
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.