Ryusei Yamanaka is a pure product of the Road to MotoGP™ program. In 2017, he participated in two of these series: the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup and in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, where he won his very first race a year later. That same season, the Japanese rider also left the IATC in favor this time of the FIM CEV Repsol Moto3™ Championship in which he would perform well for a fifth placed finish. Under the colors of the Estrella Galicia 0,0 team, he made four wildcard appearances in 2019 before becoming a full-time rider in 2020. He managed to crack the Top 10 in his full debut year, while in his sophomore season he was regular points finisher as he joined forces with Pruestel GP. A promising start to the season tapered off in what was a very difficult year for the German team before 2022 saw him partner Diogo Moreira in the newly formed MT Helmets – MSI team. The change of scenery helped him claim a career best P12 Championship finish, with P5 at the Italian GP his best result on the Championship stage. 2023 sees him partner a rookie once more, this time in the shape of David Alonso in the GASGAS Aspar Team leathers, where he is tasked with filling the sizeable boots left behind by reigning Champion Izan Guevara.