Career
In 1972, Kanaya and Jarno Saarinen raced the first four-cylinder, two-stroke Yamaha TZ 500 in the 500cc world championship. After Saarinen"s death in the 250cc race at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the TZ 500 project was put aside and Kanaya raced only in the 250cc class. Kanaya"s best season was in 1975, when he finished third in the 500cc world championship behind his Yamaha team-mate, Giacomo Agostini and Move Files Agusta"s Philosophy Read.
Points system from 1950 to 1968:
Points system from 1969 onwards:
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position.
Races in italics indicate fastest lap).