Wayne Gardner’s son, Remy, joins father in Japanese jail for road offences

THE teenage son of Australian motorcycle great Wayne Gardner has joined his father behind bars in a Japanese prison over a driver’s licence violation.

Remy Gardner’s jailing has thrown into doubt his appearance in the Moto2 class at this weekend’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix on Phillip Island. Picture: Jake Nowakowski.

A TEENAGE son of Australian motorcycle great Wayne Gardner has been locked up in a Japanese prison over an alleged driver’s licence violation.

Remy Gardner, 18, joins his father behind bars following a pre-race drama at last Sunday’s Japanese Motorcycle Grand Prix.

The pair could face another 10 days in jail, throwing into doubt Remy’s hotly anticipated appearance in the Moto2 class at this weekend’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix on Phillip Island.

Wayne Gardner and his son Remy, pictured, are behind bars in Japan. Picture: Stephen Harman.

Remy’s younger brother Luca posted a cryptic tweet on Monday — one day after his father was taken into custody over an alleged road rage scuffle at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit, 150km north of Tokyo.

“Loss of respect to @GardnerRemy @TheWayneGardner honestly…..” read the post from @GardnerLuca, who also posted a picture the same day from his high school graduation in Spain.

The tweet from Luca Gardner.

Because Remy is a minor under Japanese law, police will not confirm his arrest.

But a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman released an email statement yesterday revealing DFAT “is providing consular assistance to two Australian men arrested in Japan”.

Accounts differ over what led to the Gardners’ arrests.

A release from Tochigi Prefectural Police relates only to Wayne, 57, Australia’s first 500cc motorcycle world champion who rode Japanese motorbikes throughout his storied career.

Wayne, originally from Wollongong in NSW, also enjoyed success on the Japanese touring car circuit driving a Toyota.

“The suspect allegedly inflicted violence by grabbing the victims’ collars and such over traffic troubles in Hiyama (the circuit location) around 8am on October 16,” reads the police statement.

“Wayne Gardner, 57, was arrested on the spot at 8.40am … the suspect is denying the claim.”

The alleged victims are two middle-aged men from Tokyo, and a 19-year-old boy.

Young Japanese are only considered legal adults once they turn 20.

While Wayne was taken into immediate custody, Remy completed Sunday’s race, finishing 19th in the Moto2 class.

He was arrested the following day for allegedly driving without a licence.

A local newspaper in Shimotsuke — where the Gardners are being held — reported yesterday that a witness saw Remy in the driver’s seat of the car at the scene of Sunday’s incident.

It is alleged Remy failed to produce an International Driving Licence that foreigners are legally required to carry when they are behind the wheel in Japan.

The Gardners face an uncertain situation in a Japanese prison, where criminal suspects can be held in trying conditions for up to 23 days without charge.

Initial questioning takes place over two days, and following that police can seek a 10-day detention order that is sometimes extended.

In a separate high-profile case last year involved a foreigner, American executive Julie Hamp was held for 20 days in a Tokyo jail for importing narcotic painkillers into the country.

She was released without charge and returned to the US.