Held at Chichibu D-Tech Center in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, the Global Operator Challenge (GOC) saw 19 elite operators across Asia Pacific compete in three Cat® machine challenges. The top three winners, representing the Asia Pacific, advance to the final round of the competition, which will be held during CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas in March 2026.
Operator Norio Miyajima from Japan won first place
Operator Shane Poole from Australia finished first runner-up
Operator Timothy Lamb from Australia was the second runner-up
All three will advance to the final round of the Global Operator Challenge during CONEXPO-CON/AGG in March 2026
IRVING, Texas, November 4, 2025―The best machine operators across the Asia Pacific region gathered in Chichibu, Japan to forge their legacy and prove their mastery of both equipment and technology. The 19 competitors first had to qualify at local Cat® dealer competitions to reach the regional round. The regional finalists competed over two days, operating Cat equipment and technology. The three winners will now advance to the final round to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada during CONEXPO-CON/AGG, March 3, 2026, inside Caterpillar’s 70,000 ft2 outdoor exhibit in the Festival Lot.
Norio Miyajima with Tanaka Industry Co., Ltd., representing Nippon Caterpillar in Japan, was crowned the Asia Pacific GOC champion. Miyajima finished the three events with the best score, which is a combination of time and penalties.
The Big Dig Challenge saw competitors put their accuracy, control and speed to the test by using a Cat 320 excavator to dig a trench using 3D GRADE technology with a defined depth and length. This was followed by using the bucket to score soccer balls into a stacked tyre column.
The Load & Go Challenge showcased the operators’ agility and adaptability as they navigated through a defined slalom course with a Cat 938 small wheel loader. Operators filled the bucket with aggregate and traversed a difficult course to dump it into a Cat 725 articulated truck. They returned to the pile in reverse and filled the bucket again to achieve a total target load of 8,000 kg. The final test continued where operators had to knock basketballs off safety cones to make the finish.
The final challenge, Precision Tractor, tested the operators’ versatility and precision by operating a Cat D4 dozer to maneuver through a difficult course using the key features of the machine without touching any obstacles. The operators started by moving a ball through a drum obstacle course, then sliding a pipe along a rope using the dozer’s blade. They finished by spreading a pile of dirt to grade before parking the machine safely. This challenge was a tribute commemorating a century of earthmoving excellence.
The Big Dig Challenge winner – Timothy Lamb with Daracon Group representing dealer WesTrac NSW, Australia
The Load & Go Challenge winner - Norio Miyajima with Tanaka Industry Co., Ltd., representing dealer Nippon Caterpillar, Japan
The Precision Tractor winner - Shane Poole with Diamond Excavators representing dealer Hastings Deering, Australia
All of the regional GOC finals (Americas, EAME and Asia Pacific) have now concluded, and the nine finalists will now advance to compete for the title of Global Champion next year at CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas.
For more information about the Global Operator Challenge, visit www.cat.com/operatorchallenge.
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