Team HRC with Japan Post third place in qualifying for the Suzuka 8 Hours
Suzuka Circuit5 Honda-powered teams in the top ten for the Suzuka 8 Hours
The third round of FIM Endurance World Championship takes place in Japan for the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race from 19-21 July, one of the most physical and demanding tracks in the calendar with hot and humid conditions.
For the first time, the Suzuka 8 Hours will be part of the FIM Endurance World Cup, offering European Superstock teams the opportunity to race on this iconic 5.821-kilometre track.
For the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours, nineteen Honda-powered teams will participate, including Team HRC with Japan Post, which is aiming for a third consecutive victory in Japan's round.
Moreover, a Honda victory in the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race could extend its record to 30 wins in the Suzuka 8 Hours.
Team HRC with Japan Post, aboard the CBR1000RR-R SP, will be represented by Takumi Takahashi, new recruits Teppei Nagoe, and French MotoGP rider Johann Zarco.
F.C.C. TSR Honda France is back at Suzuka with their trio of riders on the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP. Mike Di Meglio returns after missing the 8 Hours of Spa Motos last June. Despite missing the official Suzuka test last month, the team remains confident in achieving a good result at the Japanese track.
After the second qualifying session of the day, a total of five Honda teams qualified for the Top Ten Trial, which will be held on Saturday 20th July.
The best Honda team was Team HRC with Japan Post, who qualified in third place with an average time of 02:06.032
In the morning’s free practice, Team HRC with Japan Post set the fastest lap time of the session, with Johann Zarco recording the best lap at 2:06.238.
During the first qualifying session, Takahashi led the charge with the fourth-fastest time in his group at 02:06.381. Zarco claimed the second spot with a lap time of 02:06.084, and Nagoe secured the third-fastest time at 02:05.980. In the second qualifying session, none of the Team HRC with Japan Post riders improved their lap times.
Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing achieved a successful fifth position aboard the Honda CBR1000RR-R with riders Kohta Nozane, Taiga Hada, and Kosuke Sakumoto. The Honda #17 set a qualified lap time of 02:06.215.
SDG Team HARC-PRO Honda, the runner-up in Suzuka 2023, ended up in sixth position after both qualifying session with a lap time of 02:06.357. The team is comprised of Mario Suryo Aji, Naomichi Uramoto, and Yuki Kunii.
F.C.C. TSR Honda France qualified in 9th place with a time of 02:06.981 and the team still secured a spot in the Top 10 Trial. This ultimate battle, on a single lap set by 2 riders, determines the top 10 positions on the starting grid.
Honda Dream RT SAKURAI HONDA also entered the Top 10 Trial as the team formed by Kazuki Ito and Daijiro Hiura finished in 10th place.
A second free practice takes place tomorrow followed by the Top 10 Trial that will determine the starting grid positions.
We are improving session after session, as we missed the test one month ago. It was quite hard at the start to find the right set-up, electronic, and chassis, but we stayed calm with the team and my team mates. We are happy to be in the top ten trial for tomorrow.
We are improving session after session, as we missed the test one month ago. It was quite hard at the start to find the right set-up, electronic, and chassis, but we stayed calm with the team and my team mates. We are happy to be in the top ten trial for tomorrow.
We missed the test, so basically, this was a big problem for us because leading into the race weekend, we didn’t have enough time on the bike to go into the things we had to improve. It just takes time, and we don’t have time. But we are coming from a long way since we came here for the first practice, so slowly we are getting the bike in the right direction and hopefully during the night and free practice tomorrow we can find some things to change. Qualifying wasn’t our priority as we wanted to focus on the race pace and get a bike that worked well in the race.
We missed the test, so basically, this was a big problem for us because leading into the race weekend, we didn’t have enough time on the bike to go into the things we had to improve. It just takes time, and we don’t have time. But we are coming from a long way since we came here for the first practice, so slowly we are getting the bike in the right direction and hopefully during the night and free practice tomorrow we can find some things to change. Qualifying wasn’t our priority as we wanted to focus on the race pace and get a bike that worked well in the race.
Overall, it was a good day. We missed the test before, so we had many jobs to do: test a new bike, new electronics, and many other things to put the bike in the right way. We struggled a bit at the beginning, but in the end, the team and my teammates worked very well on the chassis and electronics and made a step forward. We have a good race pace, and our target is to fight for the podium and finish the race with no mistakes
Overall, it was a good day. We missed the test before, so we had many jobs to do: test a new bike, new electronics, and many other things to put the bike in the right way. We struggled a bit at the beginning, but in the end, the team and my teammates worked very well on the chassis and electronics and made a step forward. We have a good race pace, and our target is to fight for the podium and finish the race with no mistakes
The red flag came out just as I attempted a hot lap, so I could not increase my pace. However, I was able to set times in the low 2 min 6s range, and I am happy that I was able to stay in the top 10 and further prepare for the race. I am not worried because, Nagoe, Zarco and I all have more than enough energy. I don’t know who from our team will ride in the Top 10 Trial, but I don’t have to participate in it if the other two want to. I will leave it up to the team.
The red flag came out just as I attempted a hot lap, so I could not increase my pace. However, I was able to set times in the low 2 min 6s range, and I am happy that I was able to stay in the top 10 and further prepare for the race. I am not worried because, Nagoe, Zarco and I all have more than enough energy. I don’t know who from our team will ride in the Top 10 Trial, but I don’t have to participate in it if the other two want to. I will leave it up to the team.
The red flag came out just as I attempted a hot lap, so I could not increase my pace. However, I was able to set times in the low 2 min 6s range, and I am happy that I was able to stay in the top 10 and further prepare for the race. I am not worried because, Nagoe, Zarco and I all have more than enough energy. I don’t know who from our team will ride in the Top 10 Trial, but I don’t have to participate in it if the other two want to. I will leave it up to the team.
The red flag came out just as I attempted a hot lap, so I could not increase my pace. However, I was able to set times in the low 2 min 6s range, and I am happy that I was able to stay in the top 10 and further prepare for the race. I am not worried because, Nagoe, Zarco and I all have more than enough energy. I don’t know who from our team will ride in the Top 10 Trial, but I don’t have to participate in it if the other two want to. I will leave it up to the team.
I am getting more and more accustomed to the Suzuka Circuit and I feel that I am setting consistent times for the race. In qualifying, the number of tires was limited, so I had to share them with my teammates, which limited the timing of my hot laps. It was a shame that just when I went out on new tires, the red flag came out and I couldn’t find the right timing. As for the team, I’m glad that we were able be in the top 10. The team decides who will race in the Top 10 trial, so I am not sure if I will be selected, but I am willing to give it a try. As an athlete, if I can challenge myself, then of course I want to race.
I am getting more and more accustomed to the Suzuka Circuit and I feel that I am setting consistent times for the race. In qualifying, the number of tires was limited, so I had to share them with my teammates, which limited the timing of my hot laps. It was a shame that just when I went out on new tires, the red flag came out and I couldn’t find the right timing. As for the team, I’m glad that we were able be in the top 10. The team decides who will race in the Top 10 trial, so I am not sure if I will be selected, but I am willing to give it a try. As an athlete, if I can challenge myself, then of course I want to race.
