Riders look forward to Suzuka 8 Hour Race after To...

2025 Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race

Johann Zarco scored High 10 Trial glory for the Honda HRC staff with a record-breaking pole place at Suzuka on what was a sweltering Saturday afternoon.

Zarco was the final of 20 riders to participate within the one-at-a-time shootout and excelled by posting the quickest time of 2m04.290s to beat Naomichi Uramoto’s earlier benchmark of 2m04.796s – set throughout Second Qualifying on Friday – and hand team-mate Takumi Takahashi the chance to begin on the entrance on Sunday.

Johann Zarco

“I didn’t count on to go that low within the 2m04s, I used to be considering 2m04.5s however I knew 2m04.5s wouldn’t be sufficient for pole place so this was a pleasant shock for me and it’s form of a pleasure to have this good lap time to make it possible for Takumi to begin in pole place tomorrow. We knew that we’re robust for Sunday concerning the tempo, however I repeat that we additionally know another riders have an additional with new tyres and it’s troublesome for us to make huge distinction, however right this moment it got here.”

Together with Teppei Nagoe, Takahashi and Zarco secured Honda’s thirtieth Suzuka 8 Hours victory in 2024. With Nagoe switching groups for 2025, Iker Lekuona had been as a consequence of return to the Honda HRC line-up however was injured in a multi-rider crash in the course of the World Superbike race in Hungary final Saturday, resulting in Xavi Vierge’s last-minute recruitment.

Nonetheless, with Vierge not participating as a consequence of “procedural causes”, in response to Honda HRC, Takahashi and Zarco face the prospect of tackling the gruelling eight-hour race as a pair, whereas their key rivals will compete with three riders.

World Superbike racer Andrea Locatelli was second quickest for Yamaha Racing Workforce, a lot to the reduction of team-mate Jack Miller, who fell rounding the Astemo Chicane whereas on track to set what would have been the perfect lap at that time.

Jack Miller – Yamaha Racing Workforce

“Right now, we modified the suspension settings a bit throughout free observe, and my lap instances improved dramatically. However on the press convention, all people wished to ask me about my crash within the High 10 Trial! That was a little bit embarrassing (laughs). Truthfully, although, I used to be a bit nervous firstly. In any case, it’s only one lap. My lap was virtually excellent, proper up till the ultimate chicane. Altering path and leaning into the chicane, I used to be a bit too early, resulting in the crash. I gave it my all, anyway. That’s what you do within the High 10 Trial: give it all the things you’ve received. I’m disenchanted, however I don’t remorse it! The objective for tomorrow is easy: to win. All through this race weekend, Loka, Nakasuga and I’ve all been quick and driving robust. I’ve little doubt we’ve got the benefit over the opposite groups, so the three of us will work collectively to offer it our all and go for the win.”

Andrea Locatelli – Yamaha Racing Workforce

“The High 10 Trial was a bit aggravating as a result of Jack crashed, and the staff was in a state of affairs the place we hadn’t set a quick time. Plus, we knew we would have liked a really quick lap to be up there. Additionally, it was my first expertise with the High 10 Trial. It was very thrilling, however I didn’t know the way it could end up (laughs). That is endurance racing, so in fact, the bike wasn’t fully customised for my place and setup. I made a mistake at Flip 1 and went huge. After that, I may pull it collectively, and although I simply missed out on pole, I feel I set a very good lap time. Second can be a fantastic start line for the race. Jack, Nakasuga and I are properly ready for tomorrow. An eight-hour race is tremendous lengthy, so it’s laborious to think about, and there are such a lot of issues to consider and watch out of (laughs), however I need to end with no errors and win with this superb staff!”

Katsuyuki Nakasuga – Yamaha Racing Workforce

“I haven’t watched the High 10 Trials from the pits very many instances earlier than (laughs), however watching each these guys’ high-level driving was inspiring. Particularly the ultimate time assault laps had me on the sting of my seat, and as a bike racing fan, I actually loved it. Ultimately, we simply missed out on pole with 2nd, however each Loka and Jack placed on unbelievable performances. I’m grateful to them for getting our staff up into 2nd. When Jack crashed, I couldn’t assist however yell out, “He virtually had it!” He was pushing so laborious there. Fortunately, he wasn’t injured, so he shortly shifted his mindset, telling us that he simply received a little bit too fired up! So, I’m not fearful in any respect. Tomorrow, I’ll do my half as a member of this superb staff, work along with my teammates, and combat by means of the 8 Hours. The weekend has been going easily thus far, and as we’ve gone alongside, our teamwork has gotten actually good. All three of us have a transparent understanding of our roles. Additionally, the crew’s pit work has been steadily bettering. If we are able to maximise our full potential, we must always be capable to purpose for the highest spot.”

Wataru Yoshikawa – Yamaha Racing Workforce Supervisor

“Within the High 10 Trial, Miller and Locatelli confirmed some really world-class driving. I used to be excited watching them, and as a former racer, it had my blood pumping! (laughs). The best way they pushed themselves to the restrict confirmed their excessive potential as riders. I feel it was a very good inspiration for Nakasuga, too. For us, 2nd is a good end result contemplating the robust competitors we had been up towards. Jack crashed yesterday and right this moment, however fortuitously, there have been no accidents, and issues are going very easily total. The crashes additionally fostered a excessive stage of communication among the many riders, giving me the sense that they’re rising nearer collectively as a staff. Tomorrow’s race might be a brand new story. All of the riders are totally conscious of their position and duties, so I’m assured we’ll be capable to placed on a fantastic race. our present state of affairs, I’ve little doubt we’re in place to purpose for the general victory. Nonetheless, we’ve got to needless to say we’re coming again right here with a six-year hole. We’ll be approaching tomorrow’s race with a way of constructive rigidity.”

In the meantime, Uramoto’s third quickest time for BMW-powered AutoRace Ube Racing Workforce marked a high-quality achievement for the privateer outfit, which additionally options Loris Baz and Isle of Man TT winner Davey Todd in its line-up, to make it three completely different motorbike producers within the prime three.

The High 10 Trial is exclusive to the Suzuka 8 Hours and is used to finalise the primary 10 positions on the beginning grid following the normal two-legged qualifying, which came about on Friday afternoon and ended with Workforce Étoile claiming pole place within the Dunlop-equipped Superstock class. The BMW-powered Japanese outfit completed forward of Kaedear-Dafy-RAC 41-Honda and Honda No Limits.

After claiming third place for AutoRace Ube Racing Workforce, Uramoto stated:

“It’s superb to be right here within the prime three with these superb manufacturing facility groups. With the qualifying I’m actually happy with the end result and really excited and really completely happy.”

Of the groups contesting the total EWC season, BMW Motorrad World Endurance Workforce completed a high-quality fifth within the High 10 Trial behind Japanese squad SDG Workforce HARC-PRO Honda courtesy of Michael van der Mark’s run. The purpose scored for taking fifth place places BMW Motorrad World Endurance Workforce equal second with Kawasaki Webike Trickstar within the EWC title standings.

Final yr’s High 10 Trial winner Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Workforce was sixth quickest with defending EWC champion staff Yoshimura SERT Motul in seventh. YART continues to prime the EWC title chase with an 18-point benefit.

Marvin Fritz – Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Workforce

“High 10 Trial was so-so for us. Final yr, I used to be capable of do a 2’05.1 in qualifying and the High 10 Trial. This yr we couldn’t match that. Possibly our race setup wasn’t superb for that, however then again, we really feel good going into the race. We have now an excellent robust tempo – our common race tempo is quicker, so we’re assured for tomorrow. For positive, will probably be extraordinarily powerful on this warmth, however that’s the identical for everybody. We’re well-prepared and assured we are able to obtain a very good end result.”

Karel Hanika – Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Workforce

“I’m not proud of my High 10 Trial. Final yr, I crashed, however I feel I may have carried out a 2’04. This yr, I’m greater than a second slower. We arrange our bike primarily for the race distance, which is able to hopefully work out properly in the long run, but it surely did imply we lacked one-lap efficiency. We all know we are able to go a lot quicker right here usually, however this yr, that is the state of affairs. All eyes are on tomorrow. It will likely be an extended day and really laborious on everybody with this warmth. Hopefully, we are able to get a very good end result.”

Jason O’Halloran – Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Workforce

“We’re wanting ahead to the race tomorrow. We had the check, after which a couple of days of driving this race weekend. The race tempo appears fairly good. All three of us are comparable. It’s going to be a scorching day. Bodily, it’s going to be demanding. We’re wanting ahead to getting began and seeing how we find yourself on the finish of the race.”

Mandy Kainz – Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Workforce Supervisor

“In qualifying, the end result was the utmost we may do with the present bike set-up. Fortunately, we didn’t crash – we simply checked the restrict. That’s it. We’ll have a greater feeling within the race tomorrow. We’re assured going into the race as a result of our tempo is sweet. We knew we’d battle in qualifying with a single lap, however we’re not far off from the opposite championship contenders, so it’s OK.”

Yohei Kato – Yoshimura SERT Motul Workforce Director

“In contrast to final yr, after we needed to take care of a number of points throughout our preparation week, this yr all the things went easily. We had been subsequently capable of deal with the bike’s efficiency and our outcomes had been very constructive, each throughout free observe and qualifying. We’re very aggressive towards our principal rival within the championship. The High 10 Trial ended with a seventh-place end. I hoped for a greater place, but it surely’s not significantly vital for the race. Tomorrow is one other day. We’ll should be affected person firstly of the race and handle it properly but in addition put strain on our principal rivals. It’s going to be a troublesome race, however the entire staff is motivated. We’ll obtain our objective!”

Damien Saulnier – Yoshimura SERT Motul Workforce Supervisor

“We had an excellent qualifying session, ending simply behind the three huge Japanese groups. We had been the primary everlasting staff, so we achieved our objective. After the superpole, the staff misplaced a couple of locations. After all, this isn’t what we had been hoping for, but it surely’s an extended race and we’re very properly ready. Tomorrow, issues might be again to regular. The bike is sound and dependable, and our staff is at all times very environment friendly throughout pit stops. We’ll clearly do our utmost and be just a bit aggressive to convey dwelling as many factors as attainable.”

Gregg Black – Yoshimura SERT Motul Workforce

“In qualifying, we proved that we had been quick. The staff did a exceptional job on the bike as a result of the situations listed below are troublesome. It’s actually scorching and the observe temperature rises to 60°c. We labored lots on the race setup for the bike throughout qualifying, which didn’t essentially put us in the perfect place for the High 10 Trial, which is at all times a really particular train. In any case, we all know that each one three of us have good tempo for the race. We’re assured and are aiming for the rostrum.”

Cocoro Atsumi – Yoshimura SERT Motul Workforce

“This week of preparation was very constructive for us till the 2 qualifying periods. We had a very good tempo and all three of us felt good on the bike. This morning, throughout free observe, we struggled a bit to search out the identical efficiency, and that occurred once more in the course of the High 10 Trial. I used to be initially a bit disenchanted with our ultimate place on the beginning grid, however then I modified my thoughts. We have now an excellent tempo for the race, which is an important factor.”

Dan Linfoot – Yoshimura SERT Motul Workforce

“We labored constantly as ordinary to search out the perfect settings and the perfect feeling between all three riders. And the outcomes had been there. I felt good throughout yesterday’s qualifying periods and gathered details about the bike that we had been capable of focus on with the entire staff. However I feel we made a small mistake within the free observe this morning, simply earlier than the High 10 Trial, and I misplaced a little bit confidence. Seventh on the grid isn’t the place we need to be however, in fact, the precedence is the 8-hour race, not the qualifying lap. We’ll get again to the place we belong tomorrow. I’m positive Greg could make a very good begin and get us out entrance!”

The High 10 Trial prime 10 was accomplished by native outfits SDG-Ducati Workforce Kagayama, Workforce ATJ with docomo Enterprise and Astemo Professional Honda SI Racing.

Workforce Suzuki CN Problem, which is utilizing 100 per cent sustainable gas and different eco-friendly parts, is ready to begin the forty sixth Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race in twelfth place adopted by Kawasaki Webike Trickstar and F.C.C. TSR Honda France.

ELF Marc VDS Racing Workforce/KM99 is ready to line up in 18th place with ERC Endurance subsequent up in nineteenth, Tati Workforce AVA6 Racing twenty third and Motobox Kremer Racing in forty first place.

Dwelling EWC Superstock pole for Workforce Étoile

Workforce Étoile banked the Dunlop-equipped Superstock pole place for forty sixth Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race, its dwelling spherical of the FIM Endurance World Cup.

Riders Motoharu Ito, Hikari Okubo and Kazuki Watanabe mixed to safe the BMW-powered outfit’s second EWC Superstock pole place because it joined the collection forward of the 2024 season.

Having certified second 12 months in the past, Workforce Étoile edged season-long rivals Kaedear-Dafy-RAC 41-Honda and Honda No Limits as three of the six everlasting EWC groups competing made huge impacts.

The 5 factors scored means Workforce Étoile strikes equal third within the standings with 3ART Better of Bike, which isn’t competing in Suzuka. Nationwide Motos Honda FMA continues to move the factors desk after qualifying ninth.

Hikari Okubo

“Very completely happy we get pole place, it’s crucial for the championship as a result of we get 5 factors and my team-mates and staff workers labored superb, which is why I may push 100 per cent in my qualifying.”

Honda No Limits was second after First Qualifying however a crash for Gabriele Giannni induced appreciable harm and a drop in place to 3rd behind Kaedear-Dafy-RAC 41-Honda.

Kawasaki Plaza Racing Workforce took fourth with TONE Workforce 4413 EVA 02 BMW fifth and NCXX Racing with Riders Membership in sixth.

Wójcik Racing Workforce was a robust seventh regardless of its three riders – Spaniard Jordi Torres and Polish youngsters Mateusz Molik and Milan Pawelec – racing at Suzuka for the primary time. Workforce Tatara Aprilia, Nationwide Motos Honda FMA and Revo-M2 accomplished the Superstock prime 10.

High 10 Trial Outcomes

Full Qualifying Positions/Beginning Grid

2025 Suzuka 8 Hours Schedule
(CET+7)

Friday 1 August

• 08h30-10h30: Free Follow
• 12h00-12h20: First Qualifying (Blue Riders)
• 12h35-12h55: First Qualifying (Yellow Riders)
• 13h10-13h30: First Qualifying (Crimson Riders)
• 15h30-15h50: Second Qualifying (Blue Riders)
• 16h05-16h25: Second Qualifying (Yellow Riders)
• 16h40-17h00: Second Qualifying (Crimson Riders)
• 18h30-19h50: Night time Free Follow

Saturday 2 August

• 14h15-15h00: Free Follow
• 15h30-17h00: High 10 Trial

Sunday 3 August

• 08h30-09h15: Heat-up
• 11h30: Begin of forty sixth Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race
• 19h30: End of forty sixth Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race

All timings are CET +7 and topic to vary