21 July 2024
The 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race has got off to a sensational start with the top three riders lapping almost as one for large chunks of the opening hour.
After Markus Reiterberger led for much of the opening lap for BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team’s pole-sitting Niccolò Canepa moved ahead at the chicane before Takumi Takahashi (Team HRC with Japan Post) and Ryo Mizuno (Ducati Team Kagayama) both enjoyed stints at the front during an action-packed opening hour.
But it wasn’t long before Takahashi, chasing Honda’s 30th win in the Suzuka 8 Hours and the third in a row for Team HRC, was able to establish a slight advantage over the chasing pack, handing over to MotoGP Johann Zarco after 58 minutes of racing.
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26 July 2024
Albert Arenas went from Moto2 to the FIM Endurance World Championship podium when he finished third in the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race for Yoshimura SERT Motul. Riding alongside Suzuki-powered team-mates Cocoro Atsumi and Dan Linfoot, this is what the 27-year-old from Spain had to say.A podium in your first Suzuka 8 Hours for what was your EWC debut of course. How incredible does that feel?“Incredible, especially considering how it all happened. On Monday, I couldn't board the plane due to a visa issue, and we had testing sessions on Wednesday that I couldn't attend. However, I gave my word, and we did everything possible to get here. My mentality changed with the change of plans. They told me they needed me, so I did everything I could to be here. My focus was to help the team as much as possible. I did a total of 35 laps during testing, and the sensations were good from the start. With the team, I felt at home, they are very professional, we got along well, and I was super-proud to share the bike with Cocoro and Dan. They did an incredible job, and I was able to do my best to help them, which was the goal, and I think we achieved it. Mission accomplished. It was also their first podium, very special, and I am very proud of everyone, happy to have lived this experience. Different vacations, but super-happy to have made the decision to take on this challenge in this way.”
24 July 2024
Johann Zarco became an FIM Endurance World Championship race winner at his first attempt in Japan last weekend, describing his achievement as a “big relief”.Zarco, a race winner in MotoGP, joined forces with Takumi Takahashi and Teppei Nagoe to form the Team HRC with Japan Post squad that banked a third straight win in the Suzuka 8 Hours and handed Honda its 30th victory in the iconic event.
23 July 2024
The results of the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance are now final following post-event technical checks.They found motorcycle number 23 (Team Tatara Aprilia) to be contravention of FIM Endurance World Championship Technical Regulation 2.8.6.3, and motorcycle numbers 52 (Termaoto@J-Trip Racing) and 806 (NCXX Racing with Riders Club) to be in contravention of FIM Endurance World Championship Technical Regulation 2.7.6.3. As such, motorcycle numbers 23, 52 and 806 were disqualified from the results of the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race.Click HERE for the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race final ranking and follow this LINK for the updated provisional standings after round three.
