Staff HRC conducts future take a look at in race-hot circumstances on the ultimate day of take a look at at Suzuka
On July 6, Day 2 of joint assessments for the forty fourth version of the Endurance World Championship (EWC) “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Highway Race forty fourth Event (Suzuka 8 Hours) concluded a two-day session on the Suzuka Circuit.
On day one (July 5) Staff HRC Tetsuta Nagashima, again from harm, set the quickest lap day out of the 4 classes held over the day.
On day 2 the taking part bikes have been once more divided into teams A and B. A 70-minute Session 5 for every group was held within the morning, adopted by the same 70-minute Session 6 within the afternoon.
Not like yesterday, circumstances have been scorching within the morning with robust sunshine and hovering temperatures. 33℃ highs have been forecast, however at Suzuka Circuit, warmth mirrored from the monitor floor and generated from the engines added to the scorching surroundings. Monitor temperature reached 55°C within the morning, and rose to 60°C within the afternoon, creating take a look at circumstances much like the race itself.
In Session 5, Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing (Kosuke Sakumoto / Ryo Mizuno / Kazuma Watanabe) was third-fastest with 2 min 7.958s, F.C.C. TSR Honda France (Josh Hook / Mike Di Meglio / Alan Techer) was fourth with 2 min 7.891s, and Staff HRC (Takumi Takahashi / Iker Lecuona / Xavi Vierge / Tetsuta Nagashima) was fifth-fastest with 2 min 7.791s. SDG Honda Racing (Teppei Nagoe / Naomichi Uramoto / Yuki Kunii) was sixth with 2 min 7.940s. Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA (Md Zaqhwan Bin Zaidi / Andi Farid Izdihar / Nakarin Atiratphuvapat) was eleventh-fastest with 2 min 8.499s.
In Session 6, Staff HRC’s Nagashima led the best way with a 2 min 6.077s lap (quickest time within the two-day mixed classification), adopted by Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing with 2 min 6.638s, and F.C.C. TSR Honda France with 2 min 6.811s. SDG Honda Racing was fourth-fastest with 2 min 7.254s, Honda Dream RT SAKURAI Honda (Kazuki Ito / Daijiro Hiura / Kota Arakawa) was seventh with 2 min 7.895s, and Staff ATJ (Satoru Iwata / Yuki Takahashi / Tomoyoshi Koyama) was tenth with 2 min 8.271s. Honda had six groups within the prime 10 for the session.
Staff HRC targeted on future assessments, giving its riders a very good really feel for the bike. With ambient and monitor temperatures rising, the take a look at was held in circumstances much like the precise race, permitting the workforce to build up helpful information. The workforce additionally carried out race-condition pit work, making ready the crew for the race.
Honda goals for back-to-back wins within the Suzuka 8 Hours following final yr, and if profitable, Takahashi will tie Toru Ukawa’s 5 Suzuka 8 Hours victories.
Takumi Takahashi 33
I rode within the earlier session, so the opposite three riders went on lengthy runs. I didn’t have as a lot time on monitor as I believed I might, so I needed extra for as we speak’s classes because the circumstances have been nearer to the race, however the different workforce riders did an awesome job, so I’m optimistic for the race. I get many questions on successful my fifth Suzuka 8 Hours this yr, however for me, I might reasonably consider successful every race reasonably than specializing in my report. I’ll give all of it I’ve so we will win once more this yr.
Iker Lecuona 33
I did a future within the morning, however my feeling wasn’t pretty much as good in comparison with final yr, and I couldn’t attain the common time I needed. In comparison with yesterday, as we speak we’re near the place we have been final yr, so I’m not that apprehensive. I’ll make changes for the race weekend and ensure I attain my goal occasions. I nonetheless keep in mind the fun of final yr’s victory, and I’ll do my finest to expertise that pleasure as soon as once more.
Xavi Vierge 33
I had the impression that the bike was a bit tough to journey as a result of the seat place was completely different from the earlier take a look at. I couldn’t attain my goal time and couldn’t hold my common at a constant stage. The big variety of bikes on monitor and the warmth didn’t assist, however I feel that the expertise of this run was vital for the race. I used to be not a rider in final yr’s race however supported everybody within the pits, so I’ve a robust want to race. This yr, I need to rejoice successful with everybody, and I’m proud to be on a workforce that may do this. I look ahead to the race and I’ll be again.
Tetsuta Nagashima 33
For me, the principle objective of the take a look at was to verify my bodily situation. I feel as we speak was fulfilling as I used to be in a position to do lengthy runs and report the quickest time. I feel I used to be in a position to do all of the issues a rider is anticipated to do. There’s a couple of month between now and the race, so I’ll hold targeted and proceed to enhance my bodily situation. This Suzuka 8 Hours is the one race I’ve an opportunity to compete on this yr, so I need to do no matter it takes to race. I did my finest to get chosen by the workforce. I hope to make stable contributions to the workforce like final yr and win the race.
Extra, from a press launch issued by FIM EWC:
HONDA BRINGS IN VIERGE AS PUSH FOR SUZUKA 8 HOURS EWC GLORY INTENSIFIES
For speedy launch (7 July 2023): Honda goes all out to say victory in Japan’s spherical of the FIM Endurance World Championship for a second yr working subsequent month (4-6 August).
It has listed 10 supported groups because it pushes to win the forty fourth Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race with Xavi Vierge a notable new recruit for 2023.
Vierge has been referred to as as much as race for Staff HRC in spherical three of the 2023 EWC season onboard a CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP fitted with Bridgestone tyres. He’ll be a part of forces with Japan’s Takumi Takahashi and fellow Spaniard Iker Lecuona for the ever-spectacular and ever-challenging EWC contest.
Together with Tetsuta Nagashima, Takahashi and Lecuona scored Honda’s first Suzuka 8 Hours victory after they triumphed for Staff HRC final August. However with Nagashima within the technique of regaining full health following a foot harm, Vierge will deliver expertise from the FIM Superbike World Championship to the EWC.
“This would be the first time for me to journey within the Suzuka 8 Hours,” stated 26-year-old Vierge. “I’m very pleased to have the ability to journey as a rider in the identical stage the place so many riders have created legends. Iker Lecuona is my team-mate in WSBK and Takumi Takahashi is a good rider who has received many 8 Hours races up to now. I consider that we will win this race by working exhausting three riders collectively.”
Like Vierge, Lecuona races in WSBK, whereas Takahashi is competing within the MFJ All-Japan Highway Race Championship ST1000 division this season. A fifth Suzuka 8 Hours victory subsequent month would put him joint prime on the checklist of winners of the Suzuka 8 Hours.
F.C.C. TSR Honda France, which received the 2022 FIM Endurance World Championship, will proceed its title defence within the Suzuka 8 Hours with riders Mike Di Meglio (France), Josh Hook (Australia) and Alan Techer (France). In the meantime, Honda Viltaïs Racing, the winner of the 2022 EWC season-deciding Bol d’Or, will rely on the talents of Florian Alt (Germany), Leandro Mercado (Argentina) and Steven Odendaal (South Africa).
“Suzuka is certainly one of my favourites,” stated Hook, 30. “Residence of TSR and Honda it’s a monitor that I actually like and our bike usually performs fairly nicely. The workforce has been doing a very good job this yr thus far and the mechanics have been wonderful. I’m actually wanting ahead to coming to Suzuka, seeing all of the Japanese followers and racing there once more.”
The forty fourth Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race is because of begin at 11h30 native time on Sunday 6 August.
About Warner Bros. Discovery Sports activities Europe
Warner Bros. Discovery Sports activities Europe represents WBD’s portfolio of sports activities manufacturers, channels and platforms in Europe. It collectively reaches 130 million individuals each month, partaking followers and broad audiences in additional than 200 markets and in over 20 languages throughout all platforms the place customers are spending time, free-to-air TV, pay-TV, streaming, on-line and social. Warner Bros. Discovery Sports activities Europe consists of the much-loved shopper manufacturers Eurosport, World Biking Community (GCN), World Mountain Bike Community (GMBN) and Golf Digest, as nicely sports activities programming and content material on discovery+ and Warner Bros. Discovery’s free-to-air TV networks. They join audiences with the best sporting occasions on the planet. This consists of being the Residence of the Olympics Video games in Europe; tennis’ Grand Slams; biking’s Grand Excursions, greater than 600 biking broadcasts per yr, the UCI Monitor Champions League, the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup from 2023 with ESO Sports activities; the PGA TOUR year-round; The Ocean Race from 2023; the Snooker World Tour; the perfect electrical racing collection with ABB FIA Components E World Championship; the FIM Speedway GP, Speedway of Nations and Speedway World Cup; and each main winter sports activities World Championship and World Cup occasion. Warner Bros. Discovery Sports activities Europe completes a full 360° supply with its occasions administration and promotion division, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports activities Occasions, which oversees 30+ occasions throughout 5 continents every year.