Melissa Paris and Shelina Moreda ready for Suzuka 4 hours

American female duo to race in Japan

The famous Honda tuner Moriwaki, will face a new challenge when he brings a 100% female team consisting of the two American riders Shelina Moreda and Melissa Paris to the 4 Hours of Suzuka. This shorter distance race will take place as part of the famous 8 Hours of Suzuka, which later this month will mark the second round of the 2014 FIM Endurance World Championship.

Riding the Honda CBR600RR Synergy Force Moriwaki Club # 21, Melissa Paris and Shelina Moreda will certainly be under the spotlight in Japan. The team managed by Midori Moriwaki, the daughter of the founder and CEO of this Japanese company, will start the Suzuka 4 Hours that will take place on the eve of Suzuka 8 Hours on Saturday, July 26. It will be an incredible debut for the two U.S. riders on this great circuit, with this female pairing having only been signed up in early July.

“Today, out on the track, straight away I realized that the track was very challenging with 22 turns, which is a lot to master,” explains Melissa Paris, “and if it were not for these test sessions, I do not think I would be able to even be competitive in the race.”

“Yuki Takahashi, who is here helping us learn the track, said to me before I was on the track that Suzuka is like a combination of a two different tracks,” says Shelina Moreda, “and I understood what he meant as soon as I was out on the track. It is an honour to be here racing with a team like Moriwaki, and being supported by Honda is huge for me. Also the support from FIM is incredible. Their historic participation is supported by the Commission for Women in Motorcycling, as part of the FIM’s efforts to promote increased female involvement in two-wheel motorsport.”

The first free practice for the Suzuka 4 Hours will be held on Thursday, July 24. The start of the race itself will be on Saturday, July 26 at 9 am local time (GMT + 9 h).