Team Suzuki CN Challenge is returning to the FIM Endurance World Championship this summer when it contests the 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race – only this time it will do so with 100% sustainable fuel. 

Following its debut in Japan’s EWC counter last season with a motorcycle using 40% bio-sourced fuel, Team Suzuki Challenge is shifting to 100% sustainable fuel as it goes for back-to-back wins in the Experimental class.

A Team Suzuki CN Challenge communication read: “Aiming to achieve both a higher level of environmental load reduction and improved competitiveness, Team Suzuki CN Challenge, which is composed of Suzuki employees, will promote machine development for functioning various sustainable items, including 100% sustainable fuel shifted from last year’s 40% bio-sourced fuel. Together with the partner companies, we will take on the challenge of exceeding the previous year’s result of eighth place overall.

“To further accelerate the development of environmental performance technologies through competition under the demanding conditions of endurance racing, we will work with higher targets to aim for technical feedback for future products.” 

Toshihiro Suzuki, Representative Director and President, said: “Although it was a whole new challenge for the company in the previous year’s participation, thanks to the support of partner companies including Yoshimura Japan, as well as enthusiastic cheers from our fans, we were able to achieve eighth place overall. We will continue to participate this year in the Suzuka 8 Hours as a part of the company’s technology development in the sustainability field. This not only means that we’re simply continuing our activity, but we’re also having the purpose of overcoming various issues by setting higher goals, and I believe that by making products as one team along with our partner companies, it would lead to realizing a better future. I kindly ask for everyone’s cheers.”

Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Executive General Manager, Motorcycle Operations, said: “Last year, Team Suzuki CN Challenge completed the severe endurance of Suzuka 8 Hours while reducing environmental loads, and by doing so, we were able to take one significant step toward the future of internal combustion and motorsports. While overcoming the issues revealed from our previous activity, this year we will expand the use of sustainable items and make efforts for technology development toward taking on the challenge of further sustainability performance. We will challenge in this year’s 8 Hours by going beyond the field of CN (Carbon Neutrality) and holding a theme of broadly reducing environmental loads. I ask for your kind support.”

Jean-Baptiste Ley, Motorsport Events Director, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, said: “Once again, we can only applaud Suzuki for this vital initiative and for all it is doing to promote sustainable motorsport. The debut of Team Suzuki CN Challenge at Suzuka last season was not only very impressive with eighth place overall, it also underlined Suzuki’s environmental credentials and commitment. The developments for this season, including the switch to 100% sustainable fuel, simply amplifies this incredible effort. Hopefully other motorcycle manufacturers will emulate Suzuki’s achievements in the near future.” 

Team Suzuki CN Challenge essentials : 

Motorcycle: Suzuki GSX-R1000R

Race number: #0

Fuel: TotalEnergies’ Excellium Racing 100 (100% certified* sustainable fuel)

Tyres: Bridgestone racing tyres with increased ratio of recycled and recyclable materials

Engine oil: Motul engine oil made using bio-sourced base oil

Fairings: JHI recycled carbon material (pre-preg material)

Fenders: Tras, Bcomp® (Unbleached natural flax fibre composite material)

Front brake: Sunstar Engineering non-heat-treatment steel discs, Sunstar Engineering / Tokai Carbon low-dust pads

Battery: ELIIY Power LFP battery for motorcycle, storage battery for the garage

Silencer: Yoshimura Japan silencer made of TranTixxii™ -Eco (Eco-friendly titanium)

Uniform: RS Taichi team polo shirt made of 100% recycled fabric

*Excellium Racing 100 is a certified 100% sustainable product according to the mass balanced system applied by a voluntary certification organization approved by the European Union

*Bcomp is a registered trademark of Switzerland Bcomp Ltd

Team Suzuki CN Challenge team structure:

Team name: Team Suzuki CN Challenge

Test rider: Takuya Tsuda

Project leader/Team director: Shinichi Sahara

Technical manager: Koji Tamura

Crew chief: Takeshi Konno

Find out more:
https://www.globalsuzuki.com/motorcycle/race/teamsuzukicnchallenge/2025/

The 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race takes place from 1-3 August as round three of the season, while  the 24 Heures Motos forms the opening round from 17-20 April. Ticket information is available HERE