Suzuka 8 Hour 30th July 2006 Championship Introduction The World Endurance Championship is a unique and gruelling test of motorcycle and rider power and endurance – a worldwide phenomenon that’s a massive hit with race fans, riders and teams alike. The Championship is one of only three world road racing championships officially sanctioned by the FIM. World Endurance races are known for their spectacular starts, which see the riders sprint across the track to their waiting motorcycles. Race weekends are hugely popular festivals with music and all kinds of entertainment for spectators. Suzuki Castrol have a strong 44point lead in the championship standings after winning at Assen, Albacete and Zolder and coming second at Le Mans. However, there are still 100 points to be won and with next weekend’s Suzuka 8 Hour Japanese round of the championship one of the most competitive races of the season, the result is far from certain. Race Schedule The Suzuka weekend begins on Thursday the 27th with free practice sessions for all teams. Qualifying takes place on Friday 28th. Teams are split into two groups to reduce the number of bikes on track at any one time so there are two sessions for each rider from each team in each group, meaning virtually non-stop track action until night practice finishes. Saturday sees the Suzuka 4 Hour race for 600cc bikes, followed by the Special Stage double-jeopardy Super Pole for the fastest teams. The day ends with a night-time pit walk and the 8 Hours Eve Festival. The Suzuka 8 Hour race itself starts at 11:30am on Sunday the 30th, following warm-up sessions, an ever popular pit walk and the usual start line attractions. The race finishes at 7:30pm, about half an hour after sunset. Entries Exceed Expectations A total of 84 teams have entered the 2006 Suzuka 8 Hour race, racing in six classes (Superbike, SuperProduction, SuperStock, Japanese Superbike and XX Formulas 1 and 2) and representing six manufacturers (Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda, BMW, Ducati) as well as the usual Suzuka-only one off entries from the likes of Asahina and Over. A record ten permanent World Endurance Championship teams will make the long journey to Japan this year, reflecting the ever-growing importance of points scored at Suzuka to the championship. FIM Endurance Cup of Nations This is the first year that the FIM Endurance Cup of Nations has taken place. As well as chasing overall victory in the 8 Hour race, eight teams will also compete for national honour at Suzuka. Representing Austria, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Sweden and Switzerland, the teams were chosen based on their performance so far this season and include the full factory Seven Stars HRC Honda squad, top Kawasaki outfit Bolliger, Sweden’s Suzuki Fagersjo-el.se and Belgium’s Acropolis Zone Rouge Yamaha. Quotes Vincent Philippe, Suzuki Castrol rider: “Suzuka will be difficult but our result at Zolder means we can take some risks there; we can go fast so it will be good.” Mandy Kainz, Yamaha Austria team manager: “We’ll be getting a ‘works engine’ from the Yamaha factory. Gwen Giabbani should be fit for Suzuka, but David Checa would have been the substitute rider if Gwen wasn’t up to it.” Damian Cudlin, Yamaha Phase One rider: “Suzuka was really a bit of an eye opener for me last year, I learned a lot. It’s not only the track that’s tough, but the heat and humidity can really take it out of you if you’re unprepared.” Championship Standings FIM World Endurance Championship standings after four rounds, top ten: Pos’n No. Team Nat. Bike Class Total 1 1 Suzuki Castrol Team FRA Suzuki GSX-R1000 SBK 108 2 7 Yamaha Austria Racing Team AUT Yamaha YZF-R1 SBK 64 3 8 Bolliger Team Switzerland Kawasaki SUI Kawasaki ZX10R SBK 58 4 12 Team Fagersjo-el Suzuki SWE Suzuki GSX-R1000 SBK 49 5 3 Yamaha Phase One Endurance GBR Yamaha YZF-R1 SBK 43 6 55 National Motos Honda FRA Honda CBR1000RR SBK 35 7 44 Suzuki No Limits & R.T. Suzuki ITA Suzuki GSX-R1000 SBK 24 8 100 Team Endurance Moto 45 Suzuki FRA Suzuki GSX-R1000 STK 23 9 94 Yamaha GMT94 FRA Yamaha YZF-R1 SBK 22 10 21 RMT 21 Racing Honda GER Honda CBR1000RR SBK 21 Uniquely to the World Endurance Championship, all three classes of bike–Superbike, SuperProduction and SuperStock – race for a single championship title. The points available at each race depend on the race duration; the winning team at Suzuka will earn 30 points, for example.