Coca-Cola Zero Suzuka 8 Hours/FIM Endurance World Championship
Suzuka Circuit, Japan
July 24, 2015
Timed (Qualifying) Practice Combined Results:
1. Team GREEN (Akira Yanagawa 2:08.841/Haji Ahmad Yudhistira 2:10.701/Kazuki Watanabe 2:06.656), Kaw ZX-10R, 2:06.656
2. Yamaha Factory Racing Team (Katsuyuki Nakasuga 2:06.877/Pol Espargaro 2:07.075/Bradley Smith 2:07.308), Yam YZF-R1, 2:06.877
3. Yoshimura Suzuki Shell Advance (Takuya Tsuda 2:06.958/Josh Waters 2:09.526/Alex Lowes 2:07.717), Suz GSX-R1000, 2:06.958
4. MuSASHI RT HARC-PRO (Takumi Takahashi 2:08.109/Michael vd Mark 2:08.667/Casey Stoner 2:06.963), Hon CBR1000RR, 2:06.963
5. Team Kagayama (Yukio Kagayama 2:07.594/Noriyuki Haga 2:09.226/Ryuichi Kiyonari 2:08.172), Suz GSX-R1000, 2:07.594
6. TOHO Racing with Moriwaki (Toni Elias 2:09.289/Tatsuya Yamaguichi 2:07.622/Ratthapark Wilairot 2:07.821), Hon CBR1000RR, 2:07.622
7. F.C.C. TSR Honda (Josh Hook 2:08.678/Kyle Smith 2:09.003/Dominique Aegerter 2:07.798), Hon CBR1000RR, 2:07.798
8. Honda Dream RT Sakurai Honda (Troy Herfoss 2:13.587/Jason O’Halloran 2:10.541/Naomichi Uramoto 2:08.693), Hon CBR1000RR, 2:08.693
9. Monster Energy Yamaha – YART (Broc Parkes 2:08.973/Ivan Silva 2:11.192/Sheridan Morais 2:11.212), Yam YZF-R1), 2:08.973
10. EVA RT Test Type-01 Trick Star (Osamu Deguichi 2:10.329/Hitoyasu Izutsu 2:11.286/Erwan Nigon 2:09.117), Kaw ZX-10R, 2:09.117
11. MotoMap Supply (Yoshihiro Konno 2:10.480/Nobuatsu Aoki 2:10.305/Hideyuki Ogata 2:09.215), Suz GSX-R1000, 2:09.215
12. Au&Tetoru Kohara RT (Kazuma Watanabe 2:09.770/Testuta Nagashima 2:12.140/Kosuke Akiyoshi 2:09.278), Hon CBR1000RR, 2:09.278
13. BMW Motorrad France Team Penz13.com (Markus Reiterberger 2:09.640/Tommy Bridewell 2:09.325/Bastien Mackels 2:11.194), BMW S1000RR, 2:09.325
14. Satu HATI Honda Team Asia (Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman 2:09.432/Dimas Ekky Pratama 2:12.328/Ratthapong Wilairot 2:11.942), Hon CBR1000RR, 2:09.432
15. Honda Suzuka Racing Team (Daijiro Hiura 2:09.432/Yudai Kamei 2:11.953/Takashi Yasuda 2:12.203), Hon CBR1000RR, 2:09.432
16. Team SRC Kawasaki (Gregory Leblanc 2:09.556/Matthieu Lagrive 2:12.186/Fabien Foret 2:11.673), Kaw ZX-10R, 2:09.556
17. GMT94 Yamaha (David Checa 2:09.871/Kenny Foray 2:10.837/Mathieu Gines 2:12.230), Yam YZF-R1, 2:09.871
18. CONFIA Flex Motorrad 39 (Shinya Takeishi 2:12.489/Takatoshi Ohnishi 2:16.173/Daisaku Sakai 2:10.169), BMW S1000RR, 2:10.169
19. Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (Vincent Philippe 2:10.222/Anthony Delhalle 2:10.712/Etienne Masson 2:12.134), Suz GSX-R1000, 2:10.222
20. Honda Endurance Racing (Julien Da Costa 2:10.762/Sebastien Gimbert 2:10.342/Freddy Foray 2:11.467), Hon CBR1000RR, 2:10.342
More, from a press release issued by BMW Motorrad France Team Penz13.com:
BMW Motorrad France Team Penz13.com outpaces EWC world in Suzuka Qualifying
Suzuka, Japan. The BMW Motorrad France Team Penz13.com and its riders Markus Reiterberger (GER), Tommy Bridewell (GBR) and Bastien Mackels impressed with strong showings in today’s Qualifying sessions for the 38th 8 hours of Suzuka, the second round of the FIM Endurance World Championship.
This years 38th edition of the 8 hours of Suzuka saw a total of 84 machines entering the Free Practices and the Qualifying sessions, so that the field had to be split into two groups. The fastest five teams of Group A and B proceeded to tomorrows Superpole Shoot Out for the first ten spots on the grid. The BMW Motorrad France Team Penz13.com S 1000 RR went to group B.
Reiterberger broke under the 2:10 Minute marker today, reaching a 2:09,640 in the first and a 2:09,714 in the second session. The young Bavarian talent stated afterwards that 2:08 would not be a problem at all. Amongst the Rider 1 classification, Reiterberger landed on third in the combined results sheet.
Team mate Bridewell posted the quickest time of the squad pushing the boundaries to a 2.09,325. In Group B he ranked in second spot for the second riders, only three tenth behind FIM World Supersport rider Kyle Smith.
Mackels suffered a small crash during his first Qualifying attempt after already having posted a quick 2:11 time. The Beglium rider did not injure himself and also the BMW S 1000 RR didn’t get to big of a damage, after having lost the front in the fast and fluent section. Mackels was not able to improve himself further in the second Qualifying session using race rubber only. In the end he classed eighth in the third rider group B rankings.
Within this group B the BMW Motorrad France Team Penz13.com classed in front of all other permanent FIM World Endurance Championship teams taking part in this year’s 8 hours of Suzuka. Amongst those teams just Broc Parkes of the YART squad was a couple of tenth quicker than Reiterberger, but riding in Group A.
Kazuki Watanabe posted the best time of the day for TeamGreen in 2:06,656 Minutes with only three more riders able to lapping under 2:07: Amongst them the two time MotoGP™ World Champion Casey Stoner and former MotoGP™ podium finisher Katsuyuki Nakasuga.
Tonight’s night practice saw the BMW Motorrad France Penz13.com team classing in tenth in the overall field, posting a time of 2:11,165 Minutes.
Markus Reiterberger
Rider
“I was set to go faster again in the second Qualifying but due to Bastiens crash earlier on I had to re-enter the pits shortly after I went out as I had to check the bike first. Then I got my Qualifyer tyre in which I was not able to get the full potential of as I was struck in traffic. With 2:09 time for the first time in Suzuka everyone says would be impressive, but I know for sure a 2:08 is possible”
Bastien Mackels
Rider
“My session started off very bad because I went out on a new tyre, did one lap and the red flag went out. Then I went back into the session with a new tyre which I had not ridden before and I lost the front. So for the second qualifying we did not have enough stickers for the tyres left and I had to use what was left from Tommy and Markus and I started to lose the front again, now on left and right and with that didn’t have the confidence to push more. That’s why I went out in the night practice first to get used to that type of tyre when it is new. Luckily I do understand now why I crashed, even though I am not happy with my Qualifying time.”
Tommy Bridewell
Rider
“We are getting there. We tried something else with the set up this morning and it worked out to be faster, but as well you have to push a bit more on the bike. We’ll discuss later on how we are going to proceed there, as it’s going to be a long 8 hours race on Sunday.”
Rico Penzkofer
Team Principal
“The achievement today is huge and just awesome. Our team is here for the first time as well as our riders Markus and Bastien are. Due to the rain hit test two weeks ago we had to start from scratch this weekend and then getting two riders under the 2:10 is just amazing. They’ve done all a brilliant job, not only Markus, Tommy and Bastien, but also the whole team.”
More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:
Honda Endurance Racing ready to start the Suzuka 8 Hours
The Honda Endurance Racing team will start Sunday’s 38th “Coca-Cola Zero” Suzuka 8 Hours from 20th position after today’s qualifying sessions at the 5.821km Honda-owned Suzuka circuit in Japan.
Honda’s endurance specialists Julien Da Costa, Freddy Foray and Sebastien Gimbert are taking part in the second Endurance World Championship round in which the squad’s main objective will be to score as many important championship points as possible on board the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP.
With 70 teams competing at the 2015 Suzuka 8 Hours, the teams were separated in two groups and each rider had two qualifying sessions. The Honda Endurance Racing team finished tenth within B Group.
With a 2’10.342 best lap performed by Gimbert around the legendary Suzuka circuit, the Honda Endurance Racing team will start Sunday’s 8-hour race from 20th position. The Suzuka 8 Hours will start at 11:30 Japanese Standard Time (GMT+9) on Sunday 26 July.
For all the latest news on the team in real time follow @HondaRacingCBR on Twitter.
Neil Tuxworth
We had no problems in qualifying which is a good thing. Freddy had a small crash but that’s not a serious issue for us because we had no problems with the machine and reliability is what we wanted to achieve. Generally the three riders have a very good race pace, we know we are very quick in the pits, we know what our fuel strategy will be and now we’re just looking forward to the race. I’m confident we can be in the top ten and even possibly in the top six if we don’t have any issue during our race.
Julien Da Costa
We are in the same pace as the permanent teams – one of the things that we are sure of is that we have a very good race pace – but of course we would have liked to do a better qualifying as we are competitors. Personally I am quite satisfied, I would have like to be a bit faster but still I am confident for the race.
Sébastien Gimbert
We have a good rhythm on the CBR, we also have a lot of experience in the field of endurance, we have a great strategy and there is consistency between all the three riders within the team – we are all in the same lap times and this is what will make us stronger. We still have a lot of work to do tomorrow before the race on Sunday, but I am happy with what we achieved today. I was satisfied with my lap times, the team worked well, the Dunlop tyres are good and my team-mates were in a good pace as well.
Freddy Foray
Today was not so good for me as I crashed out, but we worked a lot, we will still work hard tomorrow in order to try to get a better feeling at the front. I hope that it will help me to get my confidence back… Tomorrow is another day!
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Motor Racing:
Yamaha Factory Racing Shines in Suzuka Qualifying
Suzuka (Japan), 24th July 2015
Round 2 of the 2015 FIM Endurance World Championship
The 38th “Coca-Cola Zero” Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race
Friday – Timed practices
As the second day of action unfolded today in preparation for the legendary 38th “Coca-Cola Zero” Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race this Sunday, the Yamaha Factory Racing Team continued to impress with their dominant form in practice and qualifying.
Riders Katsuyuki Nakasuga, Pol Espargaró and Bradley Smith picked up where they left off yesterday at the top of the timesheets to set a blistering pace in the first free practice with a 2‘07.888s lap. Smith endured a small crash in the final stages of the session, but it had no lasting effect on the bike or the rider. In fact, they then raised the stakes even further. As the sun shone down on Suzuka and the track temperatures rose, the trio used the YZF-R1 to its full potential in the first qualifying session, the only team to drop under the 2‘07 mark with a stunning 2‘06.877s lap.
The Yamaha Factory team continued their form in the afternoon with Nakasuga making the most of his vast knowledge of the Suzuka Circuit. Espargaró took a tumble on a fast lap near the end of his riding session whilst overtaking a slower rider but was luckily uninjured. Both he and Smith made another step in improving their track knowledge with the team finishing in second, 0.419s from the front.
Fellow Yamaha entrants the Yamaha Austria Racing Team also kept their form from yesterday‘s practice, working hard to stay inside the top ten throughout the morning. Riders Broc Parkes, Sheridan Morais and Iván Silva rose to eighth in the free practice with a 2‘10.383s before improving yet again in the first qualifying with a 2‘09.730.
The afternoon saw Parkes deliver a stunning 2’08.973s lap that saw him enter the top five in the combined results for rider 1 Group A. His teammates both rode a strong session on the YART YZF-R1, wrapping up just outside the top ten in 11th position at the end of the session.
Defending Endurance World Champions GMT94 Yamaha continued their hunt for the perfect set up ahead of Sunday‘s race. David Checa was clearly unfazed by yesterday‘s practice crash as he and teammates Kenny Foray and Mathieu Gines set about gaining further experience on the new tyres. They crew set a 2‘11.177s in morning practice before picking up the pace to post a 2‘09.871 in the first qualifying.
Checa, Gines and Foray kept up a consistent pace throughout the afternoon session, completing the qualifying by putting the GMT94 Yamaha YZF-R1 in 16th position.
This evening the Yamaha teams will be back on track for the night practice sessions. As today‘s results see Yamaha Factory Racing Team within the top ten, they will be back on track tomorrow to take part in the tomorrow‘s 8H Top10 Trial which will decide the first ten positions on the grid.
QUOTES
Katsuyuki Nakasuga
“I was able to get a lap time of 2‘06.877 today even though the machine spec we were using was for the race and not for time trials. This really proves how well the machine has progressed. Yesterday, Pol [Espargarò] got the best time overall for the day with 2‘07.282, and today I was out to set a top time, so you might say my lap in the 2‘06 range was a show of my pride as a rider. I didn‘t take risks in order to get that time either; it was a natural result of the way all three of us are inspiring each other. For the second session, the track temperature had risen and I was on used tires, so the 2‘08 times I ran made it a good simulation of the race. Of course, we‘re all motivated because we‘re competing this time as Yamaha‘s Factory team, and having two high-level MotoGP riders as my partners has created a great environment to compete in. These factors also bring pressure, but if all three of us do our jobs, I think a good result will follow naturally. We obviously will be going for pole position in the Top 10 Trial and we‘ll be focused on getting good lap times.”
Pol Espargarò
“The bike is working very well and the lap times are good. This is the good part; the bad part was that I crashed. It‘s difficult because in MotoGP when someone is slow, the difference is not this big and they usually go off the race line when they see you, while here it‘s the opposite, but I‘m learning. I don‘t know what to expect for tomorrow, because here we ride short laps and tomorrow we have Superpole so we have just one lap, close your eyes and push until the end. It‘s a new experience and I will give my 100%. I‘m having so much fun and I‘m riding this bike with a smile on my face!”
Bradley Smith
“It was unfortunate I crashed this morning. I was playing around with the braking mark and lost the front of the bike. It‘s good to have made that mistake, because it shows how easy those kinds of things can happen in the race. We worked on doing a race run first because it was around the same time of Sunday‘s race, so it gave everybody an idea of what to expect. In the afternoon I wanted to push, and I was happy with my lap time, which is very close to Nakasuga and Pol‘s. I didn‘t want to take too many risks and was still third quickest, which is not bad. I was happy, because these were the first fast laps that I‘ve done here, because before I‘ve just been focusing on race pace. To have three riders within half a second is great, we are definitely the strongest team at the moment.”
Wataru Yoshikawa
Team Manager
“Today Bradley [Smith] and Pol [Espargarò] each fell once, but the bike was heavily damaged in Pol‘s crash. Just as Pol had started one of his flying laps he came up on a slower rider at the Degner Curve and fell when trying to avoid him. Fortunately, there were no rider injuries, but now the team has a lot of work to do to repair the machine. Still, as the air and track temperatures began to rise during the first qualifying session, Nakasuga was able to record a lap time of 2‘06.877. Then Pol clocked a 2‘07.075 lap in the second session. Bradley had to run the second session on the main machine and was extra careful, but still managed to record a time of 2‘07.308. So overall, everything is going well. There are no doubts about the abilities of our three riders, so one thing I want to do is make sure that they remember to keep a good margin of space when they come up on slower riders and to ride without taking unnecessary risks.”
More, from a press release issued by Synergy Force MORIWAKI Club:
Shelina and Avalon passes through qualifying.
A hard chase will await for tomorrow’s race.
A bright sun shine welcomes Suzuka from a gusty rain the day before. After a short free practice session, qualifying session for 2nd rider was about to start. The bike was completely fixed from the crash the day before. From Synergy Force MORIWAKI Club, Shelina went out to the track first to check the feel of the bike and instantly closes the time to her best lap time. On the other hand Avalon was also having a consistent run on her first session in dry condition. Last minute adjustments were made to the bike and on 1:05 PM the qualifying session for 2nd rider had started. Shelina went out on the track in this 20 minute session however, a red flag interrupted in the early session. 14 minutes to go, the session restarted and puts a lap time of 2.28.536 on the board.
Melissa’s substitute, 1st rider, Avalon started her qualifying at 5:36 PM in the afternoon. She lapped consistently in the 2.25 seconds area and had her best time of 2.25.094 and ends her qualifying session. The qualifying format for Suzuka 4 Hours Race is set with the time added together from the 2 riders. Therefore the time will be 4.53.630 putting them in 51st qualifying position meaning it will be a hard chase race for tomorrow. The team will be as one to challenge this event at one of the trickiest courses in the world, the Suzuka Circuit.
Comments from the Riders
Shelina Moreda (USA)
“So, the four laps I got the morning for Free Practice was a hard one with a terrible traffic and I really didn’t get to do much at all. But it was good that I did get some time on the bike, especially in the qualifying session in which I was able to feel the changes that Avalon had made and I was able to feel what those changes became. It’s awesome to working with Avalon because we try to balance everything together and we are able to come to agreements with a good understanding between each other. I really enjoy working with Avalon. I am happy with my lap times today because it was consistent and I was up to my race times of last year though I did not quite hit the fastest. Avalon is going really fast in a short amount of time and I am happy to see that because it feels like we are very supportive with each other as team mates and its cool that we are able to be that way.”
Avalon Biddle (NZ)
“I am definitely happy with the qualifying. The qualifying position is important of course but I think it’s more important that we can ride a steady race and make it to the finish. It is my first endurance race but I am really looking forward for tomorrow, and I will stick to what the team wants to make sure I do it right. I think Shelina is doing a great too and together I think we are making a good team and we are getting there to achieving what we want to achieve to impress everyone who are supporting this project.”
More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki Press Office:
Yoshimura Suzuki put the team’s GSX-R1000 into a provisional second-place grid-position in Friday Qualifying ahead of the 38th “Coca-Cola Zero” Suzuka 8 Hours World Endurance Championship second round at Suzuka in Japan on Sunday.
Team riders Takuya Tsuda, Alex Lowes and Josh Waters lapped at 2’06.958 going into Saturday’s final sessions and Top-10 Time attack event to determine positions on the grid for Sunday’s race.
A total of three Suzuki teams qualified for the Time Trial; Yoshimura Suzuki, Team KAGAYAMA (Noriyuki Haga, Ryuichi Kiyonari and Yukio Kagayama) and MotoMap SUPPLY (Yoshihiro Konna, Nobuatsu Aoki and Hideyuki Ogata).
World Endurance Championship leaders and 14-time World Endurance Champions, Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (Vincent Philippe, Anthony Delhalle and Etienne Masson) missed the top-10, but are looking to prove the reliability of the team’s GSX-R1000 and experience of its riders in the race.
SUZUKI ENDURANCE RACING TEAM
Vincent Philippe:
Today was difficult for us because when we came here for the test days earlier this month, it was wet. We need more laps under dry conditions, but I think it will be better for the race. We need to find a better setting tomorrow so we can push harder in the race.”
Anthony Delhalle:
“We did not find the best setting today. I tried to push myself, got a clear lap, but came back to the pits as the front was not stable and the rear was slipping. We tried to find a solution immediately and changed settings, but we are still adjusting it to find the best setting. Suzuka was very hot today, but it’s ok as this is my sixth Suzuka 8 Hours and I am not worried about the high humidity.”
Etienne Masson:
“It’s my first time here, but I want to run faster, but all the local riders who know Suzuka are much faster and it is difficult to make a step forward. It is hot today, and the humidity is high also, but I am not worried as it is similar in my country, France.”
YOSHIMURA SUZUKI Shell ADVANCE
Takuya Tsuda:
“It’s flowed well since the Suzuka test. I felt the qualifying today was hot and severe, but the lap-time was good. In the tomorrow’s qualifier, I’d like to beat my personal best from last year and run well in the Top 10 Trial.”
Alex Lowes:
“It is my first Suzuka 8 Hours race and I hope I’ve had a good result so far. The support of the Yoshimura team is perfect and because we had good times in today’s qualifier, I did not want to overdo it; it’s important to go for the victory in the race. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Josh Waters:
“I had some minor issues today, but these should be sorted for tomorrow, but as my lap-times weren’t the best of our team, I think Alex and Takuya will do the Top-10 Trial tomorrow.”
Team KAGAYAMA
Yukio Kagayama:
“I thought about today’s qualifier to reduce the burden on Noriyuki and Ryuichi, who ran yesterday’s session as much as possible and I wanted them to be familiar with our bike. We have to attack our session in the morning, but our level is good and I am relieved with the good result today.”
Noriyuki Haga:
“I do my best in all given conditions and I concentrate on it. We are looking forward to the Suzuka 8 Hours and I will give my best, as always.”
Ryuichi Kiyonari:
“I pushed forward with the set-up of the bike and improved the average time but I want to work more and improve in the next session.”
Moto Map SUPPLY
Yoshihiro Konno:
“The track surface temperature was higher today but we improved in the afternoon qualifier of the afternoon of today. We aim for more improvements in set-up for the race.”
Nobuatsu Aoki:
“We have worked on tyre development, I’ve tried it in previous tests, hopefully I’ve been able help and we had a good result today.”
Hideyuki Ogata:
“I did three races in Autopolis in September, Suzuka 2&4 and the JSB1000 class in April this year to prepare for the Suzuka 8 Hours. I would like to say thanks to the people giving me support. Today’s qualifier with Konno and Aoki was good and I am feeling happy with the result.”