Editorial Note: American PJ Jacobsen was the fastest rider on a Honda during the Special Stage (a.k.a. Superpole) qualifying session at the 2016 Suzuka 8-Hours. Jacobsen rode for MV Agusta in the 2017 FIM Supersport World Championship. MV Agusta did not field an official team in the Suzuka 8-Hours in 2017, so Jacobsen could not participate in last year’s race.

23 July 2018

FIM EWC 2018

Honda heads to the Suzuka 8 Hours leading the FIM Endurance World Championship

Suzuka 8 Hours

Suzuka Circuit, Japan

This Sunday (29 July) all eyes will be on Japan as the grand finale of the 2017/2018 FIM Endurance World Championship takes place at the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours. Honda is heading into the final round leading the world championship with F.C.C. TSR Honda France, as well as holding third place with the Honda Endurance Racing team both aboard the CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2.

Leading the championship by ten points ahead of EWC rivals GMT94 Yamaha, the goal for F.C.C. TSR Honda France and riders Freddy Foray, Josh Hook and Alan Techer is clear, to win the world championship and become the first Japanese team to be crowned Endurance World Champions.

Also leading the way on the CBR is the Honda Endurance Racing team who are sitting third in the EWC standings after a successful season. With two podiums in both 24-hour races the team, with riders Sébastien Gimbert, Yonny Hernandez and Erwan Nigon arrive in Japan looking for a strong finish to the year.

64 teams will take part in the eight-hour race, along with 22 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblades. The field will be mixed with permanent EWC teams as well as specialist Japanese outfits all looking to claim the Suzuka 8 Hours trophy.

The Suzuka 8 Hours is scheduled to get underway on Sunday 29 July at 11.30am Japanese Standard Time (GMT +9). For race updates follow @HondaProRacing on Twitter.

FIM EWC Standings

1. F.C.C. TSR Honda France (146)

2. GMT94 YAMAHA (136)

3. Honda Endurance Racing (109)

4. WEPOL Racing by penz13.com (81)

5. MERCURY RACING (70)

FIM EWC Manufacturer Standings

1. Honda (198)

2. Yamaha (178)

3. BMW (156)

4. Kawasaki (135)

5. Suzuki (102)

Main Honda Teams to Compete in the Suzuka 8 Hours

#5 F.C.C. TSR Honda France

Riders: Freddy Foray, Josh Hook, Alan Techer

#19 KYB MORIWAKI MOTUL RACING

Riders: Yuki Takahashi, Ryuichi Kiyonari, TBC

#22 Honda Asia-Dream Racing

Riders: Md Zaqhwan Zaidi, Troy Herfoss, Andi Farid Izdihar

#33 ?Red Bull Honda with Japan Post?

Riders: Takumi Takahashi, Takaaki Nakagami, Patrick Jacobsen

#72 – Honda DREAM RT Sakurai Honda

Riders: Sodo Hamahara, Shinichi Ito

#79 Team SUP Dream Honda

Riders: Tatsuya Yamaguchi, Ryosuke Iwato, Kosuke Sakumoto

#090 au&Teluru MotoUP RT

Riders: Kosuke Akiyoshi, Tetsuta Nagashima, Isaac Vinales

#111 Honda Endurance Racing

Riders: Sébastien Gimbert, Yonny Hernandez, Erwan Nigon

#634 MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO. Honda

Riders: Ryo Mizuno, Dominique Aegerter, Randy de Puniet

? factory team, factory bike of HRC rider

*Team details are current as of July 23, and are subject to change

*Teams listed in order of bike number (#)

Freddy Foray

It’s my first time to compete in the Suzuka 8 Hours with a Japanese team, and I’m looking forward to it. We have more tests coming up, and we’ll be thoroughly preparing the bike for the race. We are very confident, but you never know what is going to happen in the race, so we have to be alert. We have a ten-point lead in the EWC championship, but the best way to perform well at the Suzuka 8 Hours is to believe in ourselves, and concentrate on racing.

Josh Hook

I am so looking forward to the Suzuka 8 Hours. It’s vital to make it as easy as possible for the three riders to race well, and reduce mistakes. I believe the bike will perform well at Suzuka, and the whole team will need to focus completely on the race. The bike, the team, and the riders will be united in racing at Suzuka. Being their home track, Honda and Thomas Suzuki-Rowe have had a lot of success at Suzuka, so I’m confident we can win the championship.

Alan Techer

The Suzuka 8 Hours is a very important race. We couldn’t race last year because of a crash, but this year will be different. I’m glad to race with F.C.C. TSR Honda France. We have to concentrate on improving the bike a bit, but I’m confident at Suzuka, and it’s our home track so we have a large advantage. I believe in my teammates, of course, and we have a great rapport. I just can’t wait for the race! And after the race, I’m looking forward to hold the winner’s trophy!

Sébastien Gimbert 111

I am looking forward to this final race in the EWC, Suzuka is a very special place and I always look forward to riding there. We arrive third in the championship and I hope we have a good race to retain that place and finish the year there. We have had a good year this year, the team have all worked so hard and the Fireblade has performed well in each race. We enjoyed two podiums in both the 24-hour races, but missed out in the last two eight hours. Suzuka will be tough, that’s for sure as it’s very competitive and a lot of teams, but we will do our best and hopefully finish the season on a high.

Yonny Hernandez 111

I am really looking forward to Suzuka, of course for the team it’s a shame that Greg won’t be there to finish the season and I will make sure to do the best I can for them. I am looking forward to learning the circuit and riding the Fireblade again, I enjoyed being with the team at the Bol d’Or, so it will be nice to be reunited with the team again. The conditions will be tough in Suzuka but I am looking forward to the challenge and can’t wait to get started.

Erwan Nigon 111

I have enjoyed this year with the Honda team, we have enjoyed some good results together and I hope that we can finish the Suzuka 8 Hours well and take third place in the Endurance World Championship. We will miss Greg this round, but I am looking forward to racing with Yonny, he started the year at the Bol d’Or with the team and now he will help us finish the year. I can’t wait to get started at Suzuka and see where we end up.