More, from a press release issued by HRC:
Team HRC with Japan Post Completes Suzuka 8 Hours Final Test Sessions On Top
On Wednesday, July 17, the final test sessions were conducted at the Suzuka Circuit in preparation for the 2024 FIM World Endurance Championship “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 HoursRoad Race 45th Annual Event.
All 46 teams participated in Session 1, which ran for 90 minutes from 9:00 am to 10:30 am. The fastest time of 2 min 6.746s was set by Team HRC with Japan Post (Takumi Takahashi / Teppei Nagoe / Johann Zarco), the only team to set a 2 min 6s time during the session. YART – YAMAHA (Yamaha) was second fastest, followed by DUCATI Team KAGAYAMA (Ducati) in 3rd, and Yoshimura SERT Motul (Suzuki) in 4th. Team ATJ with docomo business (Satoru Iwata / Kouki Suzuki / Yuta Okaya) was 5th with a lap time of 2 min 7.967s.
In the 75-minute Session 2 from 10:45 am to 12:00 pm, YART – YAMAHA set the top time of 2 min 7.195s, followed by Yoshimura SERT Motul 2nd with 2 min 7.364s, Team HRC with Japan Post 3rd with 2 min 7.653s, and SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda (Yuki Kunii / Naomichi Uramoto / Mario Aji) 4th with 2 min 8.102s.
Session 3 was held over 60 minutes from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm, with DUCATI Team KAGAYAMA setting the fastest lap of 2 minutes 6.819s. Team HRC with Japan Post was 4th with 2 minutes 8.183 seconds. Honda DREAM RT Sakurai Honda (Kazuki Ito / Daijiro Hiura) was 5th with 2 min 8.383 seconds.
Session 4 was held over 90 minutes from 2:45 pm to 4:15 pm. The conditions were delicate, as light rain had fallen and the track was beginning to dry. Although some teams opted not to run, the top time of 2 min 14.670s was set by TATI TEAM BERINGER RACING (Hugo Clere / Randy Krummenacher / Corentin Perolari). Team HRC with Japan Post was 5th with a time of 2 min 18.153s.
The final session, Session 5, began at 4:30 pm and lasted 90 minutes. Team HRC with Japan Post set the top time of 2 min 6.119s, followed by DUCATI Team KAGAYAMA in 2nd with 2 min 6.724s, and Yoshimura SERT Motul 3rd with 2 min 6.812s. The top three teams were in the 2 min 6s range. YART – YAMAHA was 4th with 2 min 7.429s, followed by F.C.C. TSR Honda France (Josh Hook / Mike Di Meglio / Alan Techer) in 5th with 2 min 7.693s.
All teams conducted long runs in the final test, and despite numerous red flags and resumptions, Team HRC with Japan Post managed to complete the test without incident. Takahashi set the fastest time of 2 min 6.119s. Nagoe and Zarco set best laps of 2 min 7.630s and 2 min 7.096s respectively.
Team Manager Matsubara commented, “We made efficient use of the two race bikes. We prioritized Zarco having enough time to get a feel for the CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP in his switch from MotoGP bikes. Likewise, we asked Nagoe to ride so he could regain the good feel he had during the previous tests. Takahashi was able to make progress with the setup, although he had to pit more often than usual, because he had to adjust the bike to clear the issues that came up in the previous tests. It rained in Session 4, but we were able to ride in the dry in Session 5 and get solid results.”
The next scheduled session is timed qualifying on Friday the 19th. The EWC qualifying grid will determined by each rider’s average time. Team HRC with Japan Post will continue to make adjustments to the bike in preparation for qualifying.
Full Results* Courtesy of EWC & ITS
Takumi Takahashi 30
I honestly wanted more time to test. I am used to riding Suzuka 8 Hours bikes, but both Zarco and Nagoe have only done a few runs, so I wish they had more time to get used to the bike. We still haven’t reached the ideal situation that I had expected, but they are professionals, so I think they will be able to adjust by the time of the race. My times have improved compared to last year, but I still want to do better, and I think I can. I will continue to prepare for the race.
Teppei Nagoe 30
It has been a while, a little less than a month, since our last test. I rode so that I could get back the riding feel. I left the setup to Takahashi, so I could concentrate on my own riding. I think I was able to make good progress despite the limited number of tires. My best time today was set in my fourth run with wet patches on the track. I did not have time for hot laps, so I hope to contribute to the team by setting a good time in Friday’s qualifying session and hopefully set the team’s best lap time.
Johann Zarco 30
I’m glad to be back in Suzuka again, I have been training and preparing for Suzuka 8 Hours in between MotoGP races, and I think I can ride naturally, overcoming the change from MotoGP. I am matching the style of my teammates and riding faster. I could confirm the bike’s setup today, and it was a good test. Tomorrow I will rest well, and then I will work had again from Friday.
