Honda’s Suzuka 8 Hours Challenge ⑤ 2020 – 2023
2020
The 43rd edition of Suzuka 8 Hours was cancelled due to COVID-19. The race was initially postponed to November 1st from July but was ultimately cancelled due to the global health crisis.
2021
The 2021 Suzuka 8 Hours was initially re-organised from its traditional July slot to 7 November but cancelled for the second consecutive year as a direct result of COVID-19 and the prolonged health crisis.
CBR1000RR-R SP
2022
WINNER
Tetsuta Nagashima / Takumi Takahashi / Iker Lecuona
Team HRC (Tetsuta Nagashima / Takumi Takahashi / Iker Lecuona) returned to the Suzuka 8 Hours as Honda’s factory team in 2018 after a decade-long absence.
Saturday’s Top 10 Trial was changed to a conventional Top 10 qualifying session at the last minute and Tetsuta Nagashima set the fastest lap time of 2 min 4.934 s to secure pole position for the team. Takumi Takahashi was Team HRC’s starting rider, and despite losing the lead at the start, regained the top spot on Lap 10. From that point onwards, Tetsuta Nagashima and Iker Lecuona rode solid stints to maintain a comfortable gap with the closest competitor. At 7:32pm, after 214 laps, Team HRC crossed the finish line to win from pole position.
This win marked Takumi Takahashi’s fourth Suzuka 8 Hours win, and a first for Tetsuta Nagashima and Iker Lecuona.
CBR1000RR-R SP
2023
WINNER
Tetsuta Nagashima / Takumi Takahashi / Xavi Vierge
Team HRC with Japan Post won the 2023FIM 2 Endurance World Championship “Coca Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race44th Tournament (Suzuka 8 Hours) held at the Suzuka Circuit in Mie, on Sunday, August 6. This win marks Honda’s second consecutive and 29th overall Suzuka 8 Hours victory. For Takahashi, his fifth win ties him with the all time record for Suzuka 8 Hours victories for a rider. Nagashima earned his second consecutive Suzuka 8 Hours title, while Vierge won his debut race at the event.
Team HRC with Japan Post’s Tetsuta Nagashima set the fastest lap time of 2 min 5.722s during the two qualifying sessions on August 4 (Fri) and 5 (Sat). The team’s average lap time was second overall, allowing the Honda factory team to proceed to the Top 10 Trial. In the Top 10 Trial that began at 4:00 pm on August 5 (Sat), Tetsuta Nagashima and Xavi Vierge represented the team. Nagashima once again set the fastest lap, 2 min 5.329s, giving Honda its second consecutive Suzuka 8 Hours pole position.
The race started at 11:30 am on August 6 (Sun). Although the team’s starting rider Takumi Takahashi initially lost the lead, once back on top he gradually extended the gap to the second-place rider. In the following stints, both Tetsuta Nagashima and Xavi Vierge kept consistent, fast paces to extend the lead even further, lapping all other teams. At 7:30 pm, Team HRC with Japan Post crossed the finish line completing 216 laps, giving Honda its second consecutive Suzuka 8 Hours pole-to-win.
