Honda HRC – Suzuka 8 Hour
Suzuka 8 Hours 2022
Testing   Suzuka Circuit

Lecuona Joins Team HRC for Productive Suzuka Final Joint Tests Day 2

#33 Team HRC’s Iker Lecuona arrived at Suzuka last night, in time to participate in Day 2 of the final joint tests preceding the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race (Suzuka 8 Hours).

Day 2 proceedings began under similar conditions to the previous day; harsh sunshine and intense heat. In Session 3, FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) regulars YART – Yamaha Official Team EWC (Yamaha) set the fastest time of 2 min 6.684 s. #33 Team HRC (Tetsuta Nagashima / Takumi Takahashi / Iker Lecuona) were second-fastest with 2 min 7.049 s. #73 SDG Honda Racing (Teppei Nagoe / Naomichi Uramoto / Ikuhiro Enokido) was fourth with 2 min 8.585 s. #17 Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing (Kosuke Sakumoto / Kazuma Watanabe / Taiga Hada) was sixth with 2 min 8.619 s. #25 Honda Sofukai Suzuka Racing (Yudai Kamei / Yuki Sugiyama / Jun Tadokoro) was one place behind with 2 min 8.646 s. #5 F.C.C. TSR Honda France (Josh Hook / Gino Rea / Mike Di Meglio) was ninth with 2 min 8.910 s. These were the Honda teams that set lap times in the 2 min 8 s range.

As Session 4 started in the afternoon, slight cloud cover masked the harsh sunshine, but high humidity kept heat levels up. Team HRC’s Lecuona spent most of his Session 4 time on track. Kawasaki Racing Team Suzuka 8H (Kawasaki) set the fastest time for the session of 2 min 7.157 s. #73 SDG Honda Racing was fourth-quickest with 2 min 7.670 s. #5 F.C.C. TSR Honda France was fifth, its 2 min 7.761 s lap time a vast improvement from the earlier session. #33 Team HRC finished the session with a best lap time of 2 min 8.796 s, tenth-fastest.

Team HRC’s team manager, Kazuhiko Yamano said, “Takahashi was mainly on the bike in the morning session, followed by Nagashima to verify, and in the afternoon we did more verification of Lecuona and the bike. We had Lecuona do ten lap petit-stints on each of the two bikes. All three of our riders concentrated on getting the bike settings right rather than fast lap times. Setting up the bike based on Takahashi’s vast experience, verified with Nagashima, and further verified by Lecuona was only possible because the riders highly respect each other. I feel their positive attitude has rubbed off on the team, who are bonded more than ever before. Everything is going smoothly, maybe too smoothly, so we’ll head into Qualifying with a disciplined approach.”

Other Honda teams also used the two test days to ride, test, and verify their bikes. The Suzuka 4 Hours Endurance Race is scheduled for tomorrow, August 4, so the Suzuka 8 Hours joint tests have ended, waiting for Qualifying on Friday, the Top 10 Trial on Saturday, and race day on Sunday.

Combined Test Session 3 (09h00-10h30 / 10h45-12h00)

Pos. No. Team Bike Model Session (09:00) Session (10:45) B. Lap Gap 1st
1 7 YART – Yamaha Official Team EWC Yamaha YZF-R1 2:06.684 2:08.352 2:06.684 –
2 33 Team HRC Honda CBR1000 RR-R SP 2:07.539 2:07.049 2:07.049 0.365
3 10 Kawasaki Racing Team Suzuka 8H Kawasaki ZX 10RR 2:08.064 – 2:08.064 1.380
4 73 SDG Honda Racing Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:08.585 2:09.243 2:08.585 1.901
5 1 Yoshimura SERT Motul Suzuki GSXR-1000R 2:08.618 2:09.127 2:08.618 1.934
6 17 Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:09.800 2:08.619 2:08.619 1.935
7 25 Honda Sofukai Suzuka Racing Team Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:08.646 2:12.286 2:08.646 1.962
8 50 TEAM KODAMA Yamaha YZF-R1 – 2:08.703 2:08.703 2.019
9 5 F.C.C. TSR Honda France Honda CBR1000 RR-R – 2:08.910 2:08.910 2.226
10 64 Kawasaki Plaza Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10RR 2:09.001 2:11.713 2:09.001 2.317
11 37 BMW MOTORRAD WORLD ENDURANCE TEAM BMW M1000RR 2:09.100 2:10.061 2:09.100 2.416
12 95 S-PULSE DREAM RACING Suzuki GSX-R1000R 2:10.130 2:09.656 2:09.656 2.972
13 88 Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:11.211 2:09.720 2:09.720 3.036
14 9 Murayama. Honda Dream. RT Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:11.158 2:10.044 2:10.044 3.360
15 74 AKENO SPEED.YAMAHA Yamaha YZF-R1 – 2:10.117 2:10.117 3.433
16 40 Team ATJ with JAPAN POST Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:11.755 2:10.502 2:10.502 3.818
17 2 EVA RT 01 Webike TRICKSTAR Kawasaki ZX 10R 2:10.531 2:12.297 2:10.531 3.847
18 104 TOHO Racing Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:10.680 2:12.794 2:10.680 3.996
19 806 NCXX RACING with RIDERS CLUB Yamaha YZF-R1 2:11.242 2:10.856 2:10.856 4.172
20 11 WEBIKE SRC KAWASAKI FRANCE Kawasaki ZX 10RR 2:11.009 2:11.131 2:11.009 4.325
21 85 TONE RT SYNCEDGE 4413 BMW BMW M1000RR 2:12.786 2:11.365 2:11.365 4.681
22 3 KRP SANYOKOGYO&RS-ITOH Kawasaki ZX 10RR 2:12.588 2:11.411 2:11.411 4.727
23 31 Hamamatsu Team TITAN Suzuki GSXR-1000R 2:12.136 – 2:12.136 5.452
24 54 GOSHI Racing Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:13.009 2:12.340 2:12.340 5.656
25 112 Honda Soyukai Tochigi Racing & Dream RT Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:13.764 2:12.893 2:12.893 6.209
26 15 TEAM HANSHIN  RIDING SCHOOL Kawasaki ZX 10RR 2:14.096 2:13.418 2:13.418 6.734
27 70 OGURA CLUTCH ORC with RIDE IN Yamaha YZF-R1 2:13.495 – 2:13.495 6.811
28 69 Auto Race UBE KEN RACING YIC Kawasaki ZX 10RR – 2:14.096 2:14.096 7.412
29 61 Team  de”LIGHT Ducati Panigale V4R 2:14.173 2:14.480 2:14.173 7.489
30 34 Honda Ryokuyoukai Kumamoto Racing Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:14.279 2:15.225 2:14.279 7.595
31 42 Shinshu activation project Team NAGANO BMW S1000RR 2:14.306 2:14.704 2:14.306 7.622
32 52 TERAMOTO@J-TRIP Racing Suzuki GSXR-1000R – 2:14.451 2:14.451 7.767
33 60 Honda Hamamatsu ESCARGOT RT Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:15.591 2:14.624 2:14.624 7.940
34 78 Honda Blue Helmets MSC Kumamoto & Asaka Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:16.701 2:15.012 2:15.012 8.328
35 89 CLUB NEXT & Honda Dream TAKASAKI Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:16.100 2:15.031 2:15.031 8.347
36 51 T.MOTOKIDS TAKADA I.W. NAC Yamaha YZF-R1 2:15.675 2:16.471 2:15.675 8.991
37 41 IRF with AZURLANE Yamaha YZF-R1 2:17.818 2:16.278 2:16.278 9.594
38 38 K’sWORKS RACING Yamaha YZF-R1 2:19.171 2:16.408 2:16.408 9.724
39 99 ADVANCE MC & FOC CLAYMORE EDGE with DOGHOUSE Suzuki GSXR-1000R 2:19.965 2:17.351 2:17.351 10.667
40 82 Team BIZENSEIKI Kirimoto Techno Works Kawasaki ZX 10RR 2:17.497 2:18.267 2:17.497 10.813
41 45 YSS Mercury with TKm Kawasaki ZX 10RR 2:19.690 2:20.684 2:19.690 13.006
42 27 TransMapRacing with ACE CAFE Suzuki GSXR-1000 – – – –
43 44 SANMEI Team TARO PLUSONE BMW M1000RR – – – –
44 71 Team MATSUNAGA KDC & YSP NAGOYA KITA Yamaha YZF-R1 – – – –
45 72 Honda Dream RT SAKURAI HONDA Honda CBR1000 RR-R – – – –

Combined Test Session 4 (13h30-14h30 / 14h45-16h15 / 16h30-18h00)

Pos. No. Team Bike Model Session 13:30 Session 14:45 Session 16:30 B. Lap Gap 1st
1 10 Kawasaki Racing Team Suzuka 8H Kawasaki ZX 10RR 2:07.157 2:07.761 2:07.178 2:07.157 –
2 7 YART – Yamaha Official Team EWC Yamaha YZF-R1 2:07.887 – 2:07.307 2:07.307 0.150
3 1 Yoshimura SERT Motul Suzuki GSXR-1000R 2:09.663 2:08.344 2:07.624 2:07.624 0.467
4 73 SDG Honda Racing Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:09.619 2:10.654 2:07.670 2:07.670 0.513
5 5 F.C.C. TSR Honda France Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:09.050 2:08.527 2:07.761 2:07.761 0.604
6 37 BMW MOTORRAD WORLD ENDURANCE TEAM BMW M1000RR 2:10.256 2:08.430 2:08.427 2:08.427 1.270
7 50 TEAM KODAMA Yamaha YZF-R1 – 2:10.613 2:08.618 2:08.618 1.461
8 17 Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:08.660 2:09.617 – 2:08.660 1.503
9 25 Honda Sofukai Suzuka Racing Team Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:09.912 2:08.697 – 2:08.697 1.540
10 33 Team HRC Honda CBR1000 RR-RSP – 2:08.796 – 2:08.796 1.639
11 72 Honda Dream RT SAKURAI HONDA Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:11.483 2:08.967 2:09.948 2:08.967 1.810
12 11 WEBIKE SRC KAWASAKI FRANCE Kawasaki ZX 10RR 2:11.068 2:10.239 2:09.275 2:09.275 2.118
13 2 EVA RT 01 Webike TRICKSTAR Kawasaki ZX 10R 2:09.353 2:10.414 2:10.386 2:09.353 2.196
14 95 S-PULSE DREAM RACING Suzuki GSX-R1000R 2:10.629 2:09.461 – 2:09.461 2.304
15 74 AKENO SPEED.YAMAHA Yamaha YZF-R1 2:10.630 2:11.127 2:09.534 2:09.534 2.377
16 40 Team ATJ with JAPAN POST Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:10.172 2:11.178 2:11.504 2:10.172 3.015
17 88 Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA Honda CBR1000 RR-R – 2:10.367 – 2:10.367 3.210
18 3 KRP SANYOKOGYO&RS-ITOH Kawasaki ZX 10RR 2:11.581 2:11.838 2:10.392 2:10.392 3.235
19 9 Murayama. Honda Dream. RT Honda CBR1000 RR-R – 2:13.118 2:10.839 2:10.839 3.682
20 806 NCXX RACING with RIDERS CLUB Yamaha YZF-R1 2:10.844 2:11.512 – 2:10.844 3.687
21 31 Hamamatsu Team TITAN Suzuki GSXR-1000R – 2:11.015 2:16.352 2:11.015 3.858
22 104 TOHO Racing Honda CBR1000 RR-R – 2:11.298 – 2:11.298 4.141
23 85 TONE RT SYNCEDGE 4413 BMW BMW M1000RR 2:12.858 2:12.421 2:11.457 2:11.457 4.300
24 44 SANMEI Team TARO PLUSONE BMW M1000RR 2:11.958 2:11.811 2:14.697 2:11.811 4.654
25 64 Kawasaki Plaza Racing Team Kawasaki ZX 10RR 2:13.898 2:12.748 2:11.951 2:11.951 4.794
26 54 GOSHI Racing Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:13.480 2:12.855 2:13.637 2:12.855 5.698
27 52 TERAMOTO@J-TRIP Racing Suzuki GSXR-1000R 2:14.401 2:13.257 2:12.962 2:12.962 5.805
28 89 CLUB NEXT & Honda Dream TAKASAKI Honda CBR1000 RR-R – 2:15.193 2:13.178 2:13.178 6.021
29 60 Honda Hamamatsu ESCARGOT RT Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:14.189 2:13.307 – 2:13.307 6.150
30 70 OGURA CLUTCH ORC with RIDE IN Yamaha YZF-R1 2:15.444 2:15.095 2:13.368 2:13.368 6.211
31 42 Shinshu activation project Team NAGANO BMW S1000RR 2:16.585 2:15.292 2:13.529 2:13.529 6.372
32 34 Honda Ryokuyoukai Kumamoto Racing Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:13.693 – 2:13.884 2:13.693 6.536
33 15 TEAM HANSHIN  RIDING SCHOOL Kawasaki ZX 10RR 2:14.005 2:15.994 2:14.035 2:14.005 6.848
34 112 Honda Soyukai Tochigi Racing & Dream RT Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:14.630 2:16.478 2:14.269 2:14.269 7.112
35 82 Team BIZENSEIKI Kirimoto Techno Works Kawasaki ZX 10RR 2:17.676 2:14.980 2:14.515 2:14.515 7.358
36 51 T.MOTOKIDS TAKADA I.W. NAC Yamaha YZF-R1 2:15.100 2:16.077 2:15.541 2:15.100 7.943
37 27 TransMapRacing with ACE CAFE Suzuki GSXR-1000 2:15.214 2:17.322 2:15.685 2:15.214 8.057
38 61 Team  de”LIGHT Ducati Panigale V4R 2:15.383 – – 2:15.383 8.226
39 78 Honda Blue Helmets MSC Kumamoto & Asaka Honda CBR1000 RR-R 2:18.509 2:17.008 2:15.443 2:15.443 8.286
40 71 Team MATSUNAGA KDC & YSP NAGOYA KITA Yamaha YZF-R1 2:16.612 2:15.633 2:17.083 2:15.633 8.476
41 41 IRF with AZURLANE Yamaha YZF-R1 2:16.180 2:16.848 2:16.861 2:16.180 9.023
42 99 ADVANCE MC & FOC CLAYMORE EDGE with DOGHOUSE Suzuki GSXR-1000R 2:18.982 2:16.406 2:17.117 2:16.406 9.249
43 69 Auto Race UBE KEN RACING YIC Kawasaki ZX 10RR 2:17.409 2:17.802 2:18.166 2:17.409 10.252
44 45 YSS Mercury with TKm Kawasaki ZX 10RR 2:25.852 2:19.095 2:21.830 2:19.095 11.938
45 38 K’sWORKS RACING Yamaha YZF-R1 – – – – –

Private: Tetsuta Nagashima 33

I’ve never experienced the heat and track temperature on Day 1, but still managed to set fast lap times. Today, I took Takahashi’s advice while riding, getting to learn a different approach to what I have known. There was nothing negative when I rode today. I don’t have much Suzuka 8 Hours experience, so I’m counting on Takahashi’s experience, and want to learn. I hope we can improve further for Qualifying. We managed 2 min 6 s laps on Day 1 and 2 min 7.0 on Day 2, both on worn tires, so we’re doing quite well to date. We haven’t concentrated on fast lap times, so I hope we can aim for great times in Qualifying.

Takumi Takahashi 30

I concentrated on going over the bike on Day 1. I had a fall, so on Day 2 I asked the engineers to set up the suspension to test an idea I had, which they did for me. It made riding easier for me, but Nagashima and Lecuona’s impressions are more important, so I’ll leave it up to the team on how we proceed. Nagashima’s comments were positive, which is great. We didn’t worry about lap times today. In Friday’s Qualifying, I’m aiming to help make the bike easier to ride and less physically demanding for our riders.

Private: Iker Lecuona 33

I had a WorldSBK race last weekend, so I arrived at Suzuka late last night. I coudn’t make it in time for Day 1 tests, but riding from the afternoon session on Day 2, I got a feel for the famed Suzuka 8 Hours heat and track temperature. I was aiming to test the bike’s setup, but with the heat and difficulty of the track, it was quite an effort to learn the track. I’m leaving the bike’s setup to the other two, and I want to learn from them, so based on that, I’ll make my own adjustments and aim for faster lap times. I’ve managed 2 min 7 s laps during the previous tests, so that’s the level I’m aiming for.

Location Information

SUZUKA 8HOURS ESSENTIAL* Name: SUZUKA CIRCUIT Location: 7992 Ino-Cho, Suzuka-shi, Mie-ken 510-0295, Japan Track length: 5.821 kilometres Race distance: 8 hours Official website Suzuka Circuit Suzuka Circuit Operated by Honda-owned Mobilityland, Suzuka features a unique figure-of-eight layout and presents a considerable challenge for riders thanks to its wide variety of corners.… read more.

7992 Inoucho, Suzuka, Mie, Japan - View in Google Maps

Records

POLE POSITION RECORD 2'04.934s Team HRC - Tetsuta Nagashima - Honda CBR1000RR-R SP (2022)
RACE RECORD 2'06.805s Kawasaki Racing Team - Jonathan Rea - Kawasaki ZX10RR  (2019)
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