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

Team HRC wins Suzuka 8H by more than a lap, giving Honda its first win in eight years, 28th total

Team HRC (Tetsuta Nagashima / Takumi Takahashi / Iker Lecuona) won the 2022 Suzuka 8 Hours, marking Honda’s 28th Suzuka 8 Hours victory and the first since 2014.

Team HRC returned to the Suzuka 8 Hours as Honda’s factory team in 2018 after a decade-long absence. The team was second in 2018, and third in 2019.

Team HRC set the fastest lap time in Friday’s timed qualifying sessions, proceeding easily into Saturday’s Top 10 Trial, which was changed to a conventional Top 10 qualifying session at the last minute. 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 marks Takumi Takahashi’s fourth Suzuka 8 Hours win, and a first for Tetsuta Nagashima and Iker Lecuona.

Team HRC set lap records in Qualifying and Top 10 Qualifying to take pole position. Takahashi, Nagashima and Lecuona all lapped at impressive pace throughout the race, lapping all other teams, demonstrating the return of a strong Honda.

Race Results

Pos. No. Team Bike Laps Total time Gap 1st Gap prev B. Lap In lap T. Pit Total pit time
1 33 Team HRC Honda 214 08:02:09.131 – – 2:06.934 113 7 4:53.093
2 10 Kawasaki Racing Team Suzuka 8H Kawasaki 213 08:02:15.180 1 Lp. 1 Lp. 2:07.177 90 7 5:11.416
3 1 Yoshimura SERT Motul Suzuki 212 08:03:31.961 2 Lp. 1 Lp. 2:08.157 30 8 5:48.841
4 95 S-PULSE DREAM RACING – ITEC Suzuki 210 08:02:54.775 4 Lp. 2 Lp. 2:08.558 84 8 6:59.018
5 104 TOHO Racing Honda 210 08:03:42.462 4 Lp. 47.687 2:08.833 109 8 7:58.353
6 72 Honda Dream RT SAKURAI HONDA Honda 210 08:04:12.555 4 Lp. 30.093 2:08.872 176 8 6:34.959
7 7 YART – Yamaha Official Team EWC Yamaha 209 08:03:40.730 5 Lp. 1 Lp. 2:07.781 183 10 16:44.115
8 40 Team ATJ with JAPAN POST Honda 208 08:02:10.855 6 Lp. 1 Lp. 2:10.010 11 7 7:59.652
9 50 TEAM KODAMA Yamaha 208 08:02:29.010 6 Lp. 18.155 2:09.402 141 8 9:40.932
10 5 F.C.C. TSR Honda France Honda 208 08:02:33.132 6 Lp. 4.122 2:08.851 10 8 11:18.410
11 88 Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA Honda 208 08:03:30.441 6 Lp. 57.309 2:10.029 56 8 8:14.058
12 54 GOSHI Racing Honda 206 08:03:16.441 8 Lp. 2 Lp. 2:10.811 111 7 7:06.028
13 64 Kawasaki Plaza Racing Team Kawasaki 205 08:02:17.004 9 Lp. 1 Lp. 2:10.283 11 8 8:52.118
14 44 SANMEI Team TARO PLUSONE BMW 204 08:02:36.056 10 Lp. 1 Lp. 2:10.150 151 9 9:53.058
15 11 WEBIKE SRC KAWASAKI FRANCE Kawasaki 203 08:03:12.199 11 Lp. 1 Lp. 2:10.215 157 7 1:07:16.823
16 806 NCXX RACING with RIDERS CLUB Yamaha 202 08:03:03.945 12 Lp. 1 Lp. 2:09.968 12 7 19:12.958
17 85 TONE RT SYNCEDGE 4413 BMW BMW 202 08:03:22.798 12 Lp. 18.853 2:11.046 10 9 17:03.450
18 52 TERAMOTO@J-TRIP Racing Suzuki 202 08:03:54.412 12 Lp. 31.614 2:13.762 9 7 6:37.134
19 60 Honda Hamamatsu ESCARGOT RT Honda 202 08:04:00.280 12 Lp. 5.868 2:14.072 28 7 7:34.170
20 3 KRP SANYOKOGYO&RS-ITOH Kawasaki 200 08:03:30.741 14 Lp. 2 Lp. 2:09.857 152 8 19:29.234
21 99 ADVANCE MC & FOC CLAYMORE EDGE with DOGHOUSE Suzuki 198 08:03:23.882 16 Lp. 2 Lp. 2:16.229 125 8 8:57.668
22 27 TransMapRacing with ACE CAFE Suzuki 198 08:04:22.582 16 Lp. 58.700 2:15.277 9 8 9:06.825
23 15 TEAM HANSHIN  RIDING SCHOOL Kawasaki 195 08:04:12.508 19 Lp. 3 Lp. 2:13.088 61 8 18:55.189
24 78 Honda Blue Helmets MSC Kumamoto & Asaka Honda 193 08:02:36.186 21 Lp. 2 Lp. 2:16.899 12 10 13:31.896
25 9 Murayama. Honda Dream. RT Honda 193 08:04:07.774 21 Lp. 1:31.588 2:09.964 76 9 36:04.184
26 82 Team BIZENSEIKI Kirimoto Techno Works Kawasaki 192 08:03:08.113 22 Lp. 1 Lp. 2:14.401 11 9 22:14.403
27 74 AKENO SPEED.YAMAHA Yamaha 188 08:03:15.329 26 Lp. 4 Lp. 2:10.603 11 7 1:50:18.095
28 45 YSS Mercury with TKm Kawasaki 187 08:04:26.530 27 Lp. 1 Lp. 2:20.604 44 10 21:54.292
29 89 CLUB NEXT & Honda Dream TAKASAKI Honda 184 08:02:41.789 30 Lp. 3 Lp. 2:13.602 9 7 40:31.117
30 25 Honda Sofukai Suzuka Racing Team Honda 183 08:03:52.396 31 Lp. 1 Lp. 2:08.626 131 6 1:52:48.451
31 112 Honda Soyukai Tochigi Racing & Dream RT Honda 173 08:03:45.145 41 Lp. 10 Lp. 2:15.677 71 9 1:04:34.212
32 71 Team MATSUNAGA KDC & YSP NAGOYA KITA Yamaha 170 08:02:26.932 44 Lp. 3 Lp. 2:17.666 47 11 1:02:57.845
33 69 Auto Race UBE KEN RACING YIC Kawasaki 169 08:02:54.535 45 Lp. 1 Lp. 2:14.700 52 10 1:19:54.598
34 38 K’sWORKS RACING Yamaha 165 08:03:16.327 49 Lp. 4 Lp. 2:16.384 11 9 1:15:09.525
NOT CLASSIFIED (Requirements : Must cross the finishing line or 75% of number laps of leader = 161 Lp.)
35 42 Shinshu activation project Team NAGANO BMW 160 08:03:55.004 54 Lp. 5 Lp. 2:13.748 9 7 2:08:33.360
36 61 Team  de”LIGHT Ducati 155 08:02:18.813 59 Lp. 5 Lp. 2:15.337 12 6 2:49:38.160
37 17 Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing Honda 153 08:04:00.350 61 Lp. 2 Lp. 2:08.323 71 7 2:24:51.120
38 70 OGURA CLUTCH ORC with RIDE IN Yamaha 149 08:03:27.137 65 Lp. 4 Lp. 2:13.467 112 7 2:09:33.506
39 31 Hamamatsu Team TITAN Suzuki 144 08:02:53.466 70 Lp. 5 Lp. 2:13.015 56 6 2:57:21.562
40 41 IRF with AZURLANE Yamaha 144 08:04:29.244 70 Lp. 1:35.778 2:17.463 39 6 2:09:52.664
41 2 EVA RT 01 Webike TRICKSTAR Kawasaki 142 08:02:10.411 72 Lp. 2 Lp. 2:09.788 15 9 2:31:09.336
42 34 Honda Ryokuyoukai Kumamoto Racing Honda 139 08:02:54.964 75 Lp. 3 Lp. 2:14.719 97 4 3:22:25.009
43 73 SDG Honda Racing Honda 139 08:04:04.194 75 Lp. 1:09.230 2:08.828 91 7 2:55:58.391
44 51 T.MOTOKIDS TAKADA I.W. NAC Yamaha 89 08:02:47.845 125 Lp. 50 Lp. 2:16.265 9 5 6:55:56.998
RETIRED
45 37 BMW MOTORRAD WORLD END TEAM BMW 96 03:46:58.843 118 Lp. – 2:09.887 11 4 2:18.317
B. Lap : 2:06.934 (165.0 km/h), (No.33) T. NAGASHIMA 
RECORDS

Qualifying: Team HRC – Tetsuta Nagashima: 2’04.934s (2022)
Race: Kawasaki Racing Team – Jonathan Rea 2’06.805s (2019)

Private: Tetsuta Nagashima 33

I’m simply happy! I’m glad to have had the opportunity to be involved in developing the CBR1000RR-RSP in 2021 and 2022, realize its potential, and show the world. Honda’s engineers have tested the bike over and over, and were rewarded by our Suzuka 8 Hours victory. I am grateful to be a part of the development, and grew with each test we did. I believe we demonstrated a strong Honda at the first Suzuka 8 Hours in three years.

Takumi Takahashi 30

I’ve always been unhappy with the 2019 Suzuka 8 Hours, so I’m glad we won today. I’m relieved that I managed to play my part, as Nagashima developed the bike, and I had to become accustomed to it and bring out its potential, otherwise I would hold him back. This was the first Suzuka 8 Hours for Iker [Lecuona], and he did a great job. The HRC team gave us solid support including pit work. I am grateful to everyone involved. This is my fourth Suzuka 8 Hours victory, and if I get another chance, I will aim for the record of five victories held by Toru Ukawa.

Private: Iker Lecuona 33

I am really, really, really happy to win my first Suzuka 8 Hours. It felt amazing when Nagashima was met by the checkered flag. Everything has gone well since the Suzuka tests, the bike developed by Honda and Nagashima was superb, and I think I managed to bring out the performance of the bike. I was worried when the safety car entered the track that I would lose the gap our other two riders had built up, but we got through fine. I am grateful to the best team and my teammates. If I have the opportunity next year, I’d like to be back at Suzuka.

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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