Team HRC with Japan Post enters the last quarter of the Suzuka 8 Hours still in control

Entering the last quarter of the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours race, Team HRC with Japan Post continues on top, chasing Honda’s 30th win in the Suzuka 8 Hours and the third in a row for Team HRC.

Team HRC with Japan Post is followed by YART Yamaha in 2nd, Yoshimura (Suzuki) in 3rd, Team Kagayama (Ducati) in 4th, and SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda in 5th. Honda Dream RT Sakurai Honda is in 8th, TOHO Racing in 9th, Team ATJ with Docomo Business in 10th, Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing in 12th, and F.C.C. TSR Honda France in 14th. Only the top three teams are on the same lap.

At this time, only Team HRC with Japan Post and Team Kagayama (Ducati) are recording lap times of 2 minutes and 7 seconds.

Zarco completes a rider change and immediately records a 2:07.690 lap time, solidifying his lead. Fritz is in 2nd, Charlin in 3rd, Moto2 rider Albert Arenas, who made a sudden entry with Yoshimura, in 4th, Uramoto in 5th, Guintoli (BMW) in 6th, Barry Baltus (Suzuki) in 7th, Ito in 8th, Kiyonari in 9th, and Suzuki in 12th.

At lap 130, Zarco remains in the lead, followed by Hanika in 2nd, Mizuno in 3rd, Arenas in 4th, Kunii in 5th, Kiyonari in 7th, Hiura in 9th, Suzuki in 11th, and Tesh in 15th.

At lap 136, Zarco hands over to Nagoe, who continues to lap smoothly. At 16:42, after 140 laps, F.C.C. TSR Honda France’s Tesh makes an emergency pit stop, diving into the pit lane. The crew quickly inspects and repairs the machine.

Nagoe completes 144 laps, maintaining the lead. Hanika is in 2nd, Mizuno in 3rd, Atsumi in 4th. The gap between 5th place Mykhalchyk and 6th place Hiura is just 7.802 seconds, suggesting a potential change in positions. Okaya moves ahead of Sakumoto to take 11th place, with Sakumoto now in 12th.

After 155 laps, Nagoe remains in the lead, followed by Kanepa, who has completed a rider change, in 2nd, Mizuno in 3rd, Atsumi in 4th, Uramoto in 5th, Ito in 7th, Okaya in 10th, and Sakumoto in 11th. Josh is in 25th place.

At lap 162, Nagoe hands over to Takahashi, with a pit stop time of 41.021 seconds, impressively quick compared to other EWC teams.

LIVE TIMING* Courtesy of EWC and ITS