Team HRC with Japan Post Qualifies Third
On July 19 (Fri), Team HRC with Japan Post was third in qualifying for the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Road Race (Suzuka 8 Hours) 45th Annual Event.
Free practice was held from 8:30 to 10:30 in the morning, followed by the first 20-minute qualifying sessions for the blue, yellow, and red riders from 12:05 pm.
Qualifying for the EWC is determined by the average lap times of the two fastest riders from each team. Based on the results of today’s two qualifying sessions, two riders from the top 10 teams will compete in the Top 10 Trials on Saturday, determining the grid for positions from 1 through 10. The grid for positions 11 and lower reflect the results of today’s qualifying sessions.
Free practice was repeatedly red-flagged and restarted due to a crashes. The session was finally stopped due to a crashed bike on the hairpin just off-track, with 6 minutes remaining in scheduled time.
Team HRC with Japan Post (Takumi Takahashi / Teppei Nagoe / Johann Zarco) set the fastest lap in free practice of 2 min 6.238s, followed by Team ATJ with docomo business (Satoru Iwata / Kouki Suzuki / Yuta Okaya) in 4th position with 2 min 7.143s, TOHO Racing (Ryuichi Kiyonari / Kazuki Watanabe/ Ikuhiro Enokido) 5th with 2 min 7.162s, SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda (Yuki Kunii / Naomichi Uramoto / Mario Aji) 6th with 2 min 7.304 sec. and Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing (Kohta Nozane / Kisuke Sakumoto / Taiga Hada) 9th with 2 min 7.391 sec.
For Team HRC with Japan Post, Takahashi’s best lap was 2 min.7.567s, Nagoe’s was 2 min 6.390s, and Zarco’s was 2 min 6.238s.
Team manager Teruaki Matsubara said, “We confirmed the base settings, then Nagoe and Zarco prepared for qualifying, and Takahashi worked on the race set-up.”
In the first qualifying session, the blue riders entered the course first, but one rider crashed in the early stage. SDG Team HARC-PRO.Honda’s Aji and Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing’s Nozane collided and crashed at the hairpin, causing a red flag. Aji required a medical examination following the accident. By the end of the session, Team HRC with Japan Post’s Takumi Takahashi was 4th 2 min 6.381s.
The yellow riders were next on track. Although the session was red-flagged due to a crash, Team HRC with Japan Post’s Johann Zarco set the second fastest time of 2 min 6.084s. Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing’s Hada was 3rd with 2 min 6.743s, SDG Team HARC-PRO.Honda’s Uramoto was 4th with 2 min 6.772s, and Alain Techer for F.C.C. TSR Honda France (Josh Hook / Mike Di Meglio / Alan Techer) was 6th with 2 min 7.529s. Andi Farid Izdihar for Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo (Md Zaqhwan Bin Zaidi / Andi Farid Izdihar / Nakarin Atiratphuvapat) was 10th with 2 min 8.017s.
In the red rider qualifying session, SDG Team HARC-PRO.Honda’s Kunii took an early lead with a 2 min 5.942s lap. Team HRC with Japan Post’s Teppei Nagoe then rose to 3rd, setting 2 min 5.980s on the following lap, but returned to the pits in 3rd. At the end of the session, Kunii was 2nd, Nagoe 3rd, and F.C.C. TSR Honda France’s Techer was 5th with 2 min 7.090s.
Track temperature during the first qualifying session was 58℃, but in the second qualifying session, dropped to 40℃. Teams were expected to try and improve their lap times on the cooler track, and attention turned to what lap times they could set.
The blue riders entered the track to start the second qualifying session. Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing’s Nozane set a time in the 2 min 5s range, and was 2nd fastest with 2 min 5.923s. Team ATJ with docomo business’ Iwata was 4th with 2 min 7.213s.
In the yellow riders’ second qualifying session, Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing’s Hada topped the leaderboard with a 2 min 6.507s lap, followed by Team HRC with Japan Post’s Zarco 3rd with 2 min 6.795s. In the red riders’ second session, Team HRC with Japan Post’s Nagoe was 6th with 2 min 7.574s.
Once all qualifying sessions were complete, the averages of the top two riders for each team were officially calculated. Team HRC with Japan Post was 3rd, followed by Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing 5th, SDG Team HARC-PRO.Honda 6th, F.C.C. TSR Honda France 9th, Honda DREAM RT Sakurai Honda (Kazuki Ito / Daijiro Hiura) 10th, TOHO Racing 11th, Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo 13th, and Team ATJ with docomo business 14th. Tomorrow’s Top 10 Trial will determine the top 10 grid positions.
After the qualifying results, team manager Matsubara said, “Each of our three riders rode their first qualifying sessions on new tires. We knew that the track temperature would drop during the second qualifying session, so in this session our riders prepared for the race in their first hot laps as the track temperature would be close to race conditions. Qualifying was fruitful, as our goal was to be in the top 10, which they accomplished, and they also verified the bike’s feel. Other Honda teams are also improving their times, so we will concentrate in the Top 10 Trial tomorrow and the race on Sunday.”
Takumi Takahashi 30
The red flag came out just as I attempted a hot lap, so I could not increase my pace. However, I was able to set times in the low 2 min 6s range, and I am happy that I was able to stay in the top 10 and further prepare for the race. I am not worried because, Nagoe, Zarco and I all have more than enough energy. I don’t know who from our team will ride in the Top 10 Trial, but I don’t have to participate in it if the other two want to. I will leave it up to the team.
Teppei Nagoe 30
I saw many red flags early in the blue and yellow qualifying sessions, so I decided to attack with 10 minutes remaining and concentrate on two laps. I was aiming for the mid 2 min 5s range, but unfortunately it was just barely in the 5s range. To be honest, I am disappointed to lose to SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda who race in the All-Japan championship, but I am confident that I can set good times and I am happy that I’m in the top 10. I would like to ride in the Trial because I haven’t before, and last year I I could not race due to illness. It is a rare opportunity for people from all over the world to see me race, so I would like to be selected.
Johann Zarco 30
I am getting more and more accustomed to the Suzuka Circuit and I feel that I am setting consistent times for the race. In qualifying, the number of tires was limited, so I had to share them with my teammates, which limited the timing of my hot laps. It was a shame that just when I went out on new tires, the red flag came out and I couldn’t find the right timing. As for the team, I’m glad that we were able be in the top 10. The team decides who will race in the Top 10 trial, so I am not sure if I will be selected, but I am willing to give it a try. As an athlete, if I can challenge myself, then of course I want to race.
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) |
