8H de Suzuka – 8H Suzuka 2018: the factory Honda team uses the big middleweight – Used HONDA

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8H Suzuka 2018: the factory Honda team uses the big / medium

8H de Suzuka - 8H Suzuka 2018: the factory Honda team uses the big middleweight - Used HONDA

As we suspected: Marquez, who is heading for his fifth MotoGP title will not drive the official Honda at the 2018 Suzuka 8 Hours. But the Japanese champion Takahashi will still team up with his compatriot Nakagami (MotoGP) and the Englishman Camier (WorldSBK)… as well as Ukawa and Red Bull! Presentation.

Site readers – who, as everyone knows, are a little more fortunate than others – already know that the 41st edition of the Suzuka 8 Hours will be marked by the return of the HRC (Honda Racing Corporation, the racing branch of the brand winged), after ten long years of absence … and three successes in a row for its main rival !

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Last year as a reminder, the official Yamaha team had won its third victory in a row on the world number one circuit … Honda is indeed number 1 in sales of motorized two-wheelers and MotoGP. But it is not in Endurance racing since the GMT94 (Yamaha too!) Had sealed its 2016-2017 EWC title during the same Japanese final. !

  • 8H Suzuka 2018:
  • 8H Suzuka 2017:

At the announcement this winter of the – big? – Honda’s return to the Suzuka 8 Hours, the names of the drivers responsible for leading the CBR1000RR SP2 to victory were unknown. They have finally just been announced by the manufacturer … Marc Marquez does not appear on the list.

In 2001, the HRC again lined up with the VTR1000SPW, then-rising Grand Prix star Valentino Rossi, alongside his other world star Colin Edwards. Together, the two friends had undoubtedly won the most significant victory in the history of the event..

8H de Suzuka - 8H Suzuka 2018: the factory Honda team uses the big middleweight - Used HONDA

In 2018, Honda is again keen to Mark mark the spirits, but does not wish to distract his new star n ° 93, or to compromise in the event of fall and injury his chances of winning – quite easily – a fifth title in premier category … and in only six seasons! See you next year, in case of a new disappointment this summer ?

was naturally in pole position to win one of the three armbands on the n ° 33 Honda: triple winner of the Suzuka 8 Hours (in 2010, 2013 and 2014), he already drives a factory Fireblade in the Japanese Superbike championship. And brilliantly !

8H de Suzuka - 8H Suzuka 2018: the factory Honda team uses the big middleweight - Used HONDA

As a reminder, Takumi won the 2017 title in "JSB1000 MFJ All-Japan Roadrace". And for information, the n ° 1 of the discipline is currently third in the provisional behind Katsuyuki Nakasuga (five times Japanese champion on the R1 Factory) and Kazuma Watanabe (Kawasaki Team Green rider)…

The HRC is calling on another "big" rider: who is 1.88m tall and is riding this season in World Superbike within the official Honda team managed by Ten Kate. Unfortunately injured in the third round of 2018 in Aragon and out of the race during two events, the English n ° 2 is only 12th in the championship. But he’s up to the task again !

8H de Suzuka - 8H Suzuka 2018: the factory Honda team uses the big middleweight - Used HONDA

Leon has participated in three editions of the Suzuka 8 Hours. His debut was in 2005 on the Honda Moriwaki, at just 19 (!), He would then run for the British Supersport title. Leon had regained his place the following year in the same team, to reward him for having actually won the English crown in SSP.

Finally in 2012, as a member of the Suzuki Crescent team in World Superbike, Mister "Kamir" had the honor of driving the GSX-R1000 of the Suzuki Yoshimura team. Unfortunately for him, "Lioness" was only classified on her first attempt, in 15th place..

8H de Suzuka - 8H Suzuka 2018: the factory Honda team uses the big middleweight - Used HONDA

This year, therefore, the native of Ashford (England) – – will seek to join the prize list of the prestigious Japanese race his comrades and stars of the World Superbike: Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark who will also ride again in the Yamaha Factory , Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam who will team up on the Kawasaki Team Green, but also Carlos Checa, Colin Edwards, Alex Barros, Aaron Slight, Doug Polen, Scott Russel or Fred Merkel !

Finally, if Marquez is not in the game, who is also racing this year in the premier class of the Grand Prix on an RCV, is! Winner at the Suzuka 8 hours in 2010 alongside Takumi Takahashi – and English Superbike champion Ryuichi Kiyonari -, "Taka" is on the block…

8H de Suzuka - 8H Suzuka 2018: the factory Honda team uses the big middleweight - Used HONDA

A third famous Japanese driver will be part of the adventure: Tohru Ukawa will be the team manager of this new "Dream Team" which will wear the n ° 33 … and high hopes: "we will run after victory, of course", declares the five-time winner of the event as a Honda rider, "but the main thing is to recreate an official HRC team to give Honda riders a new dream, a new ambition, a new future".

To achieve – all! – these objectives, the HRC has also secured the financial support of the title sponsor of the official team engaged in World Superbike: the energy drink giant, Red Bull! The Japan Post also sides with Honda and hopes that this 41st edition of Suzuka 8H will pass like a letter in the post, Japanese yes.

8H de Suzuka - 8H Suzuka 2018: the factory Honda team uses the big middleweight - Used HONDA

At the head of the EWC constructors’ championship (198 points against 178 for Yamaha, 156 for BMW, 135 for Kawasaki and 102 for Suzuki), the Tokyo firm and its fans will also closely follow the performance of the Fireblade by the FCC TSR Honda team….

Engaged only in its second full season in World Endurance, the team occupies first place in the provisional, thanks in particular to its successes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and then at the 8 Hours of Oschersleben. Thanks to its international drivers (Freddy Foray, Josh Hook and Alan Techer), this brilliant team could become the first of Japanese origin to win the world championship. !

Will the 2018 Motorcycle Endurance season be branded with a hot iron by Honda? Answer to follow on Site: stay connected !

Honda Red Bull riders’ statements n ° 33

Takumi Takahashi:
"I am delighted that Honda is coming back to the Suzuka 8 Hours as a factory team, and to be part of the team. I believe we did a good job of preparing the bike using our experience from the first half of the JRR (Japanese Superbike, Editor’s note) season this year. We haven’t won the Suzuka 8 Hours in recent years, and as we’re officially back, we’ll do our best to regain the title ".

Leon Camier:
"I can’t wait to compete in the Suzuka 8 Hours with the factory Honda team. We’ve done some testing and we’re totally ready. Takumi [Takahashi] has won the Suzuka 8 Hours three times, and Nakagami is a rider. Competitive MotoGP. Combining our efforts will be necessary to win, and I strongly believe in our chances of doing so. ".

Takaaki Nakagami:
“As a rider and member of the Honda family, I am delighted that Honda is officially returning to the Suzuka 8 Hours for the first time in ten years. We have a winning team and the bike has the potential, but beyond that. , the team has the desire to win. Everyone at Honda wants to reclaim the title. We unfortunately finished fourth last year, but I will work with the other two riders to win as a factory team. ".

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