Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race boasting 40 years of history will be held in Japan from July 27th, 2017

Suzuka Circuit announced the outline of “The 40th Coca-Cola ” Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race” to be held from July 27th (Thursday) to 30th (Sunday).
In addition, they held an annual presentation and a talk show together at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show 2017.

Tickets will be on sale from May 14th (Sunday). The Suzuka Circuit MOBILITY STATION will sell tickets from May 13th (Saturday).

The 40th Anniversary Race was held as Japan’s first series final game!!

Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race of this year will be held as the final round of the World Endurance Championship Series. This is the first time that the final round of the same championship will be held in Japan.

In other words, since all standings will be decided at this event, as well as the team who will fully participate in the World Endurance Championship Series, it will certainly be challenging for teams who only participate in the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race with a greater motivation than last year.

EVA TrickStar Racing got 3rd and F.C.C. TSR Honda also got 5th in the Bol d’or 24 hours (France) that was the opening round of the 2016-2017 series. They started well from the opening race. They may be the first Japanese champion of the world endurance race championship at the Suzuka 8 hours.

•F.C.C. TSR Honda

•TrickStar Racing

Also, a strong regular team such as SRC Kawasaki, GMT 94 YAMAHA, and YART Yamaha Official EWC Team, including S.E.R.T (SUZUKI ENDURANCE RACING TEAM) who won the the Bol d’or 24 Hours Endurance Race(France), will also participate.

In particular, S. E. R. T, who has gained 15 times champion in the past, has been achieving V2 champion from 2015 and wii challenge to Suzuka 8 hours for getting the first win!!

Below is from the press release

“Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race Summary

(1) Race Name
2016-2017 FIM World Endurance Championship Final Round
The 40th Coca-Cola “Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race

Simultaneous Holding: 2017 Suzuka 4 Hours Endurance Race

(2) Organizer
Motorcycle Federation of Japan (MFJ)
Mobilityland Corporation

(3) Sponsor
Sports Agency, Tourism Agency, Mie Prefecture, Suzuka City, Suzuka F1 Japan Grand Prix Area Activation Council, Suzuka Tourism Association, Suzuka Chamber of Commerce and Industry

(4) Main Sponsor
Coca Cola

(5) Television Broadcasting
Terrestrial Wave: CBC television
Satellite Broadcast: BS12 Twelve

(6) Circuit Course & Place
Suzuka Circuit International Racing Course ( 5.821 km/1 Lap)
〒510-0295 / 7992 Inazo-cho, Suzuka-city, Mie Prefecture, Japan / TEL: 059-378-1111 (representation)

(7) Schedule
July 27, 2017 (Thursday) – July 30 (Sunday)

“Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8-Hours Endurance Road Race Schedule
July 27 (Thursday): Special Practice Session
July 28 (Friday): Official Practice / Official Qualification
July 29 (Saturday): Free Practice, TOP 10 Trial (Official Qualifying), Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Eve Event
July 30 (Sunday): “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race Final (11:30 Start / 19: 30 Finish)

Suzuka 4 Hours Endurance Race Schedule
July 27 (Thursday): Special Practice Session
July 28 (Friday): Official Qualification
July 29 (Saturday): Suzuka 4 Hours Endurance Race Final (9:00 start / 13: 00 Finish)

•The schedule may be changed.

Formidable Japanese teams rise to the challenge. Is rider choice the key to winning?

YAMAHA FACTORY RACING TEAM, who has won the race since the 2015 tournament, has announced a two-team structure although the riders have not decided yet. If Katsuyuki Nakasuga, who is the ace rider of this team, achieves the third consecutive victory, he will be the second person since Aaron Tony Slight won in 1993-1995.

•Katsuyuki Nakasuga who is aiming for 3 consecutive victories will be the second person in history

MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO, introduces a new Honda model. It previously appointed Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden who were also former champions of MotoGP™ class. This time, “Takahashi Takumi” who has three winning experiences and Moto2™ Rider “Takaaki Nakagami”, a Japanese rider who is the most likely steps up to the Moto GP class are selected. The revelation of the third rider will also draw attention.

•”Takaaki Nakagami” who will participate from MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO

In addition, the prestigious MORIWAKI MOTUL RACING is revitalizing with its appointed riders Yuki Takahashi and Ryuichi Kiyonari. Both riders have a strong experience in racing, especially for Kiyonari. He also aims the same record of Toru Ukawa’s “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 hours endurance road race of 5 wins.

•Ryuichi Kiyonari / Yuki Takahashi

In the SUZUKI team of the fully remodeled GSX-R1000, Yoshimura Suzuki MOTUL Racing and Team KAGAYAMA of Playing Manager Yukio Kagayama are the mainstay. Although riders have not been announced, both teams have invited a strong rider in the race so far, and it is noteworthy who will be invited in the convention.

And last year’s competition, Kawasaki Team GREEN who played the same laps with YAMAHA FACTORY RACING TEAM who won the championship has renewed all riders in all Japan JSB1000 and they will be challenging a new battle to the “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race.

Anyway, last year’s race was held completely in dry condition for 8 hours, and there was no safety car intervention on this race. YAMAHA FACTORY RACING TEAM who won in such circumstances could make 218 laps. For these reasons, the target of the number of laps will be 218 laps, which is an indicator for winning the tournament.

In addition, the topmost number of laps recorded was 219 gained by Daijiro Kato and Colin Edwards of Team Cabin Honda, who performed the pit stop strategy six times, in 2002. This was the time before the chicane was placed on a motor-racing circuit.

The winner of the first Suzuka 8 Hours, Mr. W. Cooley is coming.

“I am so happy to be returning to Suzuka 8H.
First time I went, in 1978, I didn’t know what to expect. New country, new race track, very important race, all manufactures there, home country for all.
Many problems during practice, but race was perfect!
Great fans, culture and Suzuka is great race track- My favorite, very fast. Yoshimura and Suzuki are great companies to race for!
The 40th anniversary will be a wonderful time.
So good to be back, motorcycle racing is getting big again. To be back in Japan and see race fans will be wonderful time. Can’t wait to talk with everyone. See you soon!”
[Wes Cooley]

• Suzuka 8 hours