Suzuka 8 Hours: Official Tests start today

The countdown has begun. With the first official tests, the Suzuka 8 Hours draws ever closer, scheduled to take place over the final weekend of July, on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31. The bikes are riders took to the track today for the traditional Official Tests, which will continue until Wednesday.

There are 56 teams present at the track, with the absence of Yamaha. The Japanese manufacturer, going for the double after having won last time around, preferred to get its testing done early. Pol Espargarò, Nakasuga and Alex Lowes tested last week in preparation for the upcoming event. This weekend, Lowes will be in American for the Superbikes, while next week Espargarò has MotoGP in Germany.

Present and correct however is the Suzuki Yoshimura team, entrusting its bikes to Takuya Tsuda, the very experienced Haga and Joshua Brooks, though the latter is absent because he's competing in America. The two Honda teams are also on track. HARC-PRO limits its presence to Takahashi, with Hayden and Dutchman van der Mark racing in Laguna Seca at the final SBK round before the summer break. FCC TSR is composed of Watanabe, Jacobsen and Swiss rider Aegerter, on the podium in recent editions.

The three days are divided into two groups, with a special evening session on Monday.

 

Monday 4 July

 

12:00 – 12:45 Group A

13:00 – 13:45 Group B

15:15 – 16:30 Group A

16:45 – 18:00 Group B

18:40 – 19:40 Group A/B

 

Tuesday 5 July

 

09:00 – 09:40 Group B

09:55 – 10:35 Group A

10:50 – 11:30 Group B

11:45 – 12:25 Group A

14:00 – 15:30 Group B

15:45 – 17:15 Group A

 

Wednesday 6 July

 

09:00 – 09:40 Group A

09:55 – 10:35 Group B

10:50 – 11:30 Group A

11:45 – 12:25 Group B

14:00 – 15:30 Group A

15:45 – 17:15 Group B