Honda HRC with Zarco and Takahashi dominates qualifying at Suzuka 8 Hours

A fast lap by Takumi Takahashi and a record-breaking performance by MotoGP star Johann Zarco make Honda HRC the team to beat in the race towards a pole position in the third round of the FIM World Endurance Championship

Honda HRC was catapulted into a virtual pole position for the 46th edition of the Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours, the third round of the World Endurance Championship (FIM EWC). A breathtaking duel among its riders decided the temporary standings after Thursday's qualifying session.

HRC's double hit

Japan's Takumi Takahashi scorched the asphalt with a lightning-fast race, but it was MotoGP star Johann Zarco who ended the session with the fastest time overall (2'05.023s). Thanks to their average times, HRC - with only two riders after Xavi Vierge's absence due to "procedural reasons" - leads the temporary standings. Suprisingly, we find the AutoRace Ube Racing Team (BMW) and the Yamaha Racing Team behind them, the latter with MotoGP ace Jack Miller.

The Grid will be decided on Saturday.

At Suzuka, tradition is king: the starting order will not be defined by standard qualifications but by the outcome of the Top 10 Trial on Saturday afternoon: a high-adrenaline show that will anticipate Sunday's race.

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Blue Rider Group:

Naomichi Uramoto (AutoRace Ube Racing Team/BMW) confirmed the free practice pace by leading the group with 2'05.367s. He was followed by four-time 8 Hours winner Katsuyuki Nakasuga (Yamaha) and Takahashi (Honda HRC), a six-time champion here. Kohta Nozane (Honda) came in fourth, followed by Karel Hanika (Yamaha YART) fifth.

Yellow Rider Group:

Johann Zarco (Honda HRC) dominated with authority (2'05.023s), sealing his status as favorite. Loris Baz (AutoRace Ube/BMW) was second, ahead of Daijiro Hura (Honda) and Jack Miller (Yamaha). Michael van der Mark (Yamaha) returned to the track and came in fifth after being absent since 2019. Pawelec and Raymond fell but without repercussions.

Red Rider Group:

Ryusei Yamanaka (Honda) in the lead with 2'05.910s, ahead of rookie Andrea Locatelli (Yamaha) and Yuki Kunii (Honda). Cocoro Atsumi (Yoshimura Suzuki) came in fourth and Jason O'Halloran (Yamaha YART) fifth.

Superstock: Étoile in the lead

Among the Dunlop-Superstock teams, Team Étoile (with Hikari Okubo) leads the standings followed by Honda No Limits (Kaito Toba) and Kawasaki Plaza Racing (Ryosuke Iwato).