This is the week that leads up to the Suzuka 8 Hours. Today, the most anticipated race of the World Endurance Championship—now in its 47th edition—kicks off with the first practice sessions, in which teams and riders take to the Japanese rollercoaster track.
The battle for glory pits Honda against Yamaha, with the two giants determined to claim the top step of the podium. After demonstrating its superiority in recent editions, HRC is dreaming big, relying on the Rea, Takahashi, and Chantra trio—the latter replacing an injured Zarco.
Yamaha, on the other hand, will rely on the trio of Miller, Locatelli, and test-rider Nakasuga who 's competing in his last 8 Hours race. The prospects, therefore, look excellent, with BMW aiming to join the fray between the two major Japanese rivals.
The Munich-based manufacturer will be on the track as a factory team with Van der Mark, Odendaal, and Reiterberger.
Ducati won't be part of the action, and everyone is definitely disappointed. As we all know, about two years ago, Paolo Ciabatti and the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer launched a project to bring the Panigale V4 to Asia through Yukio Kagayama’s team. In recent years, Pecco Bagnaia, as well as Nicolò Bulega, had shown interest in competing in the “race of all races", but the project has, unfortunately, stalled.
In fact, Kagayama decided to focus exclusively on the All Japan Road Race Championship, where Mizuno and the Ducati V4 have dominated the first five races of the season. Who knows if, in the future, Ducati and Kagayama will decide to revive the project for a return to the “rollercoaster”? That would be both fascinating and exciting.
Speaking of Mizuno, the Japanese rider has been kindly loaned to Suzuki, which will return to racing this weekend at the 8 Hours in its green livery on the GSX-R1000R, using 100% sustainable TotalEnergies fuel. The official CN Challenge team will feature Tsuda and Masson.
As for the Italians in the race, besides Andrea Locatelli, the presence of Gamarino with Kawasaki and Delbianco with the Marc VDS team’s Yamaha stand out. Meanwhile, in the Stock class, Giannini and Manfredi will be on the starting grid with Honda. The Tatara team’s Aprilia, with Watanabe, Wada, and Akito Haga, will also be lined up.