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Team HRC picked up the win at the recent Suzuka 8 Hours motorcycle endurance race in Japan. The victory was monumental for the team: it was Honda’s first win in eight years and its 28th at the 8 Hours of Suzuka.
After setting the fastest lap time in Friday’s timed qualified sessions, the team, which consisted of riders Tetsuta Nagashima, Takumi Takahashi and Iker Lecuona, immediately propelled the squad into the Top 10 qualifying session. Tetsuta Nagashima then set the fastest lap time of 2 min 4.934 s to secure pole position for the team.
HRC is supported by Motul as its official lubricants and technical partner. On the partnership between the two brands, Tetsuhiro Kuwata – HRC Director, said: “Honda and Motul each boast a long and successful history in high-level motorsport competition around the world, both brands being driven by the constant pursuit of victory and by the strong belief that the racing arena is the ideal setting in which to grow our human capital and develop our know-how and technology. In doing so, we offer our customers the best possible products, while bringing joy and excitement to our fans around the world. We are living in a time of great challenges, but we are ready to fight to achieve our mutual goals, which we will pursue with determination, positivity, and confidence in the future.”
Team HRC returned to the Suzuka 8 Hours as Honda’s factory team in 2018 after a decade-long absence. The team was second in 2018, and third in 2019. Takumi Takahashi was the team’s starting rider, and despite losing the lead at the start, regained the top spot-on lap 10. From there, Tetsuta Nagashima and Iker Lecuona put in strong performances on the bike to maintain a comfortable gap with their closest competitor.
After 214 laps, the team crossed the finish line at 7:32pm to secure an amazing start-to-finish win from pole. This win marks Takumi Takahashi’s fourth Suzuka 8 Hours win, and a first for Tetsuta Nagashima and MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship rider Iker Lecuona.
Of the win, Tetsuta Nagashima said:
“I’m simply happy! I’m glad to have had the opportunity to be involved in developing the CBR1000RR-RSP in 2021 and 2022, realise its potential, and show the world. Honda’s engineers have tested the bike over and over and were rewarded by our Suzuka 8 Hours victory. I am grateful to be a part of the development and grew with each test we did. I believe we demonstrated a strong Honda at the first Suzuka 8 Hours in three years.”
Starting rider Takumi Takahashi added:
“I’ve always been unhappy with the 2019 Suzuka 8 Hours, so I’m glad we won today. I’m relieved that I managed to play my part, as Nagashima developed the bike, and I had to become accustomed to it and bring out its potential, otherwise I would hold him back. This was the first Suzuka 8 Hours for Iker [Lecuona], and he did a great job. The HRC team gave us solid support including pit work. I am grateful to everyone involved. This is my fourth Suzuka 8 Hours victory, and if I get another chance, I will aim for the record of five victories held by Toru Ukawa.”
Iker Lecuona said:
“I am really, really, really happy to win my first Suzuka 8 Hours. It felt amazing when Nagashima was met by the checkered flag. Everything has gone well since the Suzuka tests, the bike developed by Honda and Nagashima was superb, and I think I managed to bring out the performance of the bike. I was worried when the safety car entered the track that I would lose the gap our other two riders had built up, but we got through fine. I am grateful to the best team and my teammates. If I have the opportunity next year, I’d like to be back at Suzuka.”
The Motul-backed Yoshimura SERT team took third place at the legendary event, proof positive that Motul’s race-bred lubricants can go the distance in the tough world of motorcycle endurance racing.
