Honda Dominates Suzuka 8 Hours Qualifying
Team HRC Leads as Teams Gear Up for Iconic Endurance Race
The 2025 FIM Endurance World Championship’s grueling Suzuka 8 Hours is underway in Japan, with Honda machinery seizing the early advantage. The 46th edition of this physically demanding event is testing riders on the challenging 5.821 km Suzuka Circuit, notorious for its heat and humidity.
Honda HRC Sets Blistering Pace
Qualifying sessions saw Honda HRC, featuring riders Takumi Takahashi and Johann Zarco, emerge as the fastest. Takahashi achieved a remarkable 2’06.038 in his initial run. Shortly after, Zarco posted an even quicker 2’05.023 during the yellow session. He further lowered the benchmark to an exceptional 2’04.820 in the final minutes of the second qualifying, securing the provisional pole position.
Top 10 Trial to Decide Front Rows
The performance today sets the stage for Saturday’s Top 10 Trial. The two fastest riders from the top 10 teams will battle for the premier grid spots. This crucial shootout determines the starting order for Sunday’s main 8-hour endurance race.
Challengers Prepare for Sunday Showdown
A total of 55 entries are competing, with 21 teams powered by Honda. This includes established Formula EWC teams like F.C.C. TSR Honda France and Tati Team AVA6 Racing, alongside Superstock contenders National Motos Honda FMA, Wójcik Racing Team #777 SST, Kaedear-Dafy-Rac41-Honda, and Honda No Limits.
F.C.C. TSR Honda France Aims for Home Glory
Returning to their home circuit, F.C.C. TSR Honda France, aboard the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, are focused on a strong showing. Riders Alan Techer, Corentin Perolari, and Taiga Haga strategically used practice time to refine race setup, saving new tires for later sessions. Despite interruptions, Haga showed significant improvement, securing the team 14th on the grid with an average time of 2:06.970.
Tati Team AVA6 Racing Adapts Rider Lineup
Tati Team AVA6 Racing qualified in 23rd place with an average lap time of 02:08.005. The team has a revised rider lineup for this event, with Isaac Viñales and Sho Nishimura joining Hugo Clère. This change comes after Randy Krummenacher and Martin Renaudin were deemed not fully fit. A recent switch to Bridgestone tires has yielded notable performance gains for the team.
Superstock Class Heats Up
In the Superstock category, Kaedear-Dafy-Rac41-Honda secured a formidable second place. The #41 machine, ridden by Takeshi Ishizuka, Chris Leesh, and Kevin Manfredi, narrowly missed the top spot by just 0.006 seconds. Honda No Limits made an impressive debut, taking third in Superstock with riders Kaito Toba, Gabriele Giannini, and Akito Haga, demonstrating excellent pace despite limited prior track experience. Wójcik Racing Team #777 SST and National Motos Honda FMA qualified seventh and ninth, respectively.
The race is scheduled to commence on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. local time. The winner of the Suzuka 8 Hours is often determined by team endurance and pit stop strategy, as seen in previous years where reliability played a crucial role alongside raw speed. For instance, in the 2023 edition, Team HRC’s victory was significantly influenced by flawless pit stops and consistent rider performance.
