Team Suzuki Press Office – July 6.
Yoshimura Suzuki riders Takuya Tsuda and Nori Haga completed three days of shakedown testing at Suzuka International Circuit in Japan today and are positive in the lead-up to round three of the FIM Endurance World Championship at the end of the month for the historic and highly-acclaimed Suzuka 8-Hours.
The #12 Yoshimura Suzuki Shell Advance GSX-R1000 topped the timesheets overall with Tsuda setting the fastest combined time, in perfect weather conditions. Team-mate Haga was also in the mix, but spent his time learning the Yoshimura Suzuki machine set-up; which is slightly different in characteristics to the Yoshimura-powered Team KAGAYAMA SUZUKI Asia GSX-Rs he is used to.
The third Yoshimura Suzuki rider, Australian Josh Brookes, was absent from the test, but will re-join the team in the lead-up to Japan’s biggest motorcycle event, the 39th Coca-Cola Zero Suzuka 8-Hours on July 28-31st. Also absent from the test was the Yamaha Factory Racing Team, last year’s winners of the Suzuka 8-Hours, who, along with Brookes are expected at the final Suzuka test next week.