Suzuki’s 1993 World 500cc GP Champion Kevin Schwantz is the Team Manager for Team KAGAYAMA Suzuki at the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance World Championship final round at Suzuka Circuit in Japan on July 26-29th.
Suzuki Ambassador Schwantz will lead the privateer three-man GSX-R1000 team at the 41st Coca-Cola-supported event, that comprises long-time Suzuki MotoGP, WSBK, BSB and Suzuka 8 Hours rider Yukio Kagayama, fellow Japanese rider Naomichi Uramoto and American Joe Roberts in the newly-named Team KAGAYAMA U.S.A.
Uramoto is currently racing full time in the RFME Spanish Championship Superstock 1000 category with Team SUZUKI JEG/ KAGAYAMA Racing, while Roberts is racing in the Moto2™ World Championship on an NTS chassis; and this will be Roberts’ debut at Japan’s biggest and most spectacular motorcycle event in the calendar.
Schwantz, who made a Suzuka comeback to racing in 2013 with Team KAGAYAMA, will look to give the team its first podium since 2015, as well as its first win at the event.
Entry Name: Team KAGAYAMA U.S.A.
Entry Number: #71
Machine: SUZUKI GSX-R1000 L8
Tyres: DUNLOP
Riders: Yukio Kagayama/ Joe Roberts/ Naomichi Uramoto
Team Manager: Kevin Schwantz
Yukio Kagayama – Team Owner:
“Team KAGAYAMA’s concept this year at Suzuka is “USA”. Kevin (Schwantz) who has raced together with us in 2013 and won the podium together will be with us again, but this time as Team Manager. Moto2 rider, Joe Roberts, will be joining us for his first appearance at Suzuka and Kevin will be giving Joe advice on how to race at the Suzuka 8 Hours and his experience will help the team set-up its strategy during the race weekend.
“We’ve missed the podium in the past two years due to problems during the race, but I expect to do our best to be back on the podium this year. I would like to thank Kevin and Joe for joining us in the “USA” project. I will do my best on the Suzuki GSX-R1000 so that our fans and sponsors will enjoy the race this year. I thank you for your support in advance.”
TOMMY BRIDEWELL TO RIDE SUZUKI GSX-R1000 AT SUZUKA
Another Suzuki Privateer team, the S-PULSE DREAM RACING IAI team, have announced their plans to participate in the 41st ‘Coca-Cola’ SUZUKA 8 Hours Endurance Race on July 26-29th, the final round of the 2017-2018 FIM Endurance World Championship series.
The two riders are team owner, Hideyuki Ogata, the well-known All Japan Superbike Championship star, and British Superbike Championship race winner, Tommy Bridewell, who has competed at the SUZUKA 8 Hours race on two previous occasions.
Bridewell said: “I am really looking forward to joining the S-PULSE DREAM RACING IAI team at the Suzuka 8 hours this year. It is a great honour to be asked to join the team for this special race and I am very focused and determined to have a great race aboard the team’s Suzuki GSX-R1000.”
Entry Name: S-PULSE DREAM RACING · IAI
Entry Number: #95
Machine: SUZUKI GSX-R1000
Tyres: BRIDGESTONE
Riders: Hideyuki Ogata/ Tommy Bridewell/ TBA
Team Manager: Shiro Yoshida
Chief mechanic: Keiji Matsumoto
Team Owner: Hideyuki Ogata
