Ahead of the Suzuka 8 Hours race weekend, the Yamaha Factory Racing Team riders Katsuyuki Nakasuga, Jack Miller and Andrea Locatelli, and the Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team trio of Marvin Fritz, Karel Hanika and Leandro Mercado, are fully prepared and aiming for victory after a strong two-day official pre-event test at Suzuka Circuit. Both teams now turn their focus to the legendary endurance race, with the Yamaha Factory Racing Team targeting glory on home soil and YART looking to extend their championship lead.
Scheduling conflicts meant that the three riders hadn’t been able to get together for an earlier pre-event test like they did last year, so this was their first time riding together since last year’s 8 Hours. Even so, the bond they forged during last year’s intense battle remained unbroken, as they immediately clicked as a cohesive team. Jack Miller faced an especially tough schedule—travelling straight to Suzuka after back-to-back MotoGP rounds—but as usual, he brought a surge of energy to the garage, riding with just as much fire as his teammates.
For Miller and Locatelli, Day 1 was their first ride on the 2026 YZF-R1. Although the weather was cloudy, all five sessions were able to be run in dry conditions. Initially, both riders focused mainly on getting familiar with the bike and track, with the goal of not taking too many risks too soon. However, the efforts of Nakasuga and test rider Soichiro Minamimoto—who had been tasked with putting together a bike setup that Jack and Loca could get right up to speed with—had paid off. Now that Miller and Locatelli were able to share their feedback and input with Nakasuga and the team in person, work progressed toward refining the bike’s setup.
On Day 1, Session 1, the team were 4th overall with a quickest lap of 2’07.153, then they shaved time off in Session 2 to post a 2’06.478 and move up to 3rd. In Session 3, they were 2nd with a 2’06.137. Then, after posting a time of 2’06.252 to be 6th in Session 4, the team marked the fastest time of the day—and the only time in the ‘04 range—with a 2’04.920 in Session 5, the final session of the day, wrapping up Day 1 in 1st place.
While factors like average speed and stability are crucial in the Suzuka 8 Hours, setting the best lap time was a powerful statement. It demonstrated the superb form of both the riders and their machines, while sending a clear message to their rivals.
Day 2 got underway in dry conditions. The team finished 6th in Session 1 with a 2’05.622 and 10th in Session 2 with a 2’06.458. Throughout the day, their top priority remained developing a machine that would allow all three riders to maintain a consistently fast pace. The team made steady progress, using track time to refine the setup, evaluate tyre options, and monitor fuel efficiency.
Rain arrived at the start of the afternoon, giving the team a welcome opportunity with three sessions remaining. It proved invaluable for Miller and Locatelli, allowing them to experience Suzuka Circuit in wet conditions on Bridgestone tyres. Their progress showed in the classification: they took 2nd in Session 3 (2’21.539), 3rd in Session 4 (2’19.742), and 3rd in the final Session 5 (2’18.906). The team wrapped up the test on a high note, steadily shaving down their lap times and gaining vital wet-weather experience ahead of the race weekend.
Michael Le Pard (“Mr. Totalmotorcycle”) is the Founder of Total Motorcycle, the world’s largest motorcycle information site, trusted by over 430 million riders since 1999. With over 34 years of experience in motorcycles, gear and rider culture, he has built a global community dedicated to empowering and inspiring motorcyclists.
Total Motorcycle remains his passion project. Combining expert research, hands‑on knowledge and a commitment to helping riders make informed decisions about bikes, gear and safety worldwide.
