The Yamaha Factory Racing Team (YFRT), along with the reigning FIM Endurance World Champions, the Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team and Elf Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99, will start Sunday’s 47th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours from fifth, fourth and third, respectively, after Saturday’s Top 10 Trial was cancelled due to rain and safety concerns.
This year’s Suzuka 8 Hours is already underway, taking place about a month earlier than usual during the first week of July, still just within Japan’s rainy season. On Day 2 of the race weekend, the skies were unfortunately overcast, in keeping with this time of year. Although YFRT faced a frustrating qualifying session the day before, the team used the 45-minute Free Practice 2 session to fine-tune its setup. Finishing fifth, the team showed promising signs for Sunday’s race.
YFRT had been aiming to use the Top 10 Trial, scheduled to begin at 2:15 p.m., to move up the starting grid, but at 2:12 p.m., just before the start, it was announced that the session had been cancelled due to rain. This meant YFRT will start fifth overall based on Friday’s qualifying results.
Although there is rain in the forecast for the race, YFRT is fully prepared. With the starting order locked in and the strategy set, all three riders and the team manager are unified, determined and fully focused on the eight-hour race to come.
YART will start Sunday’s race from fourth on the grid, one place ahead of YFRT, after Marvin Fritz, Karel Hanika and Leandro Mercado secured an average of 2’05.169 in Friday qualifying. The result also means YART heads into the race with two valuable championship points already on the board.
Before the rain arrived, YART completed a productive Free Practice 2 session, finishing sixth with a best lap of 2’06.916 as the team focused on its final preparations for Sunday’s race. Elf Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99 also continued its strong build-up, ending the session seventh with a 2’07.591 on the Bridgestone-shod #99 Yamaha R1.
Having arrived in Japan as the current series leaders with a 22-point advantage at the top of the standings, those points could prove important in the defence of YART’s FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) title. They also give the Austrian squad an early boost at a circuit where it left empty-handed last year, before still going on to lift the EWC crown.
Although the cancellation denied Fritz, Hanika and Mercado the chance to take part in one of the most exciting and high-pressure sessions of the Suzuka 8 Hours weekend, the team remained positive after a strong week so far in Japan. All three riders have shown competitive and consistent pace, leaving YART confident that the team can fight at the front whether Sunday’s race is dry, wet or mixed.
Elf Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99 will start from an excellent third on the grid after one of the standout performances of Friday qualifying. The Belgian-based squad delivered a superb collective display, with Randy de Puniet, Florian Marino and Alessandro Delbianco combining to produce an average of 2’04.960 and secure three championship points, confirming KM99 as one of the major contenders heading into the Suzuka 8 Hours, alongside YFRT and YART.
The focus now turns fully to the demands of the eight-hour race itself, with race pace, tyre management, pit stops, rider consistency and the weather conditions all set to play a crucial role when the 47th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours gets underway at 11:30 local time on Sunday.
Free Practice 2 Results
Katsuyuki Nakasuga – P5 – 2’05.196
Yamaha Factory Racing Team
“I’m really sorry for the fans that Saturday’s big event, the Top 10 Trial that everyone looks forward to, had to be cancelled. But safety comes first, and I completely respect the decision. As a team, it’s a massive shame because Loca and Jack were incredibly fired up for it. Personally, my goal this race weekend has been to help them get up to speed, and I feel like I’ve done my part. Because of that, it’s been a bit tougher to find my own ideal rhythm, but everything we’ve done is for the race itself. Our overall average pace is good, and the overall rhythm is there. It might rain tomorrow, but I’m approaching the race with the same calm mindset I do any other year. You can only get revenge at the 8 Hours by racing the 8 Hours. At the end of the day, it’s just about giving it absolutely everything we’ve got! That’s all we can do.”
Jack Miller – P5 – 2’05.196
Yamaha Factory Racing Team
“I don’t mind the rain, so I actually wanted to ride in the Top 10 Trial even if it was wet (laughs). Especially after yesterday, when we had a few issues and couldn’t show our true performance. But tomorrow is a new day. A rainy 8 Hours is going to be a long, tough race, and the weather will probably be unpredictable, but I believe in the team, my teammates, and our package. I think the tougher the conditions get, the stronger we’ll be! The most important thing is to avoid mistakes and run a clean race. We found a good direction during last night’s Night Practice and today’s Free Practice 2. I’m going to enjoy every bit of this special Suzuka 8 Hours while aiming for the absolute best result.”
Andrea Locatelli – P5 – 2’05.196
Yamaha Factory Racing Team
“I’m so sad that the Top 10 Trial was cancelled, but that’s racing, and that’s life. Personally, I think it would have been more interesting and exciting if they had let the top ten teams run a qualifying session in the wet. But it was a decision made under the rules meant to protect us, so I respect it completely. Looking back at the race weekend so far, it’s frustrating that we had so many red flags in the sessions, which kept us from getting as many laps in as we wanted. But I’m truly happy to be here competing in the 8 Hours as a Yamaha factory rider, and I honestly can’t wait for the race tomorrow. Of course, I’d prefer a dry track so I can really push to the limit, but we can’t control the weather. To win this race, it takes a lot of things coming together perfectly, not just our riding, but handling backmarkers and doing perfect pit work. Last year, everything was brand new to me, but this year I can use my experience to do an even better job.”
Wataru Yoshikawa
Yamaha Factory Racing Team, Team Manager
“It’s a shame we couldn’t have the Top 10 Trial, but with the rain getting heavier, it was the right call from a safety standpoint. Jack actually thrives in difficult conditions, so he was totally fired up and yelling, ‘Let’s go! Let’s do it!’… (laughs). As a team, we used the time well to quietly finalise our preparations. During yesterday’s night session and today’s free practice, all three riders kept up a consistently strong pace. They’re all incredibly talented, so if we can execute our race strategy as planned, the results will follow. Regardless of the weather, we’re going to put on a spectacular race and reclaim the top step of the podium that slipped away from us last year. Don’t miss it!”
Marvin Fritz – P4 – 2’05.169
Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team
“Of course, we are disappointed that the Top 10 Trial was cancelled because it is one of the best parts of the weekend for me. There is a lot of pressure because you only have one lap, and it needs to be perfect, but it is also a really special experience. Still, we have had a good week so far, and the team has done an amazing job. I am proud of my teammates because all three of us have shown similar and fast pace. In the end, it does not matter what the weather is like tomorrow. We are fast in the wet and the dry, and even mixed conditions could be good for us, even if it will be tricky. We are fourth on the grid, and we have two points already. Last year, we left Suzuka with zero, so we are already in a better position than last year. Tomorrow, the target is to give our best, focus on ourselves, and see where we end up, but I think we can be strong.”
Karel Hanika – P4 – 2’05.169
Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team
“Unfortunately, today we could not do many laps because of the track conditions, and the Top 10 Trial was cancelled. We were looking forward to riding in it again because it is always an amazing experience. Of course, there is a lot of pressure, but at the same time, it is exciting and really nice to be part of it. We will have to wait until next year for that, but we were still able to score two points from qualifying, and the team did a great job. I am excited to start the race. It looks like the conditions could be tricky, but I believe we are ready for anything, so thanks to the team and my teammates.”
Leandro Mercado – P4 – 2’05.169
Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team
“The two points are important for the championship. It is a shame that the Top 10 Trial was cancelled because it is always very exciting to watch and to be part of, but anyway, I think we are ready for tomorrow. It looks like it could be a tricky race, so we have to be ready for everything, but like my teammates said, the feeling is good. We have a strong pace, and we have to stay focused on ourselves, do our race, and give the maximum. Then we will see what happens tomorrow.”
Mandy Kainz
Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team, Team Manager
“It was a shame not to have the Top 10 Trial because it is always a special moment at Suzuka, but the decision was made for safety, and that is the most important thing. Starting fourth is a strong result for us, and the two points are valuable for the championship. Last year was very difficult for us here, but this team never gave up, and we still went on to become FIM Endurance World Champions. To already have points before the race this year is positive, but the main job is still tomorrow. Marvin, Karel and Tati have all shown strong pace this week, and the feeling with the bike is good in different conditions. Suzuka is always a tough race, and the weather could make it even more complicated, but the team is ready, and we will stay focused on doing our own race.”
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.
