The DNA of victory, passed down through generations. Team Honda heads into the Suzuka showdown

The 47th edition of the 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race (Suzuka 8 Hours) is back once again. Traditionally held between late July and early August, this year’s event has been brought forward to July 5 in response to increasingly severe summer temperatures, with the safety of both riders and spectators placed as the highest priority.

Text: Hiromi Sato

Photo: Takashi Akamatsu, Honda

Cooperation: Honda

Web Mr. Bike collaboration article

Recognized as Japan’s biggest motorcycle racing event, the Suzuka 8 Hours is one of the premier rounds of the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC). Japan’s four major manufacturers—Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki— all four manufacturers fielded full factory entries aimed at victory.  The event also attracts elite riders coming from the MotoGP World Championship, FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), All Japan Road Race Championship (JRR), as well as top competitors from the United States, the United Kingdom and across Asia. This unique combination of factory teams and world-class riders gives the Suzuka 8 Hours a character unlike any other round on the EWC calendar. Although the entry list and rider line-ups have evolved in recent years, the race continues to command worldwide attention.

Throughout the event’s 47-year history, one of the biggest spotlights has always been the line-up of the Honda factory team. That comes as no surprise, given that Honda has amassed an unrivaled 31 victories at Suzuka. For rival teams and fans alike, the question of who will earn a seat on the Honda factory team is a matter of the biggest interest of every year’s event.

Honda HRC test rider Takumi Takahashi is always at center of it. He boasts a record-breaking seven Suzuka 8 Hours victories and the record continues to grow. Once again, he plays a central role in both machine development and the team’s challenge for victory.

Takahashi became the youngest-ever JRR GP250 Champion in 2008 and he claimed the JSB1000 title in 2017. He also set the JSB1000 lap record of 2:03.592 at Suzuka Circuit in 2019—a benchmark that still stands today.

His international career included a campaign in WorldSBK in 2020, followed by two seasons in the British Superbike Championship (BSB) between 2021 and 2022. Throughout those years, he remained a regular contender at the Suzuka 8 Hours, earning enormous trust through his mistake-free riding, consistency and race management. Takahashi’s racing career has developed alongside Honda’s CBR series, and today he remains one of the key figures supporting Honda’s road racing programme.

Held in the peak of the Japanese summer, the physical demands on riders in extreme heat has increased year by year as global temperatures continue to rise. Even with a three-rider line-up, finishing the race is considered a formidable challenge. Yet in 2025, Takahashi and MotoGP rider Johann Zarco achieved an extraordinary victory with only two riders sharing the race.

Riders from rival teams who joined them on the podium paid tribute to their remarkable achievement, applauding their performance during the post-race press conference.

Having completed the Suzuka 8 Hours despite the demanding MotoGP schedule, Johann Zarco spoke passionately about the race’s unique appeal.  “It was an incredibly tough race, but I’d love to come back and do it again,” Zarco said after last year’s victory, while confirming his intention to return for 2026.

The other rider whose name quickly emerged was Jonathan Rea. Ever since Honda announced Rea’s appointment as a World SBK test rider, speculation over his return to the Suzuka 8 Hours had become one of the biggest talking points.

For many fans, seeing Rea return to Suzuka 8H with Honda carries special significance, as his roots in World Superbike are closely tied to Honda.

After competing alongside Ryuichi Kiyonari in the British Superbike Championship, Rea progressed through the World Supersport Championship before making his WorldSBK debut in 2009. Riding for Honda, he claimed his first WorldSBK victory in Italy and remained with Honda through the 2014 season. Although a world title eluded him during that period, he established himself as Honda’s leading rider and became one of the championship’s most popular competitors. He also made several appearances in MotoGP as a substitute rider.

Rea’s Suzuka 8 Hours success came in 2012 when he claimed victory with F.C.C. TSR Honda France, becoming the first British rider ever to win the prestigious endurance race.

He later went on to secure an unprecedented six WorldSBK titles, rewriting the championship record books. However, the 2025 season proved to be one of the toughest of his career, with crashes at Phillip Island and in the Czech Republic resulting in injuries that ultimately led him to announce his retirement from full-time racing at the end of the season.

Retirement, however, did not diminish his passion for racing.

Honda offered Rea the role of WorldSBK test rider, a programme that included not only machine development but also a return to competition in the Suzuka 8 Hours.

“Coming back to Honda feels like returning to where it all began, and that makes it very special for me.,” said Rea.

“I built my career with Honda and gained invaluable experience during those years. When I decided to retire from full-time racing, competing in the Suzuka 8 Hours was already part of my plans. Last year’s injuries were difficult, but knowing I would return at Suzuka became a huge source of motivation throughout my rehabilitation. My recovery has gone well, I’m feeling strong again, and I’m back to a level where I can race with confidence. Takumi and I have known each other for many years. We met at Honda events, and although we raced for different teams, we’ve even shared the Suzuka podium together. He’s an exceptionally fast rider and the most successful competitor in the history of the Suzuka 8 Hours. There is no better teammate than him.”

Takahashi also expressed his admiration for Rea.

“I first became truly aware of Jonathan’s ability around 2013, when I raced the Suzuka 8 Hours alongside Ryuichi Kiyonari,” Takahashi explained.

“After that, Jonathan enjoyed tremendous success in WorldSBK with another manufacturer, so I never imagined we would one day become teammates. He’s already won the Suzuka 8 Hours and has achieved so much in WorldSBK. There couldn’t be a more accomplished teammate to share this challenge with.”

During the official two-day Suzuka 8 Hours pre-event test held in May, Takumi Takahashi and Jonathan Rea took to the Suzuka Circuit together for the first time as Honda HRC teammates. Johann Zarco was unable to participate due to his MotoGP commitments.

The opening day was blessed with clear skies and early-summer conditions. In the morning’s Session 1, Takahashi and Rea left the pits together, with Takahashi initially leading his new teammate around the circuit. Both riders immediately lapped in the 2:05 range to finish first and second on the timing results. They were the only Honda HRC 2 riders to break into the 5seconds range during the session.

Temperatures rose during Session 2 in the afternoon, but a refreshing breeze was blowing.  Honda HRC once again set the pace with a best lap of 2:05.258, while the competition closed the gap, with the top four machines all lapping in the 2:05s.

Honda HRC finished second in Session 3 later that evening and ended the day’s running with the fourth-fastest time in Session 4, the first night practice session of the test.

Bright strong sunshine greeted the circuit from the morning on the second day. In Session 5, Rea topped the timesheets with an impressive 2:04.773, as the leading three bikes all dipped into the 2:04s in an increasingly competitive field.

Takahashi responded in the final Session 6, setting the fastest lap of 2:05.066 to conclude a highly productive and encouraging two-day test for Honda HRC.

Takahashi was impressed by how quickly his new teammate adapted. “Although it had been quite some time since Jonathan last rode at Suzuka, and this was his first experience with Honda’s Suzuka 8 Hours machine, he adapted almost immediately,” Takahashi said.

“I led him around the circuit at first, but to be honest, it probably wasn’t necessary. He was setting competitive lap times almost straight away, and it was actually putting pressure on me. It reminded me once again of the incredible level of World Champion. I felt exactly the same when Johann joined us last year—there are simply no weak points.”

Rea was equally pleased with the progress made during the test.  “The tyre characteristics are completely different, and Suzuka is a very different circuit from those in Europe, so I honestly didn’t expect to get into the 2:04s so quickly,” he said.

“Takumi did an excellent job with the base setup before I arrived, which allowed me to feel comfortable straight away. Overall, it was a very satisfying and productive test.”

Takahashi also spoke about the team’s ongoing development.

“We’re always testing with the goal of building a bike that’s as close to 100 percent as possible, but reaching that point is never easy. Fortunately, the fundamental machine package hasn’t changed significantly since last year, which has allowed us to continue making steady progress with the bike’s setup. We want even more refined set up ready for the opening test of race week.” Takahashi continued.

Rea also spoke about the toughness of endurance racing.

“There are so many factors that can influence the outcome of an endurance race,” he said.   “That’s why consistency is the most important ingredient—you have to keep delivering lap after lap without mistakes. At the same time, you also need a little bit of luck on your side. Honda HRC is a very special team with an incredible history of success at Suzuka. If I can contribute, even in a small way, to that tradition and history, it would mean a great deal to me.”

Shortly after the test, however, Johann Zarco was injured in a multi-rider accident during the MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix, forcing him to withdraw from the Suzuka 8 Hours.  Honda turned to Somkiat Chantra as his replacement.

A graduate of Honda’s rider development programme, Chantra progressed through Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP. Although he has yet to compete in the Suzuka 8 Hours, he has already demonstrated competitive pace during private testing at Suzuka Circuit and also has endurance racing experience from the Sepang 8 Hours. Honda management has expressed complete confidence in his ability to step into the factory line-up.

Having won the Suzuka 8 Hours for four consecutive years, Honda HRC will now chase a fifth straight victory with a revised three-rider line-up of Takumi Takahashi, Jonathan Rea and Somkiat Chantra.

Meanwhile, F.C.C. TSR Honda France, full-season entrant in the FIM Endurance World Championship, arrives at Suzuka with its regular rider line-up of Alan Techer, Corentin Perolari and John McPhee.

TSR is one of the most successful teams in Suzuka 8 Hours history, having claimed victory on three occasions. It was also the team with which Jonathan Rea secured his maiden Suzuka 8 Hours victory in 2012. The team has won two FIM Endurance World Championship titles and remains one of the category’s leading contenders.

Although strong pace has not yet translated into results this season, leaving TSR 12th in the championship standings, the team consistently featured near the top of the timesheets during the Suzuka pre-event test and comfortably lapped in the 2:04 range, reinforcing its status as one of the favourites for victory.

Another team expected to challenge at the front is SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda, one of Japan’s most successful teams in the All Japan Road Race Championship, having produced numerous national champions over the years.  Takumi Takahashi captured the JSB1000 title with this team before also winning the Suzuka 8 Hours, while HARC-PRO has expanded its presence in recent years through competition in the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC).

In 2024, Yuki Kunii achieved an impressive double championship by winning both the JRR ST1000 and ARRC ASB1000 titles.   For the 2026 Suzuka 8 Hours, the team fields Yuki Kunii, currently competing in the JRR JSB1000 class, Teppei Nagoe from the JRR ST1000 category, and Keito Abe, who races in the ARRC ASB1000 class.

The trio also competed together at Suzuka last year, battling for a podium finish before ultimately placing fourth. With three Suzuka 8 Hours victories already to its name, SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda once again heads into the race as one of the leading contenders for overall victory.

Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo will field Nakarin Atiratphuvapat, who competes in the ARRC ASB1000 class.  Last season, Nakarin contested both the JRR ST1000 and ARRC ASB1000 championships, finishing sixth in the JRR standings while claiming three victories on his way to second place in the ARRC championship. Focusing exclusively on the ARRC this season, he currently sits fourth in the standings.   Joining him are Mohd Adnantha Putra and Khairul Idham Pawi.　 Adnantha, currently competing in the ARRC ASB1000 class, sits 7th in the standings, while Khairul is in 11th place in the SS600 class. Together, the trio represents the next generation of Asian road racing talent as they set their sights on a strong result at Suzuka.

Honda HRC will pursue an historic fifth consecutive Suzuka 8 Hours victory with a factory line-up featuring some of the world’s top riders.

F.C.C. TSR Honda France, one of the benchmark teams in the FIM Endurance World Championship, aims to add another Suzuka triumph while reigniting its title challenge.

SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda, one of Japan’s most respected racing teams, will rely on its long tradition of success and proven competitiveness as it targets another podium finish—and ultimately victory.

Meanwhile, Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo, features a new generation of talented riders from across Asia who will challenge the world’s best.

Although united under the Honda banner, each team comes to Suzuka with a different objective and a different story to tell.

The Suzuka 8 Hours is far more than an eight-hour endurance race. Each team carries its own ambitions and beliefs such as the prestige of the factory teams, the battle for the EWC title, the pride of Japan’s premier JRR championship and he future of the Asia Road Racing Championship. And with those aspirations on board, their machines take to the demanding Suzuka circuit in the height of summer.

As the engines roar into life once again in 2026, another unforgettable chapter of the Suzuka 8 Hours is about to begin, with the world’s finest riders ready to write the next page in the race’s remarkable history.