The 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race, a key event in the FIM Endurance World Championship, saw the top three teams—all using Bridgestone tyres—show outstanding performance and determination in the Suzuka heat.
Team HRC with Japan Post’s Exciting Win
Starting from third on the grid, Team HRC’s lead rider Takumi Takahashi quickly moved up. They held on to the lead despite a tough 40-second penalty for a pitstop mistake. The race ended with Team HRC winning by just 7.860 seconds ahead of the YART team as night fell over the track.
Strong Performance of the YART Team
Reigning EWC world champions YART Official Team finished in second place. Riders Niccolò Canepa, Marvin Fritz, and Karel Hanika showed great skill and speed.
YART came to Japan one point behind Yoshimura SERT Motul in the championship standings but now returns home with a six-point lead. They gained points by winning Saturday’s Top 10 Trial and their second-place finish.
Yoshimura SERT Motul’s Determined Effort
Despite Yoshimura SERT Motul losing ground after serving a ride-through penalty due to a pitstop error, Japan’s Cocoro Atsumi, who learned to ride at Suzuka Circuit in his youth, delivered a spectacular final stint. His impressive performance secured third place for the team in the last 30 minutes of the race. He was joined on the podium by teammates Dan Linfoot and Moto2 rider Albert Arenas, a Suzuka rookie prior to Friday morning’s Free Practice.
Bridgestone’s Pride at Suzuka
Bridgestone is proud to have supported the top three teams at the 45th Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race. It was an incredible event where our Bridgestone supported teams showcased their talent and determination.
As we look forward to the next challenge at the Bol d’Or on September 14, we remain committed to providing the best support and technology to our teams. Congratulations to all the riders and teams for their outstanding achievements at Suzuka.
