<FIM Endurance World Championship>
Honda Teams to Compete in 2024 “Coca-Cola” Suzuka
8 Hours Endurance Road Race 45th Tournament
Honda announced an overview of its main teams to compete in 2024 FIM*1 Endurance World Championship “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race 45th Tournament (Suzuka 8 Hours), to be held at the Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture, Japan, on Sunday, July 21, 2024.
Team HRC will once again partner with Japan Post Co, Ltd. to compete as Team HRC with Japan Post. The team will be represented by Takumi Takahashi, Teppei Nagoe and Johann Zarco. Nagoe and Zarco, new to the team, will be led by Takahashi who has won the last two editions of the race and is aiming for his sixth win, setting a new record for the event.
Last year’s runners-up, SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda, will be represented by MFJ*2 All Japan Road Race Championship (JRR) ST1000 class rider Yuki Kunii, Spanish Superbike Championship rider Naomichi Uramoto, and FIM MotoGP Moto2 class rider Mario Aji.
F.C.C. TSR Honda France, currently competing in the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC), has won the series twice, and finished third last year in Suzuka 8 Hours. The team will be aiming to claim a podium finish with its regular riders Josh Hook, Mike Di Meglio and Alan Techer.
Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo, currently competing in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship Asia Superbike 1000 (ASB1000) class, will be once again represented by Md Zaqhwan Bin Zaidi, Andi Farid Izdihar, and Nakarin Atiratphuvapat.
*1 FIM: Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
*2 MFJ: Motorcycle Federation of Japan
#30 Team HRC with Japan Post
Takumi Takahashi (Age: 34, Saitama)
I’m very happy to be racing once again with Team HRC with Japan Post in this year’s Suzuka 8 Hours. This is an important year, as victory will mark Team HRC’s third consecutive win and Honda’s 30th overall win. I’ll be working hard with my new teammates for a strong performance in the Suzuka 8 Hours, and personally, will be aiming to set the record for most wins in the event (6 wins to hold outright record). I hope you will cheer for Team HRC with Japan Post. Let’s fight this together.
Teppei Nagoe (Age: 26, Tokyo)
I will be racing for Team HRC with Japan Post in this year’s Suzuka 8 Hours. Although I have ridden Honda bikes for many years, I’m excited to be racing for Honda’s factory team for the first time. My teammates are Takumi “Mr. 8 Hours” Takahashi and MotoGP winner Johann Zarco, so we have a great team. By working together, I believe we can win this. I hope everyone supports Team HRC with Japan Post.
Johann Zarco (Age: 33, France)
I’m excited to be racing in the Suzuka 8 Hours. It is the biggest motorcycle race, and also it is an important race for Honda. Just like many MotoGP legends have won the Suzuka 8 Hours, I also would like to win as a Team HRC with Japan Post rider. I appreciate Honda and LCR for giving me this opportunity. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone in Suzuka.
#73 SDG Honda Racing
Yuki Kunii (Age: 21, Tokyo)
For starters, I’m very glad to be competing in this year’s Suzuka 8 Hours. I couldn’t participate last year because of injury, which was extremely disappointing. This year I’ll do my best to make up for lost time for the team.
Naomichi Uramoto (Age: 29, Tokyo)
I’m very happy to be able to continue my challenge at the Suzuka 8 Hours this year. I’m truly grateful to the SDG group, HARC-PRO, and everyone involved in SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda for their endless support and trust in me. I’m also grateful to the support from all our fans, so we will work hard as a team to win at Suzuka.
Mario Aji (Age: 20, Indonesia)
I’m happy to be racing for SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda in this year’s Suzuka 8 Hours. I’m grateful to the SDG group, the team, Honda and the sponsors for giving me this opportunity. This is my first Suzuka 8 Hours, so I’ll learn from my teammates, work hard with the team, and do my best.
#5 F.C.C. TSR Honda France
Josh Hook (Age: 31, Australia)
The Suzuka 8 Hours is the race I most look forward to every year. Last year was unfortunate as I couldn’t compete due to injury, but this year there are a lot of fans, and I’m racing at Suzuka which is fun place to race, so I’m very happy. The Suzuka 8 Hours is the home race for the team and Honda, and we have a great bike, so I believe I can do a good job.
Mike Di Meglio (Age: 36, France)
It’s always nice to be in Suzuka! The Suzuka 8 Hours is the most famous endurance race, and I’m glad to have been on the podium for the first time last year, and to be able to race this year with a new bike. I’m eager to participate in the tests, and looking forward to a good race for the team and HRC at their home track. I’m also looking forward to meeting the Japanese fans!
Alan Techer (Age: 29, France)
The Suzuka 8 Hours is an important race to me, and Suzuka is a very beautiful, difficult, and fun circuit. I think all the teams and riders will be very fast. This race is held at our team’s home track, so it’s very special for me. Our bike and riders have the potential to get good results, and I’m excited to be racing on a wonderful Honda bike. Let’s have fun!
#88 Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo
Md Zaqhwan Bin Zaidi (Age: 28, Malaysia)
I’m very glad to be back at the Suzuka 8 Hours. This year, I’ll do my best aiming for a top 5 finish.
Although I could not join the four manufacturer joints tests due to an injury in China in the ARRC Round 2, I will be participating in the second test session before the Suzuka 8 Hours with strong feelings and motivation. I’ll do my best, as always, this year. Thank you for your support.
Andi Farid Izdihar (Age: 26, Indonesia)
I’m looking forward to racing in this year’s Suzuka 8 Hours. I think it’s good that we have the same team and members as last year. All we have to do is work hard together from the tests to race week. This year, we have an especially good package, and can set our goals high, so I’ll be concentrating from the tests through to the race.
Nakarin Atiratphuvapat (Age: 28, Thailand)
I’m very happy to be able to race in the Suzuka 8 Hours for two years in a row. This race is one of the most important races to me, and every time I race here I can grow, so it’s fun and fulfilling. I have gained a lot of experience in this past year, so I’ll enjoy the race and try my best to contribute to a podium finish for the team.
Main Honda Teams to Compete in the 2024 Suzuka 8 Hours
Bike # |
Team |
Machine |
Rider |
4 |
TATI TEAM BERINGER RACING |
CBR1000RR-R |
Hugo Clere |
Randy Krummenacher |
|||
Corentin Perolari |
|||
5 |
F.C.C. TSR Honda France |
CBR1000RR-R |
Josh Hook |
Mike Di Meglio |
|||
Alan Techer |
|||
17 |
Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing |
CBR1000RR-R |
Kohta Nozane |
Taiga Hada |
|||
TBA |
|||
30 |
Team HRC with Japan Post |
CBR1000RR-R |
Takumi Takahashi |
Teppei Nagoe |
|||
Johann Zarco |
|||
40 |
Team ATJ with docomo business |
CBR1000RR-R |
Satoru Iwata |
Kouki Suzuki |
|||
Yuta Okaya |
|||
71 |
Honda DREAM RT Sakurai Honda |
CBR1000RR-R |
Kazuki Ito |
Daijiro Hiura |
|||
73 |
SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda |
CBR1000RR-R |
Yuki Kunii |
Naomichi Uramoto |
|||
Mario Aji |
|||
88 |
Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo |
CBR1000RR-R |
Md Zaqhwan Bin Zaidi |
Andi Farid Izdihar |
|||
Nakarin Atiratphuvapat |
|||
104 |
TOHO Racing |
CBR1000RR-R |
Ryuichi Kiyonari |
Kazuki Watanabe |
|||
Ikuhiro Enokido |
* Team details current as of June 13, and are subject to change.
* Teams listed in order of bike number (#)