Day 1: Only Team in the 2'04s. Day 2: Wet Conditions and Fully Prepared

Ahead of the Suzuka 8 Hours race weekend, Yamaha Factory Racing team riders Katsuyuki Nakasuga, Jack Miller, and Andrea Locatelli got together at Suzuka Circuit to take part in a official two-day pre-event test on June 30 and July 1.

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--traveling 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 on 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 2'06.439 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 tire 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 tires. 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.

YART Suzuka Private Test Report

The Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team arrive at Suzuka as the reigning EWC champions and current championship leaders after a superb start to their title defence. Running the #1 plate on their Bridgestone-shod R1 in 2026, Marvin Fritz, Karel Hanika and Leandro Mercado opened the season with victory at the 24 Heures Motos before finishing second at the 8 Hours of Spa Motos, giving YART 91 points and a 22-point advantage at the top of the standings heading into round three.

For YART, Suzuka is one of the most important races of the season. As Yamaha's home race and one of the biggest events on the EWC calendar, it brings a unique atmosphere, intense pressure and a major points opportunity, with up to 35 points available across qualifying and the race, with five points on offer for the leading team after qualifying and 30 awarded for victory on Sunday. The technical nature of the legendary 5.821km circuit, plus the intense heat and humidity and the involvement of the factory teams, makes it one of the toughest races in the world.

The Austrian squad have experienced the highs and lows of Suzuka in recent years. In 2023, they arrived in Japan leading the championship but finished 23rd after a technical issue, before bouncing back in 2024 to achieve a dream result by claiming their first Suzuka 8 Hours podium with a second-place finish. Last year, YART once again arrived as championship leaders but were forced to retire from the race, but even that could not stop them from going on to secure the 2025 EWC title at the Bol d'Or.

YART completed two days of official pre-event testing at Suzuka in mixed conditions, allowing the team to work on the setup of the Yamaha R1, tyre management and race pace ahead of the weekend. The team ended Tuesday fourth overall with a 2:05.613, before improving to third overall on Wednesday with a best lap of 2:05.213. All three riders lapped at a similar pace during the test and completed valuable mileage in both dry and wet conditions, with the team positive about their dry-weather progress compared to last year and competitive base in the wet.

The race weekend begins on Friday with Free Practice, followed by two qualifying sessions for each rider and Night Practice in the evening. Saturday features a further Free Practice session before the Top 10 Trial decides the final grid positions, with the Suzuka 8 Hours getting underway at 11:30 local time on Sunday.

Both teams have taken solid steps toward being ready to qualify.