Yamaha Factory Racing Team Completes 188 Laps for 2nd at Rain-Soaked Suzuka

On the morning of July 5, race day, Suzuka Circuit was blanketed by rain. The 8:30 a.m. warm-up session commenced on a fully wet track, transforming the brief morning warm-up into a critical testing ground for a race widely expected to be contested in the wet. As the session progressed, the rain intensified, rapidly deteriorating track conditions and triggering a succession of crashes across the field. Despite the escalating risks and limited track time, Yamaha Factory Racing Team (YFRT) rider Jack Miller led the team's pace, adapting immediately to secure the second-fastest lap time overall. Meanwhile, teammates Katsuyuki Nakasuga and Andrea Locatelli focused on consistency, setting smooth, trouble-free laps. The session concluded with all three riders showing strong adaptability, confirming the factory squad's thorough preparation for a the grueling wet-weather battle ahead.

As is customary at the 8 Hours, the race got underway at 11:30 a.m. However, the conditions were far from typical. The rain fluctuated in intensity through the opening hours, while ambient temperatures hovered around 22°C--a stark difference from the intense midsummer heat usually associated with this event. Although the conditions suggested a turbulent race, all three YFRT riders put in strong rides.

Jack Miller was tasked with the crucial opening stint, launching from 5th on the grid. He made immediate progress, briefly slotting into 3rd during the frantic opening laps before deliberately tempering his pace to manage the tricky conditions. At 12:04 p.m., the first safety car of the afternoon was deployed due to an on-track incident. Seizing the strategic window, the team brought Miller into pit lane from 6th place to successfully hand the baton over to Andrea Locatelli.

Seven minutes after Locatelli took over, the safety car came out for the second time. Although the rain had picked up, Locatelli calmly completed his stint and handed the YZF-R1 over to teammate Katsuyuki Nakasuga.

Following a steady, methodical stint by the Japanese ace, Miller took over the R1 for his second stint of the day, delivering a standout performance. Despite having virtually no prior experience extracting pace from the Yamaha flagship in fully wet conditions, Miller adapted with remarkable speed, bettering his times with every lap. Even as the rain was falling harder or softer in different sectors of the circuit, Miller found an incredible rhythm, posting a succession of team-best laps in the 2'16 range. This relentlessly fast pace let him hunt down and dispatch the AutoRace Ube Racing Team machine ahead. Once secure in 2nd, Miller immediately turned his sights forward, beginning a calculated pursuit of the race leaders, Honda HRC.

The strategic rider rotations continued into the late afternoon, with Locatelli taking over at 4:23 p.m., followed by Jack Miller returning for his final stint at 5:27 p.m. By 6:38 p.m., it was time for the final stint of the race and the last push to the flag was entrusted to Locatelli. The Italian rider unleashed an aggressive pace, systematically cutting down the gap to race leaders Honda HRC to 15-20 seconds. However, YFRT's relentless pursuit was halted when the safety car made a third appearance. This neutralization of the race disrupted the leaderboard dynamics, ultimately widening the gap back to approximately 1'40. When the race reached its 8-hour conclusion at 7:30 p.m., the safety car was still guiding the field through the night. With this result, the Yamaha Factory Racing Team crossed the line to secure an impressive 2nd place finish for the second year in a row. The celebrations culminated during the podium ceremony, where Miller and Locatelli hoisted Katsuyuki Nakasuga onto their shoulders--a fitting tribute to their collective effort and a shared moment of triumph with all the Suzuka 8 Hours fans in attendance.

YART Yamaha Secures Crucial Points with Fourth in Rain-Hit Suzuka 8 Hours

Marvin Fritz, Karel Hanika and Leandro Mercado battled through a rain-hit 47th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours to finish fourth for the Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team, the reigning FIM Endurance World Champions, scoring 21 points across the weekend to leave Japan with a 19-point lead in the FIM Endurance World Championship standings.

YART arrived in Japan leading the championship by 22 points and started Sunday's race from fourth on the grid after Saturday's Top 10 Trial was cancelled due to rain and safety concerns. That meant Friday's combined qualifying classification set the grid, with YART's 2'05.169 average securing fourth place and two valuable championship points before the race had even begun.

The race started on a wet track after rain had affected the build-up, and although the rain eased at times during the eight hours, Suzuka Circuit never fully dried, and at times the track surface became so waterlogged that multiple safety cars had to be deployed. With conditions remaining treacherous throughout, consistency, clean riding, tyre management and pit-stop execution became crucial.

YART made a solid start on the Bridgestone-shod #1 Yamaha R1, running sixth at the end of the opening lap before moving into the top five early on. With visibility low and grip levels constantly changing, the team focused on staying out of trouble and keeping itself in contention.

The first Safety Car period came just over an hour into the race, bunching the field together with YART still firmly inside the top six. The team continued to run a controlled race as the rain fell, staying within reach of the front group while avoiding the kind of mistakes that could have severely damaged its title defence.

A second Safety Car period followed before the race resumed after just over two hours. YART remained in the fight near the front, moving between the top five and top four as the leading teams worked through their pit-stop cycles and different strategies in the wet conditions.

As the race reached the halfway stage, Fritz, Hanika and Mercado continued to show competitive pace in the wet, while YART's pit work remained sharp. The team stayed in the podium battle, with the championship fight against BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team becoming increasingly important as the race moved into its second half.

The rain never fully cleared, and even when it stopped briefly, the track remained wet. With just over 30 minutes remaining, the Safety Car was deployed again due to the worsening conditions. The race was ultimately concluded under neutralised conditions, with YART completing 188 laps to finish fourth.

While the podium had been the target, fourth place represented an important result in the championship fight. In addition to the two points scored in qualifying, YART secured 19 points during the race and will head to the Bol d'Or season finale with a 19-point advantage at the top of the EWC standings.

For YART, the result was also a major step forward compared to last year's Suzuka 8 Hours, where the team left Japan without scoring points but still went on to win the EWC title. This time, Fritz, Hanika and Mercado delivered a mature and mistake-free performance in some of the toughest conditions of the season to protect their title lead.

KM99 also showed determination to reach the finish after its early setback. Marino, Randy de Puniet and Alessandro Delbianco recovered from the Turn 3 crash to complete 173 laps and finish 30th overall.

#21 YAMAHA FACTORY RACING TEAM：2nd (188 Laps)

Katsuyuki Nakasuga

"For this race weekend I finally got back together with Jack and Loka after a year. In every single session, I could feel their passion, and that gave me even more courage to ride. It helped me do every session at my best, and I believe I fulfilled my role in the best way. I'm very disappointed that I could only ride one stint in the race, and to be honest, that was very frustrating for me. But I respect the team's decision. I'm so glad I got to team up with Jack and Loka, and I think our crew handled everything with zero mistakes--it was an absolutely amazing 8 Hours. We finished 2nd, but I'm proud because this is a result we all earned together. I've raced with MotoGP and SBK riders at the 8 Hours before, and they've all treated me with respect. This year made me realize again that the respect itself is the reward for everything I've done in my career so far. For the rest of the All Japan season, I plan to ride in a way that lives up to the respect everyone has shown me."

Jack Miller

"We gave it our all in the 8 Hours! Loka was fantastic, and Nakasuga was amazing too. I'm proud of the efforts we all made here. I'm happy with my own performance, too--I gave it 100 percent, that's for sure. I struggled in the first stint quite a bit with the rear end, and at that point I was just trying my best to stay in the race. From the second stint on I had absolutely no problems; I could push at full throttle and close the gap to Honda in front of us. We were closing them down, but in the end we couldn't quite catch them. I think the EWC is super cool, and I absolutely love the 8 Hours as one of its rounds. I'm so honored I got to do this race and represent MotoGP here. I hope everyone could see that I was giving it my maximum. Last, I want to say this to Nakasuga-san: You really deserve to be called a legend! No matter how difficult the situation, he's always consistent and brings the fight every time. Sharing a garage with him was a big pleasure for me."

Andrea Locatelli

"The Suzuka 8 Hours is a crazy race! I love it (laughs). Last year, the heat was almost too much and this year it rained. The rain is especially tough because so many things can happen, but today the tires worked perfectly and the R1 felt great, so I could push to the limit. I think our second-place finish is something to be proud of. We earned it through our strong performance. The reason it feels almost like a win is that I know the whole team gave it our all. I have a contract with Yamaha for WorldSBK next year too, so of course I'd love to race the 8 Hours again... (laughs). I feel so lucky to race on the same team with Nakasuga-san. Both last year and this year, he never complained about me being on the team and always treated me with respect. It's an amazing experience to be able to work with a MotoGP podium finisher. And he's 44, right? If I were 44, I wouldn't be competing in such a hard race--I'd be lying on the beach in the sun and enjoying a drink (laughs). I think Nakasuga-san has remarkable talent and determination. I'm super thankful he made me a member of 'Team Nakasuga'"

Team Manager Wataru Yoshikawa

"Toward the end of the race, we were really able to put the pressure on our rivals, and we closed the gap compared to last year. Still, the fact that we took 2nd again shows that we're lacking in some areas. To be honest, I'm quite disappointed, and I think there's a lot we can improve on. As a team, I'm sorry we weren't couldn't turn the outstanding performances of our three riders and our staff into a win. Jack and Loka once again showed me just how amazing world-level riders are. Not only do they have huge talent, but they also have so much hunger to win. Their attention to detail through the weekend was amazing, and the technical feedback they brought was so valuable. I've shared a pit with Nakasuga for many years, I can say that both he and I were very motivated by their approach. As a team, our preparation for the next challenge begins right now--there's no downtime. I know the riders are just as frustrated as I am with finishing 2nd again. We're not here to settle for a podium; our only goal is to win."

Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team: 4th (188 Laps)

Marvin Fritz

"We came here to score as many points as possible, and that is what we did. We go home with 21 points and a 19-point lead, which is amazing. Last year, we left Suzuka with zero points and only a one-point advantage over BMW. Now it is 19, so it is much better than last year. We had amazing pace, the team did an amazing job, and we had good pit stops, so we can be happy with what we did here in Japan. A big thanks to all the Japanese fans who supported us, to the whole team for the amazing work and effort, and to Yamaha Japan for always giving us such a nice welcome. It is always a pleasure to be here in Suzuka."

Karel Hanika

"I have mixed emotions, to be honest, because of course the target was the podium, but I think we did the maximum possible today in the circumstances. All three riders did a great job; all three of us were fast and consistent, and we were the only team in the top five to use all three riders equally. That gives us confidence for the next races, and we have a good championship lead going into the Bol d'Or, which is the most important thing. The race was super tough. My first stint was one and a half hours in very wet conditions, with a long Safety Car period, so it was very tricky. I managed to pull a gap to BMW in my first stint and also in my second stint, but then they chose a different strategy. Still, it was good points, great teamwork, and Marvin, Tati, and the entire team did a really good job. The pit stops were amazing, like always, and the bike felt strong in all conditions. We have many more points than we had after Suzuka last year, so we need to think positively. Even though P4 is not the best result, we are positive for the next race."

Leandro Mercado

"It was not an easy race in these conditions, but I think we did a good job. The whole team and my teammates did a great job; we made no mistakes, and the pace was really strong. It is good points for the championship, for sure. We wanted the podium because to finish on the podium at Suzuka is special, but looking at the whole picture, I think it is really good because we now have a 19-point gap to BMW. We had strong pace, we made a really clean race with no mistakes, and the pit stops were really fast and perfect. I am also happy with my own performance. It was my first time here with YART. I felt really good, and now we have to think about the Bol d'Or."

Mandy Kainz

"It was a very tough race in difficult conditions, but Marvin, Karel, Tati and the whole team did an excellent job. Of course, we came here aiming for the podium, so fourth place is not the result we wanted, but for the championship, it is very important. We made no mistakes, the riders were fast and consistent, and the pit stops were strong, so we can be satisfied with the way we managed the race. Suzuka was difficult for us last year, when we left with no points, so to go home this time with 21 points from the weekend and a 19-point lead in the championship is positive. BMW was strong today, but we stayed focused on our own race and brought the bike home in very tricky conditions. Now the focus is fully on the Bol d'Or, where we will give everything to defend our world title."

Race Result

Pos.	No.	Team	Machine	Laps
1	30	Honda HRC	Honda	188（7:54:19.425）
2	21	YAMAHA FACTORY RACING TEAM	Yamaha	188
3	37	BMW MOTORRAD WORLD ENDURANCE TEAM	BMW	188
4	1	YART Yamaha Official EWC Team	Yamaha	188
5	76	AutoRace Ube Racing Team	BMW	188
6	12	Yoshimura SERT Motul	Suzuki	186
7	0	Team SUZUKI CN CHALLENGE	Suzuki	186
8	73	SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda	Honda	185
9	88	Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo	Honda	185
10	40	Team ATJ with NTT docomo Business	Honda	184
12	50	MARUMAE TEAM KODAMA	Yamaha	183
18	65	Motobox Kremer Racing by 321	Yamaha	180
29	111	Team Matsunaga KDC x GEARS	Yamaha	174
30	99	Elf Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99	Yamaha	173
34	26	Verity & fenice with KIRINJISHI	Yamaha	171
37	711	BAKUON!!Team NAGANO&Y.S.S.RD	Yamaha	170
38	57	HIMEJI NICHIRIN RACING	Yamaha	168
44	36	3ART Best Of Bike Hamaguchi	Yamaha	161