Zarco excited about Suzuka 8 Hours debut
Johann Zarco, a double Moto2 world champion in the past, makes his debut in the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours this weekend. He will join forces with fellow new Team HRC recruit Teppei Nagoe, plus squad mainstay Takumi Takahashi, who jointly holds the record of five wins in the Suzuka 8 Hours, on the #30 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP.
“I’m excited to be racing in the Suzuka 8 Hours,” said Zarco, who turned 34 on July 16. “It’s the biggest motorcycle race and also it is an important race for Honda. Just like many MotoGP legends have won the Suzuka 8 Hours before, I also would like to win as a Team HRC with Japan Post rider. I appreciate Honda and LCR for giving me this opportunity.”
Zarco got his first taste of the 5.821-kilometre Suzuka Circuit during testing last month. He said: “I was able to learn the track by riding a lot during the two days. Takahashi is very fast, so I tried to learn from him and keep as much as possible. I think we had a really enjoyable test. I was nervous on day one because it was all new to me, but gradually I became more relaxed and could ride better. I think I will be able to ride better in the race.”
He continued: “MotoGP races last about 40 minutes, but a Suzuka 8 Hours stint lasts an hour. I have never raced for such a long time before. But I knew the Suzuka 8 Hours is a race I would do one day, even the 24 Heures Motos and Bol d’Or are races I have said I would do. I was thinking maybe this year is possible because [the date works]. When Honda asked me, I said I would love to do it because it’s an opportunity to get some freedom and to do other things and have fun.”
Zarco has been tipped to make the grade in the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours next week – by some of the riders who will rival him for FIM Endurance World Championship glory in Japan.
The MotoGP race winner has joined Team HRC with Japan Post as the Honda-powered outfit bids for a hat-trick of victories in the legendary event, a result that would also mark Honda’s 30th triumph in the Suzuka 8 Hours.
Sylvain Guintoli, part of the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team line-up, said: “Johann Zarco coming to race is great. It’s great for the championship and for the race, the overall profile. It’s also going to be awesome to share the track with Johann and I am really looking forward to see what he can do on an endurance bike. I am sure he will enjoy it and it will be a great challenge for him. But it’s a race he can potentially win so it will be nice to see him sharing the track with us.”
F.C.C. TSR Honda France’s Josh Hook said: “He’s been around the traps long enough to know how to get on and do his job and I’m sure he’ll do well because he’s riding a great bike on great tyres. We’ve had MotoGP riders and World Superbike riders come in for this race many times before and it just brings a lot of hype. It’s also good to ride with those guys to see what they’re doing and not doing.”
Despite being forced to miss next week’s Suzuka 8 Hours through injury, Yoshimura SERT Motul rider Gregg Black can’t wait to follow Zarco’s progress on his EWC debut: “It will be good for everybody to see him in this race. We know his strong performances in MotoGP and now being with Honda it’s the perfect deal for him to come to the Suzuka 8 Hours.”
Words and images courtesy FIM EWC