Firstrd edition of Suzuka 8 Hours has just ended. Like last year, it was the new Yamaha R1 which laid down the law. The firm with three tuning forks had not won this prestigious national meeting for Japanese manufacturers since 1996. Here it is now at the head of a double. And why not a hat-trick in 2017 with a certain Valentino Rossi?
At least this is the hope that Yamaha has formula at the finish of this classic won 27 times in 38 meetings by Honda. The Iwata manufacturer hopes to do it again in 2017 with the Doctor. I have to say that Pol Espargaro, now double winner of the event, will have gone to KTM, the same KTM firm which had deprived the R1 of Bradley Smith, on the highest step of the podium last year and replaced this time by alex lowes.
The new R1 is a winning machine and it is known by Valentino Rossi who has already tested it. Furthermore, the teammate of Jorge Lorenzo has already won at Suzuka. It was in 2001 with a Honda. Doing it again sixteen years later with a Yamaha on the world's leading manufacturer's own circuit will not lack salt. Vale signed for Yamaha until 2018. His goal is to fight for the MotoGP world title.
Will he accept Suzuka's challenge? Yamaha, in any case, extended the invitation.
