EWC 8 Hours of Suzuka 2022: Honda HRC triumphs and wards off bad luck, Kawasaki beaten.

Disappointing in MotoGP and Superbike, the world's most powerful racing department takes over the 43rd edition of the legendary endurance race. Kawasaki never in the game.

About Paul Gozzi / Corsedimoto.com

It took eight very long years, but today the bad fate of the fast Honda HRC at the Suzuka 8 Hours has been averted. The prodigious CBR-RR managed directly by the most powerful racing department in the world literally dominated the scene, right from the private tests. Pole, best lap and supremacy over the entire distance of the legendary endurance race: the triumph of the golden-winged firm could not be more complete. This page of success does not solve the Honda HRC crisis in MotoGP, and even less the problems of Superbike, but it soothes certain wounds. The entire HRC staff deserted Silverstone just to be there. See live coverage with all the highlights here.

A perfect trio
Credit also goes to the three practically perfect pilots: Tetsuta nagashima, MotoGP and Superbike tester, was the conductor of the operation. Takumi Takahashi didn't have the same brilliance, but didn't make any mistakes. The one that surprised the most is Iker Lecuona, former MotoGP rider, during his first entry into the 8 Hours. Inexperience could have played tricks on him, but instead, at just 22 years old, the Spaniard brought home one of the most prestigious trophies a rider can aspire to. Excellent way to redeem the disappointments of MotoGP: this young man will be able to write beautiful pages with the derivatives of the series.

 

 

Kawasaki never in the game
There is not much to say, the ZX-10RR never seemed capable of meeting the powerful technical challenge launched by Honda. The unfortunate turning point was the race's second caution due to a crash, which forced the Kawasaki to line up behind the second safety car and close a gap of more than 40 seconds. At the halfway mark, Jonathan Rhea restarted for his second stint 76 seconds behind. He put all his talent to good use, falling eight seconds late, before slipping to the ground while attempting a maneuver that went wrong. At this point, only a resounding stroke of bad luck from Honda could overturn the verdict.

 

 

Yart Yamaha without success
Piloted by a Niccolò Canepa en état de grâce, Yart Yamaha a longtemps chassé la deuxième place de Kawasaki, le maximum qu’une équipe Yamaha bien soutenue, mais en tout cas “satellite”, pouvait aspirer à atteindre. Mais à une heure de l’arrivée, Marvin Fritz a mal calculé le timing d’un double dépassement, qui est l’une des opérations les plus difficiles et risquées ici, et a fini par s’écraser contre les barrières. Adieu le podium, seule une modeste septième place lui restait entre les mains.

 

 

The third step was inherited by Yoshimura Suzuki, who mortgaged the Enduranche world championship which will be awarded at the 24 Hours of Bol d'Or in mid-September. A race to forget for Honda FCC TSR finished outside the top 10, with only Josh Hook et Mike Di Meglio. The British Gino Rea, seriously injured during the tests, is still in serious condition. Official updates are awaited.

 

Read the original article on Corsedimoto.com