EWC 8 Hours of Suzuka 2022: HRC flies away on first day of testing

The first day of official testing for the 8 Suzuka 2022 Hours sees Honda HRC dictating the pace, YART Yamaha very fast with Niccolò Canepa, Kawasaki present with Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes.

About Alessio Piana / Corsedimoto.com 

The characteristic episode of this inaugural day of official testing for the Suzuka 8 Hours was not recorded on the track, but in the pit lane. Between one session and the next, as is customary, the teams geared up for simulated pit stops. The HRC team, very busy during these tests, is not to be outdone and is already managing to set the standard. In one of these simulations, the official Honda team was (literally) surrounded by competing technicians and mechanics, Kawasaki KRT, Yoshimura (SERT), YART Yamaha. Everyone, no one is excluded. Interested, curious spectators, some even captivated by the speed of the HRC personnel in making pit stops, having nothing to envy of their Formula 1 colleagues. This is what the Suzuka 8 Hours have always done and , as has been the custom for several editions, it is the Honda factory which sets the tone, at least during testing.

 

HONDA TAKES THE LEAD OF SUZUKA 8 HOURS TESTING
Honda has not won "its" race since 2014 and Team HRC, back in action in 2018, experienced many regrets during the two previous editions due to strategy errors and choices/decisions that were questionable to say the least. . It's not a coincidence that someone even lost their job, nor is it a coincidence that HRC came to these tests with very ambitious intentions. Reaffirming the good things that had emerged from previous outings on the roller coaster circuit, the new CBR 1000RR-R No. 33 set its pace on all fronts: speed, rhythm, apparent fuel management (1/2 turn on the long runs compared to the competition) and, it goes without saying, speed at pit stops. With the crew composed of Tetsuta Nagashima, Takumi Takahashi and Iker Lecuona (second test at Suzuka for him), HRC finished the first day in the lead with a time of 2'06″349 achieved during the session after -noon.

 

 

KAWASAKI KRT WITH REA AND LOWES… LAGGING AWAY
If Honda took the "pole" in the afternoon, anticipating the return of a few drops of rain around 16:20 p.m. (signaled by the marshals with the white flag with the Saint Andrew's cross), Kawasaki KRT achieved its best time during of the only night practice session scheduled for this two-day event. Focusing more on pace and consistency, Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes stayed within the 2'08" mark before the JR65's best lap 'by night' in 2'06"993. A different job compared to the competition and, after the triumphant (albeit incredible…) 2019 edition, another way of approaching the 8 hours. A ZX-10RR #10 not very different from WSBK specifications was prepared for the race, taken care of by a structure managed by Provec with some transplants from the old Team Green. In short: the philosophy that wins does not change. On the other hand, the logistics must be reviewed, the only drawback being a late arrival in Japan. Due to the cancellation of certain flights, the pilots and certain “European” mechanics did not arrive at Suzuka until late yesterday evening…

 

 

YART YAMAHA VERY FAST AVE CANEPA
On paper, the fight for victory will be between Honda HRC and Kawasaki KRT, but the race for the podium is more open than ever. Of the 42 teams (out of the 45 on the provisional registration list) present at the Test, YART Yamaha appears as the “Most Valuable Team”. In the afternoon, the #1 R7 had the luxury of ahead of the #10 Kawasaki, with a lap time of 2'08", relayed by Niccolò Canepa in 2'07"341 during the last session. It was a great journey for the 2016/2017 world champion, who was delighted to return to Suzuka and share this experience with Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika, also equaling the Italian record of 5 participations in the 8 Hours held by Daniele Veghini .

 

 

TOMORROW WE START AGAIN
Tomorrow, on the legendary roller coaster circuit, the last day of official testing will take place with two rounds for each group (A and B), for a total duration of 3 hours on the track.

Ranking Tuesday July 5 (Top 15): 

1- Team HRC – Honda CBR 1000RR-R – 2’06.349
2- Kawasaki Racing Team Suzuka 8H – Kawasaki ZX-10RR – 2'06.993
3- YART Yamaha Official Team EWC – Yamaha YZF-R1 – 2’07.341
4- Honda Sofukai Suzuka Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR-R – 2'07.628
5- S-PULSE Dream Racing ITEC – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 2'08.071
6- Team ATJ – Honda CBR 1000RR-R – 2’08.198
7- Yoshimura SERT Motul – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – 2’08.231
8- Honda Dream RT Sakurai Honda – Honda CBR 1000RR-R – 2'08.373
9- Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR-R – 2’08.467
10- FCC TSR Honda France – Honda CBR 1000RR-R – 2'08.641
11- SDG Honda Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR-R – 2’08.666
12- TOHO Racing – Honda CBR 1000RR-R – 2’08.767
13- Murayama Honda Dream RT – Honda CBR 1000RR-R – 2'09.092
14- Team Kodama – Yamaha YZF-R1 – 2’09.188
15- KRP Sanyoukogyo & RS-Itoh – Kawasaki ZX-10RR – 2'09.499

 

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Alessio Piana