After the multiple sessions of the first day of testing, the second and final day of "public testing" in preparation for the Suzuka 8 Hours included two 80-minute sessions for each of the two groups A and B, then a final 90-minute session for each group in the afternoon.
The scorching conditions, identical to the day before, faithfully reproduced those expected on August 3 and, on paper, slightly favored Group B (comprising all the most competitive teams) who took to the track first.
At the end of the morning, the unexpected June 12 scenario happened again, since the BMW #76, driven by Loris Baz et Naomichi Uramoto for the AutoRace Ube Racing Team, achieved the best time, in 2'05.985!
Next came the expected Honda HRC #30, the Yoshimura SERT Motul #1, the Ducati #3 SDG-Ducati Team Kagayama and the official BMW #37, all under the 2'07 mark.
In the afternoon, the leading teams took advantage of the 90 minutes to complete a long run and attack the clock. Despite track and ambient temperatures that were not conducive to performance, it was in this session that the best time of the two days was set by the Honda HRC, without Johann zarco on the way to Mugello, but with the 6-time winner Takumi Takahashi et Iker Lecuona : 2.
It is also faster than the benchmark set by the same machine in previous tests, and confirms its status as the favorite to the winning machine of the last three editions of the Suzuka 8 Hours.
As a reminder, the 2024 pole position was acquired by YART in 2'05.130.
Finally, in the combined standings of the two days, the main surprises are the repeated performances of the BMW #76 and the modest times of the official Yamaha #21 so far.
The first bike not fitted with Bridgestone tires, the Yamaha #99 Elf Marc VDS Racing Team /KM99 ridden by Randy de Puniet, Florian Marino et Jeremy Guarnoni, ranks just outside the top 10.
The next tests will take place during race week, from August 1st to 3rd.
In the meantime, the most enthusiastic can watch each of the sessions again on the Suzuka Circuit YouTube channel, or at least the “Pit Reports” inserted in the middle of the images from the circuit surveillance cameras…
Let's not complain!
Photo credits and rankings: Bridgestone
Suzuka 8 Hours test Suzuka 8 Hours test
