The official Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Team (YART), which regularly competes in the Endurance World Championship (EWC), will race with a special red and white livery alongside the factory Yamaha Racing Team (YRT) on their YZF-R1 racing bike for the 46th edition of the Suzuka 8 Hours which will take place on Sunday, August 3, 2025, as part of the FIM Endurance World Championship.
The red and white colors first appeared on a Yamaha racing motorcycle in 1964, and later adorned the YZR500 (0W20) in 1973, during Yamaha's first full season in the 500cc World Championship. Since then, they have become the iconic colors of Yamaha racing motorcycles.
This year, as Yamaha Motor celebrates the 70th anniversary of its founding in 1955 and returns to the legendary Suzuka 8 Hour race with a factory team for the first time in six years, we've adopted this special red and white livery on the YZF-R1, which is based on the 7 YZF-R1999 production race bike.
As the top Yamaha team in the EWC, YART will sport this red and white livery alongside YRT, as both teams attempt to reach the podium and win the legendary Suzuka 8 Hours race.
The suits worn by the pilots Marvin Fritz, Karel Hanika et Jason O'Halloran, as well as the outfits worn by all team personnel and the garage itself, will be fully coordinated in red and white throughout the 8 Hours race weekend.
Marvin Fritz : “Every year we use a special livery for the 8 Hours, but this year’s is particularly beautiful. I think everyone who sees it will be excited. I asked Mandy what the color of the bike would be this year, and he told me to remember the classic R7, so I knew right away. When I was a kid, I used to watch Superbikes, and I remember Noriyuki Haga’s R7 with the number 41. I always thought that livery was special. It’s really an honor for me to be able to ride our R1 with these same colors at Suzuka this year. To everyone watching, I’d like to say: don’t forget that this year we’re in red and white, not blue, and I hope you’ll cheer us on during the race!”
Karel Hanika : “I love this year’s special red and white livery; I think it looks amazing. I can’t wait to ride it on the track. At this year’s 8 Hours, our YART bike will be a little different than usual, but I hope the fans will like it. This bike reminds me of Noriyuki Haga, who used to race in the 8 Hours and Superbikes for the Yamaha factory team. We’ll do our best to achieve a result as brilliant as his, so come and support us at the race!”
Jason O'Happelloran : “I’m honored to be riding the red and white R1 to celebrate Yamaha’s 70th anniversary. I remember the old R7, which had a really cool design, so I can’t wait to see our bike with the same livery on the starting line of the 8 Hours. We usually race with Yamaha’s traditional blue, which also looks great, but having our bike sporting these special colors makes it even more exciting. I hope all the fans enjoy the race and enjoy seeing this bike on the track. To everyone who will be coming to watch the race, we hope you will cheer on all the Yamaha riders, and especially the number seven YART bike. I can’t wait to see you there!”
Mandy Kainz, team director: “This year’s special livery for the Suzuka 8 Hours is truly amazing. I remember the OW02, called the YZF-R7, as the bike that made me want to join the Yamaha family 26 years ago. I actually have an R7 on display in my office, so every time I go to work, I can admire it. And now, racing the R1 in the same livery in the 8 Hours is just awesome. These are my ‘dream colors,’ so of course, it’s a gift for the fans, but also for me! When I first started racing, Yamaha bikes were red and white, and these iconic machines were the ones I dreamed of riding. I have very vivid memories of them, and when I think back to those days, it’s the red and white Yamahas that come to mind.” We have won two titles (2009/2023) with the red and white Yamaha, and I hope to win a third with these colors in 2025."
YART Suzuka
