2017 YOSHIMURA SUZUKI Motul
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RACE INFORMATION
【Suzuka 8 Hours】
ヨシムラ SUZUKI Motul
Profile
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Fujio Yoshimura / President
The first Suzuka 8 Hour Endurance Race in 1978 was the most memorable race in my whole life! The race plan that we’ve had towards Suzuka 8 hours was just simple, “Go flat out for 8 hours, just like a sprint race!” but the race plan of Honda RCBs would have been different that they kept their theoretical endurance style. It is obvious that Yoshimura’s style for the endurance race was far different from what most Japanese fans and motorcycle manufactures have imagined. It is because their thoughts were based on Honda RCBs who have won 4 consecutive FIM Endurance World Titles. In 1977, Takazumi Katayama won his first 350class World GP Title and his lap time in European circuits were about equal to so called “Unsinkable Fleet of RCB”! Well, in the US side, on the other hand, Wes Cooley on the Yoshimura tuned Z1 was doing fair battle against Yamaha TZ350 at local race events. So, we knew we’ve got the power to fight against RCB. But we’ve never known “8 Hours Endurance Race” was going to be held at Suzuka Circuit at that time! In late 1977, we’ve heard the news of the world-class race event would be scheduled at Suzuka Circuit and Honda would bring their triumphant RCB for the first time to the Japanese fans, wow!! We’ve never ever thought, one year later, we would show up in Suzuka with Suzuki GS1000 and head against the Honda RCBs which were supposed to be rewarded at Suzuka Circuit for another glorious victory to their record books. In those days, American road races were never highly valued by any of Japanese fans neither motorcycle manufacturers but Europe was the place to be for all the glorious heritage of racing. So, Honda RCBs and its riders were more than special that, as we all knew, they’ve won 4 consecutive world endurance titles in Europe. Meanwhile Yoshimura tuned GS1000 only had high street type handle bar and small bikini fairing, and our riders, Wes Cooley and Mike Baldwin, were showing their unique riding style from the US ready for 8 hours of battling! Yoshimura GS1000 qualified 2nd place ahead of RCBs. Obviously, everyone had the same question, “Can Yoshimura Team finish the race?”. Well, we’ve done it and won the “The First Suzuka 8 Hour Endurance Race” in the dramatic way that anyone never thought of! After the checker flag was dropped, Pops and rest of us at Yoshimura felt “Hey, are we not dreaming? Right?”
After 40 years of our racing history of Suzuka 8 hours, I am deeply impressed by the fact that we are still here.
See you in Suzuka!
Fujio Yoshimura
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Schedule
July 27(Thu) | Special Sports Running |
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July 28(Fri) | Official Practice / Official qualifier |
July 29(Sat) | Teams for Finals Free Practice/Top 10 Trial (Official Qualifying) |
July 30(Sun) | Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race Final (11:30 start/19:30 finish) |
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Race History
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FIM EWC
Rd.4
Bol d’Or 24H
/Qualifying
2nd
/Final
1st -
FIM EWC
Rd.3
Suzuka 8H
/Qualifying
5th
/Final
11th -
FIM EWC
Rd.2
SPA 24H
/Qualifying
3rd
/Final
4th -
FIM EWC
Rd.1
Le Mans 24H
/Qualifying
1st
/Final
7th -
FIM EWC
Rd.4
Bol d’Or 24H
/Qualifying
3rd
/Final
Retire -
FIM EWC
Rd.3
Suzuka 8H
/Qualifying
22nd
/Final
3rd -
FIM EWC
Rd.2
SPA 24H
/Qualifying
3rd
/Final
4th -
FIM EWC
Rd.1
Le Mans 24H
/Qualifying
2nd
/Final
1st -
FIM EWC
Rd.4
Most 6H
/Qualifying
3rd
/Final
3rd -
FIM EWC
Rd.3
Bol d’Or 24H
/Qualifying
1st
/Final
1st -
FIM EWC
Rd.2
Estoril 12H
/Qualifying
3rd
/Final
17th -
FIM EWC
Rd.1
Le Mans 24H
/Qualifying
2nd
/Final
1st -
All Japan Road Race
Rd.1
/Qualifying
(1):1st
(2):1st
/Final
(1):3rd
(2):2nd
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Team Director
Yohei Kato
Team Director
Yohei Kato
Yoshimura Suzuki MOTUL Racing will race to win the 40th Suzuka 8 hours World Endurance Championship with 3 experienced riders, Takuya Tsuda, Sylvain Guintoli, and Josh Brookes. The new GSX-R1000 has been developed through All Japan Championship JSB1000 series, and it will be faster and stronger than ever by the time of the Suzuka 8 hours. Carrying expectations of Suzuki who released the new GSX-R1000 and all Yoshimura fans with their great support, we will race for the 5th champion of Suzuka 8 hours together with 3 reliable riders. Thank you very much for your great support of Yoshimura Suzuki MOTUL Racing.
I’ve Got The Power!
Yoshimura Suzuki MOTUL Racing
Team manager Yohei Kato. -
Rider
Takuya Tsuda
Rider
Takuya Tsuda
The Suzuka 8hours of this year is the 40th anniversary and also the final round of FIM Endurance World Championship, so it will gather a great deal of attention. Yoshimura has won the first Suzuka 8 hours back in 1978 and they have been challenging every race after this. I am very looking forward to racing this year with two solid riders, Sylvain and Josh, and we will fight 8 hours together for the top of podium with the new GSX-R1000. Thank you very much for supporting Yoshimura Suzuki MOTUL racing.
Name Takuya Tsuda Birthplace Wakayama, Japan Birthday 1985.04.27 Height 171cm Weight 71kg Race History
- Suzuka 8H 7th All Japan Championship JSB1000 Ranking 2nd / Yoshimura
- Suzuka 8H 3rd All Japan Championship JSB1000 Ranking 2nd / Yoshimura
- Suzuka 8H 5th All Japan Championship JSB1000 Ranking 4th / Yoshimura
- Suzuka 8H 2nd All Japan Championship JSB1000 Ranking 3rd / Yoshimura
- Suzuka 8H 2nd All Japan Championship JSB1000 Ranking 4th / Yoshimura
- All Japan Championship R-2 JSB1000 (Wildcard) 7th / Yoshimura Suzuka 8H 4th place All Japan Championship ST600 Ranking 7th
- 全日本選手権 ST600 年間ランキング 15位
- 全日本選手権 ST600 年間ランキング 12位
- 全日本選手権 ST600 年間ランキング 14位
- 全日本選手権 ST600 年間ランキング 15位
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全日本選手権 ST600 年間ランキング 23位
鈴鹿8時間耐久 総合17位 -
全日本選手権 ST600 年間ランキング 29位
鈴鹿8時間耐久 16位 -
全日本選手権 ST600 年間ランキング 30位
鈴鹿8時間耐久 XX-F Div.2クラス 優勝 - 全日本選手権 ST600 年間ランキング 27位
- ウエストエリア選手権 ST600 年間ランキング 2位
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Rider
Sylvain Guintoli
Rider
Sylvain Guintoli
The 8 hours of Suzuka is famous for being one of the most important and difficult motorcycle race in the World. It represents a great challenge so I am very excited to be a part of the prestigious Yoshimura Suzuki Team with the new GSX-R1000. My last experience in Endurance racing was fantastic with Suzuki GSX-R1000 in 8 hour of Doha 2010. We won the race and the World Championship for Suzuki so I hope we can go to the top step again.
Name Sylvain Guintoli Birthplace Montelimar, France Birthday 1982.06.24 Height 179cm Weight 68kg Hobby Motorcycles, cars, bicycles SNS Race History
- 2nd Endurance World Champion, Yoshimura SERT Motul (1st LeMans24H)
- 1st Endurance World Champion, Yoshimura SERT Motul (1st LeMans24H / 1st Bol d’Or)
- Suzuki Ecstar MotoGP Test Rider
-
Suzuki Ecstar MotoGP Test Rider, 4 MotoGP races in Catalunya (13th), Brno (20th), Silverstone (12th) and Motegi (20th)
Endurance World Championship Suzuka 8H: Yoshimura Suzuki Motul Racing (5th) -
Suzuki Ecstar MotoGP Test Rider, 3 MotoGP races in Catalunya (DNF), Brno (19th) and Motegi (21st)
Endurance World Championship Suzuka 8H: Yoshimura Suzuki Motul Racing (10th) -
13th British Superbike: Bennetts Suzuki
Suzuki Ecstar MotoGP Test Rider, 3 MotoGP races in Le Mans (15th), Mugello (17th) and Catalunya (17th)
Endurance World Championship Suzuka 8H: Yoshimura Suzuki Motul Racing (7th) - 11th FIM Superbike World Championship: Team Pata Yamaha
- 6th FIM Superbike World Championship: Team Pata Honda
- FIM Superbike World Champion: Aprilia Racing Team
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Rider
Josh Brookes
Rider
Josh Brookes
The Suzuka 8 Hours is very important to me and I have always had aspirations of winning here. It is a great privilege to be invited to join Yoshimura Suzuki again this year and after our podium success together in 2013 and 2016, I’m really looking forward to riding the new bike and aiming for the top step together again this year.
Name Josh Brookes Birthplace Sydney, Autsralia Birthday 1983.04.28 Height 176cm Weight 72kg Race History
- Suzuka 8H / Yoshimura Suzuki MOTUL Racing British Superbike Championship
- World Superbike Championship Ranking 14th Suzuka 8H 3rd place / Yoshimura Suzuki Shell ADVANCE
- British Superbike Championship Series Champion
- British Superbike Championship Ranking 4th
- British Superbike Championship Ranking 3rd place Suzuka 8H 2nd place / Team Yoshimura
- ブリティッシュスーパーバイク選手権 年間ランキング2位
- ブリティッシュスーパーバイク選手権 年間ランキング5位
- ブリティッシュスーパーバイク選手権 年間ランキング2位
- ブリティッシュスーパーバイク選手権 年間ランキング4位
- ワールドスーパースポーツ選手権 年間ランキング3位
- ワールドスーパースポーツ選手権 参戦
- ワールドスーパースポーツ選手権 参戦
- オーストラリアスーパーバイク/スーパースポーツ選手権 シリーズチャンピオン
- ワールドスーパースポーツ選手権 オーストラリアラウンド・ワイルドカード 優勝
- オーストラリアスーパーバイク/スーパースポーツ選手権 年間ランキング6位/4位
- オーストラリアスーパーバイク選手権 年間ランキング2位
- オーストラリアスーパースポーツ選手権 シリーズチャンピオン
- オーストラリア125GP選手権 年間ランキング2位
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