Tag Archives: Suzuka

BMW

BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team Takes Seventh Place at Suzuka 8 Hours

The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team achieved a remarkable seventh-place finish at the Suzuka 8 Hours, earning important points in the FIM Endurance World Championship. The team, consisting of Markus Reiterberger, Ilya Mikhalchik, and Jérémy Guarnoni, battled against grueling conditions and rain on their BMW M 1000 RR. They emerged as the best European team in a highly competitive field dominated by Japanese teams. The team’s performance earned them the Le-Mans-Award. With one race remaining at Le Castellet, the team is currently in third place in the championship standings, with a chance to narrow the 37-point gap to the leaders in the final 24-hour race.

The Suzuka 8 Hours is a crucial race for Japanese manufacturers, who field strong works teams and supported squads. The goal for European teams is to score as many points as possible, and the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team accomplished just that.

Starting from eleventh on the grid, the #37 BMW M 1000 RR dropped to 16th place early in the race. However, the riders fought back and steadily climbed into the top ten. Despite the hot and humid conditions, they maintained consistent laps and avoided mistakes. In addition to their on-track performance, the team excelled in the pits. They maintained their focus even when rain arrived with an hour remaining. As darkness fell, the #37 BMW M 1000 RR crossed the finish line in an impressive seventh place.

The season finale, the famous Bol d’Or 24-hour race at Le Castellet, will take place from September 14th to 17th.

Four privateer BMW teams from Asia also participated in the Suzuka 8 Hours. The SANMEI Team TARO PLUSONE finished 17th overall (16th in the EWC class) with the #44 BMW M 1000 RR. The TONE RT SYNCEDGE 4413 BMW team recovered from a start-line fall to finish 43rd (13th in the Superstock class) with the #85 BMW M 1000 RR. However, the Shinshu activation project Team NAGANO and TEAM FRONTIER retired early.

Reactions from the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team:

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: Despite the strong competition from Japanese manufacturers and teams, we are pleased with our seventh-place finish and being the best European team. Our main championship rivals were not as successful, allowing us to gain ground. The world championship is still up for grabs at the season finale, where more points will be at stake. The team’s consistent performance and support from Dunlop played a crucial role. We are confident and optimistic for the next race, the Bol d’Or.

Werner Daemen, Team Manager BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team: A top-eight result was our goal, considering we didn’t have the strongest package. We excelled in changing wheels, being the fastest. I am proud of the team and the riders’ remarkable performance. We made no mistakes and finished in seventh place. We are looking forward to the final race of the season with hope.

Markus Reiterberger: I am relieved and happy with our top-ten finish. Despite a minor problem with the bike, we were able to regain positions and end up in seventh place. The race was physically and mentally demanding, especially in the final stint with changing weather conditions. The team’s pit stops were superb, and I am grateful for everyone’s support. It was a tough week, but everyone gave their all.

Ilya Mikhalchik: I am really happy and want to thank everyone in the team. The race was challenging, but we maintained a good pace. Our performance showed that the bike has improved, even in the hot weather. We are satisfied with our top-ten finish, which was close to the top five. We did a good job.

Jérémy Guarnoni: It was a good race for us. We could have fought for the top five, but the changing weather made it difficult. Nevertheless, we are happy with our seventh-place finish and the points we earned for the championship. We proved that we did our job well. Our aim was to finish in the top ten, and we achieved that. We are now focused on the Bol d’Or, where we have a chance to win the world championship.

News

Honda Unveils Latest CBR600RR at 2023 Suzuka 8 Hours Race

Honda revealed its updated version of the CBR600RR at the 2023 Suzuka 8 Hours race. The event, hosted by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Endurance World Championship, took place from August 4 to 6 at the Suzuka Circuit, which is operated by Honda Mobilityland Corporation. As a home race for Honda, it was the perfect opportunity to showcase their newest creation.

If you attended the event, you could witness the latest version of the Honda CBR600RR up close at the Honda booth. While specific details about the updates have not been released, it is expected that the main focus is on ensuring compliance with Japan’s latest emissions regulations. While some concerns are raised about the potential impact on power output, previous model revisions suggest that there won’t be significant changes in that regard.


New Honda CBR600RR Revealed at 2023 Suzuka 8 Hours 3

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As shown in the images and videos shared by Honda, there are also new paint job and graphics. The Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) tricolor livery and a sleek matte black version are expected to be available in the Japanese market, but it is not yet confirmed which colors will be offered internationally, including in the US.

 

For those attending the Suzuka 8 Hours race, the Honda booth has arranged a moto merry-go-round experience. Whether you’re an actual child or just feeling young at heart, make sure to give it a try. Take a ride and have fun under the Honda paper lanterns at the display; it’s a temptation hard to resist.

We will provide more details about the updated Honda CBR600RR as soon as they are available. The current version of the CBR600RR is already available in various markets worldwide. In the US, the 2023 Honda CBR600RR starts at an MSRP of $12,099 (excluding destination, freight, and other charges), and it comes with the previous version of the HRC tricolor paint scheme.

BMW

FIM EWC in Japan: BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team prepared for the Suzuka 8 Hours

The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team and the FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC) are heading to Asia this weekend. The third round of the 2023 season will take place at Suzuka, Japan, from 4th to 6th August. The Suzuka 8 Hours race is a long-standing favorite on the series’ calendar, celebrating its 44th edition this year. The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, with riders Markus Reiterberger, Ilya Mikhalchik, and Jérémy Guarnoni, is gearing up for their second appearance at Suzuka.

Equipped with the new BMW M 1000 RR, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team secured third place on the podium in the first two races of the season: the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans (FRA) and the 24H SPA EWC Motos at Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). The Suzuka 8 Hours is highly important to the Japanese manufacturers, who field a bevy of competitive teams. In preparation for the event, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team conducted two days of testing at Suzuka in early July, followed by additional test sessions this week. The hot and humid climate at Suzuka poses a challenge for all participants.

The race weekend kicks off on Friday with free practice and the first qualifying sessions. Saturday features the second qualifying and the Top 10 Trial, which determines the first ten positions on the grid. The race itself starts on Sunday at 11:30 local time (04:30 CEST). Alongside the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, four private BMW teams will also compete in the Suzuka 8 Hours: TONE RT SYNCEDGE 4413 BMW, the Shinshu activation project Team NAGANO, SANMEI Team TARO PLUSONE, and TEAM FRONTIER.

Here are some quotes from the team ahead of the Suzuka 8 Hours:

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “We are very excited about the Suzuka 8 Hours. It is a very special circuit with its own specific challenges, with regard to the layout and the climate. We know how important the event is to the Japanese manufacturers, who are traditionally very strong and line-up with many factory and factory-supported teams. It will not be easy to challenge for the podium. Our goal is to finish in the top-five and score as many points as possible towards the world championship.”

Werner Daemen, Team Manager BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team: “I think that the test day was really good. To be honest, I came here lacking a bit of confidence, but I can say that everyone did a great job. The preparation was good, the riders made a great job. We have always been in the top eight which was the goal for the test. To have such a successful test day here at Suzuka gives an extra boost to the entire team. Regarding the goals for the race, I changed my mind, to be honest. When we came here, I thought that top-ten would be already good with the strong Japanese competition we have her. Now I think, that top five or top six is possible if we do not make any mistakes.”

Markus Reiterberger: “The test day was pretty hot but very productive. We got off to a good start, tried a lot with the suspension and electronics, and improved several things. Overall, we are motivated and want to get the best out of it. In terms of race pace, we are in a good position. The competition is particularly strong here at Suzuka, but we want to take as many points as possible. If we want to be modest, we’ll say the goal is the top ten, but we’re aiming more for the top five.”

Ilya Mikhalchik: “Suzuka is a very special place and the test day was a pretty good day. We found a good base with the bike and tires which was working pretty well for us. The target is to finish the race collecting many points and aiming for a top-ten position or even close to the top five.”

Jérémy Guarnoni: “The test day went well, and now we need to make it pay off during the race. The goal is to fight for the top five or even the podium. We need to have a good package not just for one lap but for the entire race.”