- Miller, Locatelli, and Nakasuga form Yamaha’s factory trio on the #21 YZF-R1
- Zarco, Takahashi, and Jonathan Rea line up on the #30 CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP for Honda HRC
- Honda is unbeaten at Suzuka since 2022 and chasing a fifth consecutive victory
The Suzuka 8 Hours is one of the most prestigious endurance races in motorcycle racing. For the Japanese manufacturers, the event holds a significance that extends far beyond its sporting value. The fact that both Honda and Yamaha have active MotoGP riders in their lineups for the 47th edition in July 2026 underscores the importance of the race. With Johann Zarco and Jack Miller, two Grand Prix race winners will face off, continuing their MotoGP rivalry on production-based superbikes.
Which riders is Yamaha fielding at the 2026 Suzuka 8 Hours?
Yamaha is sending the same trio as last year. Jack Miller from the Pramac Yamaha team in MotoGP shares the factory YZF-R1 bearing the number 21 with WSBK frontrunner Andrea Locatelli and Japanese veteran Katsuyuki Nakasuga. Yamaha confirmed the rider lineup on Monday via social media.
For Nakasuga, this will be his final appearance at the Suzuka 8 Hours. The Japanese rider has won the race four times and is retiring after this season. Miller stated the goal clearly: “I’m absolutely stoked to be lining up for the Suzuka 8 Hours again this year. Last year was a bit of a tough one, having that off in the Top 10 Trial and then finishing second in the race was pretty frustrating, to be honest.”
For 2026, Miller has set a clear target: “For 2026, the goal is simple. We want to go one better and take pole, take the win, and get ourselves onto that top step for Nakasuga-san’s final year before he hangs up the leathers!”
According to Yamaha, the decision to return as a factory team in 2026 was made immediately after last year’s second-place finish. Nakasuga will handle the initial tests of the updated R1 before Miller and Locatelli join for the final pre-race test.
Locatelli also expressed his motivation, saying that participating in the Suzuka 8 Hours with the factory team is beneficial for his development as a rider. The goal is to claim the victory that was narrowly missed last year.
What does Honda’s lineup for Suzuka 2026 look like?
Honda HRC is banking on a combination of Suzuka experience, MotoGP pace, and WSBK pedigree. The CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP bearing the number 30 will be piloted by Johann Zarco, record winner Takumi Takahashi, and six-time Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea.
Zarco, who currently races for the LCR Honda team in MotoGP, is aiming for his third consecutive victory at the Suzuka 8 Hours. In 2024, he won alongside Takahashi and Teppei Nagoe. In 2025, he defended the title again with Takahashi, albeit as a two-rider crew. Iker Lecuona withdrew due to wrist injuries, while Xavi Vierge was unable to start because of visa issues. Despite being short-handed, the Honda duo completed 217 laps and beat Yamaha Racing Team and Yoshimura SERT Motul to the finish.
Zarco said: “I am truly happy to return to the Suzuka 8 Hours again this year as a member of Honda HRC. Winning last year’s eight-hour race was a special honour for me.”
Takahashi is the most successful rider in the history of the Suzuka 8 Hours with seven victories. This year, he is chasing his eighth personal triumph and the fifth in a row with Honda HRC. In a statement, he spoke of it being a great honor to compete on such a stage and emphasized the strength of this year’s trio.
What makes Jonathan Rea’s return to Suzuka so special?
Rea is returning to Suzuka for the first time since 2022 and brings impressive credentials. The Northern Irishman has won the Suzuka 8 Hours twice: in 2012 with Honda alongside Kousuke Akiyoshi and Tadayuki Okada, and in 2019 with Kawasaki when he triumphed together with Leon Haslam and Toprak Razgatlioglu. The 2019 victory with Kawasaki was also the last Suzuka win by a manufacturer outside the Honda-Yamaha dominance.
After retiring from full-time World Superbike competition at the end of 2025, Rea returned to WSBK as a Honda test rider. This opened the door for another Suzuka appearance. Honda MotoGP rider Luca Marini had previously ruled himself out due to difficulties adapting the bike setup to his height compared to his teammates.
Rea stated: “I am sincerely happy to return once again to this historic eight-hour endurance race as a Honda HRC rider. I am also proud to compete as part of a team that has achieved the outstanding feat of four consecutive victories.”
How dominant are Honda and Yamaha at the Suzuka 8 Hours?
The numbers speak clearly. Honda and Yamaha have won eight of the last nine editions of the Suzuka 8 Hours. Yamaha claimed four consecutive victories between 2015 and 2018, while Honda has won every edition since 2022. Only Kawasaki broke this dominance in 2019 with the victory by Rea, Haslam, and Razgatlioglu. In total, Honda holds 31 overall wins at Suzuka, a record in the field.
2025 was also the first year since 2019 in which Yamaha sent a full factory team to Suzuka. In the intervening years, the YART EWC team had served as Yamaha’s official representative at the race. The 2020 and 2021 editions were cancelled entirely due to the Covid pandemic.
Why was the 2026 race date moved forward?
The 47th edition of the Suzuka 8 Hours takes place on July 5, significantly earlier than in previous years when the race was traditionally held in early August. The reason: to avoid scheduling conflicts with other championships. The earlier date falls between the MotoGP races at Assen and the Sachsenring and outside the WSBK calendar, allowing both Grand Prix riders and Superbike pilots to participate.
For Zarco, however, this means an extreme calendar. The Frenchman will race on four consecutive weekends: Czech Republic, Assen, Suzuka, and Sachsenring. He will therefore skip the Suzuka tests and instead arrive only for the race weekend. Zarco nonetheless expressed confidence that his experience at Suzuka would be enough to get up to speed quickly.
The schedule change also has a downside: the race falls on the same weekend as the BSB round at Snetterton. Riders from the British Superbike Championship, including Leon Haslam who rode for the Kagayama Ducati team at Suzuka in 2025, cannot compete in 2026 as a result.
Which other Honda teams are racing at Suzuka?
Honda is represented at Suzuka not only by the HRC factory team. Other confirmed entries include F.C.C. TSR Honda France with Alan Techer, Corentin Perolari, and John McPhee, SDG Team HARC-Pro with Teppei Nagoe, Keito Abe, and Yuki Kunii, as well as Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo featuring former Moto3 race winner Khairul Idham Pawi, Nakarin Atiratphuvapat, and Md. Adenanta Putra. Additionally, Astemo Pro Honda SI Racing and Team ATJ with NTT docomo Business are entered.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
When does the 2026 Suzuka 8 Hours take place?
The 47th edition of the Suzuka 8 Hours is scheduled for July 5, 2026. The race has been moved forward by one month compared to previous years to avoid scheduling conflicts with MotoGP and the Superbike World Championship. The race weekend runs from July 3 to 5.
-
Which riders are racing for Honda HRC at the 2026 Suzuka 8 Hours?
Honda HRC is fielding Johann Zarco, Takumi Takahashi, and Jonathan Rea on the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP bearing the number 30. Zarco is aiming for his third consecutive victory, Takahashi for his eighth overall win, and Rea is returning to Suzuka for the first time since 2022.
-
How many times has Honda won the Suzuka 8 Hours?
Honda holds the all-time record with 31 victories at the Suzuka 8 Hours. The factory team has won every edition since 2022 and is targeting a fifth consecutive victory in 2026.
-
Why is Luca Marini not racing at the Suzuka 8 Hours?
Honda MotoGP rider Luca Marini ruled himself out of the race. He cited difficulties adapting the motorcycle setup to his height compared to his teammates. Jonathan Rea was called up to the factory team in his place.
-
Is this Katsuyuki Nakasuga’s last race at Suzuka?
Yes, the 47th edition of the Suzuka 8 Hours will be Katsuyuki Nakasuga’s final appearance at this event. The four-time Suzuka winner is retiring after this season. Jack Miller stated that the Yamaha team wants to deliver a farewell victory for Nakasuga.
➜ This article is part of our comprehensive overview: MotoGP 2026 Season: The Complete Overview – Teams, Riders, Calendar & Standings. Find all key information on this topic in one place.
