EWC Suzuka 8 Hours Home Heroes Pt1

Part of the unique flavour of the EWC Suzuka 8 Hours is the multitude of Japanese teams contesting their local event harnessing riders and management both well-known on the international stage and those who have more fame at home. We’ll be having a word with some of the local heroes to hear what they have to say across this week’s event.Takumi Takahashi#33 Team HRC Honda CBR 1000 RR-RSP Takumi Takahashi is a multi-time Japanese champion back home celebrating multiple title victories in the All Japan Road Race Championship.

Takahashi secured title success in the All Japan Road Race Championship, where in 2008 he took the GP250 title and in 2017 was crowned JSB1000 champion. He is also twice a runner-up in the MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship JSB 1000.

Takahashi, a contracted Honda Racing Corporation rider, has also enjoyed past success at the Suzuka 8 Hours, having won the event in 2010, 2013 and 2014. Since 2021 he has raced in the British Superbike Championship.“2008 was my first Suzuka 8 Hours, and I’ve been on the podium many times and won three times.

I’m happy to be back with the team here and I’m determined to do my best. Our team has to win! So we’re here to win.

If each of us does what we have to do then I’m sure a good result will follow.“It’s a new bike and new to the Bridgestone tyres, but I think the bike has been developed in a good way and we’re ready.” As a BSB contender, we asked how Suzuka compares to one of the circuits beginning with an S on the British schedule: Snetterton?“First of all, it’s wider! Compared to any British track! Snetterton is very flat so the image here is quite different. I think if any of my fellow BSB riders came to race here they wouldn’t know the racing line so quickly, it’s