Rea, Lowes and Haslam reunite for KRT Suzuki 8hour defence

Kawasaki has confirmed full-factory participation in the 2022 Suzuka 8 Hours event after a two year absence for the high profile event.

WorldSBK front runners Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes will spearhead the campaign with current BSB regular and WorldSBK wildcard Leon Haslam completing the line up.

The trio all have proven winning pedigree at the historic venue and will be joined by a raft of support from both the full KRT outfit alongside Japanese Kawasaki engineers and technicians to be ready to fight for success once again.
 
As well as being an important stand-alone event, the Suzuka 8 Hours is a full round of the FIM Endurance World Championship - EWC, with the action being postponed during the pandemic.

Rea and Haslam formed the most recent winning line up having taken the spoils in 2019 with the Northern Irishman boating another victory to his name while Lowes and Haslam have three wins apiece.
 


The 43rd edition of the Suzuka 8-Hour arguably the most important and challenging single race event on the Japanese motorcycle sport calendar, will take place between 5th-7th August 2022.
 


“I am so excited to go back to Japan,” Rea confirmed on the announcement. “Understandably Kawasaki has always had such a great support out there. We won the race three years ago. Kawasaki was understandably keen to defend the title and especially to continue the positive exposure WorldSBK is delivering currently while extending that positivity to the 8h and Japan. Due to Covid we weren’t able to return until now.

“I always feel really appreciated by the Japanese fans. The atmosphere is incredible and I am really looking forward to going back. I think the target heading back to Suzuka is to win. We won there before and this season I