Team HRC with Japan Post has won the Top 10 Trial to secure pole position for tomorrow’s 44th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race, round three of the 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship.
Its nominated riders, Xavi Vierge and Tetsuta Nagashima combined to beat Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team pairing of Karel Hanika and Marvin Fritz as Ryuichi Kiyonari and Ikuhiro Enokido joined forces to claim third for TOHO Racing.
How the battle for Top 10 Trial glory unfolded
Teams placed 10th to sixth in the Combined Qualifying Classification went first with Honda Dream RT SAKURAI HONDA’s Kohta Arakawa the opening rider in the one-at-a-time shootout. He clocked a 2m07.828s, which Atsumi Cocoro tried but failed to beat for S-PULSE DREAM RACING -ITEC.
Drama followed for F.C.C. TSR Honda France when new recruit Tarran Mackenzie fell at the 200R Chicane during his run, making team-mate Mike Di Meglio’s subsequent effort of 2m07.788s immaterial with the 2022 FIM EWC world champion team restricted to 10th position.
Dan Linfoot was also unable to beat Arakawa’s benchmark, the British rider posting a 2m07.671s best for AutoRace Ube Racing Team. After a handful of moments, Haruki Noguchi could only manage a 2m08.046s run for SDG Honda Racing.
Honda Dream RT SAKURAI HONDA’s second rider, Daijiro Hiura, built on team-mate Arakawa’s strong opening run with a time of 2m06.970s. Marcel Schrötter clocked a 2m08.542s for S-PULSE DREAM RACING -ITEC before Di Meglio set his 2m07.788s.
Takuya Tsuda then went quickest of all for AutoRace Ube Racing Team in a time of 2m06.811s only for Naomichi Uramoto to go quicker still, his 2m06.644s the best so far for SDG Honda Racing.
The teams qualifying from fifth to first were next up with Ryuichi Kiyonari posting a 2m08.132s for TOHO Racing. Kazuma Watanabe then registered a 2m07.518s for Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing, while Gregg Black recorded a 2m07.252s for Yoshimura SERT Motul.
World Superbike ace and EWC rookie Xavi Vierge flew to a 2m05.919s best for Team HRC with Japan Post before Karel Hanika delivered in style by recording a 2m05.519s best for Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team.
TOHO Racing’s Ikuhiro Enokido was the first of the final group of five riders to take on the Top 10 Trial. He managed a 2m06.343s with Ryo Mizuno clocking a 2m06.756s for Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing. Yoshimura SERT Motul rider Sylvain Guintoli charged to a 2m06.720s to set up a final pole position showdown between Team HRC’s Tetsuta Nagashima and YART Yamaha’s Marvin Fritz.
Nagashima was first to go aboard his Bridgestone-equipped Honda and the home hero shrugged off his lack of recent riding time owing to a foot injury to set a 2m05.329s around Suzuka Circuit’s 5.821-kilometre Full Course 2-Wheels layout. Fritz gave his all but a slower third sector than Nagashima had managed left him crossing the line in a time of 2m06.115s.
It meant Team HRC with Japan Post won the Top 10 Trial to take pole position for the 44th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race ahead of Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team, TOHO Racing, SDG Honda Racing, Yoshimura SERT Motul, Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing, AutoRace Ube Racing Team, Honda Dream RT SAKURAI HONDA, S-PULSE DREAM RACING -ITEC and F.C.C. TSR Honda France.
The day and night event is due to begin at 11h30 local time with live coverage on TV and online around the world.
Original Source [ FIM EWC ]
