HONDA announced details of the HONDA Team that will be competing in the 2016 FIM Endurance World Championship Series Round 3/39th “Coca-Cola Zero ”Suzuka 8 Hour World Endurance Championship scheduled to be held on Sunday 31st July at the Suzuka circuit in Mie Prefecture.
There was big news from team MuSASHi HARC-PRO.
Together with JSB1000 competitor Takumi Takahashi, WSB competitor Michael van der Mark who has won champion two years in a row, WSB competitor and 2006 MotoGP Champion Nicky Hayden will be joining the team.
It will be the first time in 13 years for Hayden to compete in the Suzuka 8 Hour Race. With this powerful lineup, MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO is set out to win the championship for the first time in two years.
F.C.C. TSR Honda
F.C.C. TSR HONDA that came second last year will be aiming to win with Kazuma Watanabe who won 3rd in Round 1 of 2016 FIM Endurance World Championship - the Le Mans 24 Hours race and is currently competing in the MFJ All Japan Road race Championship JSB1000 class, Patrick Jacobsen, currently competing in the FIM Super sport World Championship (WSS) and Dominique Aegerter, current Moto2 rider who will be appearing in Suzuka for his 3rd consecutive year.
MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO.
MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO has appointed 2013-2014 winning riders - Takumi Takahashi, currently competing in JSB1000 and Michael van Der Mark, currently participating in the FIM World Superbike Championship Series (WSB) following last year. Together with Nicky Hayden who will be competing the Suzuka 8 Hour for the first time in 13 years, they will be aiming to win the race for two years in a row.
Satu HATI. Honda Team Asia
Satu HATI. Honda Team Asia will also be competing for its fifth consecutive year, with highly-talented Asian riders. The team is aiming for the top.
HONDA Associate Team
Seven teams will be participating from HONDA's associate teams. ''HONDA Kumamoto Racing'', HONDA Ryokuyoukai Kumamoto Racing with Kumamon'' and ''Honda Blue Helmet MSC Kumamoto'' assigned with Kumamoto Factory that was affected by the Kumamoto earthquake will be competing with strong desire for Kumamoto to recover from the natural disaster.
Comments from Riders
F.C.C. TSR Honda
Kazuma Watanabe
''First I would like to thank HONDA, the team and sponsors including Teluru for supporting F.C.C. TSR HONDA. This year I had the opportunity to participate in endurance races at Le Mans (France) and the Portimao 12 Hour Endurance Race (Portugal) besides sprint races. I feel that the experience I have achieved at endurance races has given me a big advantage. I have participated in these races to win at the Suzuka 8 Hour Race. I hope I can show results to meet expectations.''
Patrick Jacobsen
“It’s such a great opportunity to race for TSR Honda in the Suzuka 8 hour. It is an honor for me to compete in such an incredible race in the top team. It will be a very hot and a difficult race but I will try my best. I’m really looking forward for the race to start.''
Dominique Aegerter
''I am very lucky to be able to compete the Suzuka 8 hour Race with a fantastic team Like F.C.C. TSR Honda. The Suzuka 8 Hour race is very challenging and the team is very important to achieve good results. Detailed work like pit work and machine set up is important. Our team is professional and the CBR1000RR is a incredibly fast machine. Following the second place we won last year, I'm looking forward to go on the podium again this year.''
MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO
Takumi Takahashi
''Last year's 8 Hour Race finished so soon. It left me with a lot of regrets. I'm thrilled that I will be able to compete again this year with best team mates in the best team under a favorable environment. The team will get together to take revenge of last year's race and win back the crown this year.''
Michael van der Mark
“I’m really happy and honored to be riding again at the Suzuka 8 hours this year. The 8 Hour Race is a special race during the season and I'm looking forward to compete this year because I couldn't make it last year. I have relished memories with MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO and our aim for 2016 of course is to win. Nicky and Takumi are both excellent riders so I will be competing with a strong team.''
Nicky Hayden
''It's a honor to be able to compete in a historical race such as Suzuka 8 Hours. The race differs from other races with its Le-Mans Start, pit stops and work with team mates to find the right set up. I'm happy to have the chance to stay on the bike during the long summer break and sharpen up my skills for the Suzuka 8 Hour Race. The long tough challenge with many high class teams will be a tough challenge but I'm eager to win and add a Suzuka 8 Hour Race trophy to my collection.''
Original Source [ Honda ](*Japanese)
