Race Participation: SUZUKA 8 Hour Endurance Road Race 41st Tournament, • Circuit: SUZUKA Circuit Japan
• Date: July 27-29, 2018
• Team Name: EVA RT First Machine Webike TRICK STAR
• Rider: Osamu Deguchi/Anthony West/Matthew Guinness
• Director: Ryuji Tsuruta
• Result: Preliminary Round 22nd Final DNF (56th)
27th Preliminary Round
This year, the rainy season has been onset since early, and it was held in a dry conditions in the hot weather that lasts for about 2-weeks or more.
There was a limit of the number of tires used in the regulation, and the team met the finals in the strategy that did not use the number of qualifying as much as possible. The type of tire also chooses the medium hard to see the finals and starts riding out of the first rider, Anthony West. As soon as the other team rider fell on the hairpin curve and the vehicle remained on the course, the red flag will be interrupted. This time will be the vehicle recovery and re-started. The player Anthony West has already passed the control tower to attack each corner with the time approaching to reach the best time in the first lap. It measures 2:9-seconds 8-times.
In the second lap, he tried to attack the time, but it has been abstracted to a machine with a slow time and it cannot be updated. The clear lap was not obtained, and the time could not be updated, even though the best time was engraved in the sector section up to the next lap halfway. The qualifying time still existed for the purpose of preserving the tire, but the first round of qualifying was rounded up, since the exit athlete following this and Matthew must also use the tires used by the player Anthony.
The second rider player Osamu Deguchi followed the preliminary round. In the course in, using Anthony's tire was done earlier. The opening lap passes through each sector smoothly while confirming the machine. It then entered the measuring lap.
It recorded a sector time closely approaching to the player Anthony. However, when entering the sector 3, an accident by another motorcycle happened on the course, and the red flag has been interrupted.
After the restart, the exit player was able to reach 15th place at the time of 2:10-seconds without losing concentration.
It was the preliminary time of the third rider of Matthew. This time, he joined the team from the race week, but he made the team with a generous attitude that did not feel that handicap. The appearance was a big notion that the result which became the WC World Endurance Champion in 2014 was greatly notable.
On the other side of the course, the measurement started and the red flag became red again, and all sessions were interrupted by the red flag, and the team power was tested without losing the concentration.
The preliminary round has been finished in 2:12-seconds, and it is impossible as for the player Matthew Guinness to get a clear lap though the attack time is done, and the time is not extended to the speculation by the tire which 2-riders already used.
The player Anthony West and Osamu Deguchi also had the confidence that they could make more time to qualify for the second round of preliminary, and as a team, it was an image that raised the rank greatly in the second preliminary round.
However, since the player Anthony West wants to raise a little more at the corner, there is a demand that they want to change the gear ratio, and the team responds to the request and replaces the specifications. The player Anthony West was not being able to update the time that was sent to the course.
In the comment of Anthony West who came back to the pit said, that it is very difficult to ride if the feeling of machine has been completely changed. Anthony's preliminary time is over at this point. The team returned to replace the gear ratio, and prepared for the preliminary round of Osamu Deguchi.
The player Osamu Deguchi first jump out to the course and encouraged for motivation. However, the time attack was stopped to the red flag at the time of measurement circulation. In the commentary of the player Osamu Deguchi who came back to the pit also said that the machine could not be replaced as it is impossible to time up.
In fact, the swing arm was replaced in order to change the gear ratio, and the influence has gone out in the bad direction. According to the player Osamu Deguchi, it worked without waiting for the qualifying time to end in order to return to the original specification.
It restored to the original specification and it was the time to let Matthew Guinness at the time up final rider. The time of the player Matthew Guinness is also important, because the preliminary round ranking is decided by the total time of 3-riders.
The attack time is abstracted in the red flag early at the start though it challenged the final preliminary round by the distressed tire used by the player Osamu Deguchi. It was also difficult for the third rider to secure a clear lap with many slower riders. Among them, Matthew updated the first time and raised it to 22:11-seconds. However, the qualifying time ended, and the team ranks 22nd place.
29th Final Game
The weather was affected by the typhoon from the previous day, and it was done in the forecast which changed rapidly.It lined up on each team grid, and suddenly the rain started from about 10-minutes before the final start progress, and the movement of each team got busier.
The team was holding up with slick tires, but they replace for a rain tire and waited for the race to start. Before the race start, the rain becomes stronger, and the start of the race has been cut off due to the heavy rain condition. The team has been expected of the start rider player Anthony, because he was good in particular of rain condition.
The starting time has been cut-off at 11:30 AM. The player Anthony made a good start and decided to jump significantly from 22nd place. And, he passed the control line of the 1st lap in 15th place. The rank raised steadily to 14th place on the 2nd lap and 13th place on the 4th lap.
This time, the heavy rain was ceased to fall and the circuit returned to the high temperature condition again, and the road made dry quickly while continuing to the battle 13th afterwards. And, the point comes as we repeat laps that we are still riding with a rain tires despite of the dry conditions change. Although, among the difficult condition, the position is raised to 11th on the 12th lap.
In the top group, the team returned to pit and trying to replace the rain tire into slick tire, and the race started to move greatly. The player Anthony, pit in for tire replacement after raising the rank up to 8th place and finishing 15 laps.
It is somewhat time consuming in order to return into dry condition, from rain setting of the motorcycle body,tire replacement and fuel lubrication, and the player Anthony returned to the course again in the time of the pit work total 1-minute 08-seconds. It ranked 17th place after returning to the course.
While the time in the rain condition was 2:23-seconds, and it began to overlap at 2:13-seconds, then pushed the time for the 2:12-second range. It further increased the pace to 2:11-seconds 8-times on lap 27, and on the lap 25, ranked 16th place, and 15th place on the lap 26. It increased the rank to 12th on lap 28 and surely shortened the time with the previous motorcycle.
Even after that, the lap is steadily carved in the lap time of the average 2:11-seconds, and this time worn from 4th place after 26-seconds and it is the same as the time which is battling in the 4th place. The player Anthony West ranked up to 11th place in the final 30th lap, and rides the remaining 10th laps in a total of 40th laps by itself and pit in.
The player Anthony West decided to return to pit on the 26th lap after replacing the slick tire and replenishing fuel, although he was originally planned to take the 27th lap, but since the supply warning lamp was activated.
Then, he completed the pit work of fuel lubrication and tire replacement, and then returned to the course in approximately 46-seconds. This time is a good lining up with the Top Group.
The rider changed from the player Anthony to Deguchi. The player Deguchi who went on the course also chase ahead at a good pace that is comparable to the player Anthony. It raised the position to 9th place on the 44th lap.
After that, it was the player Deguchi who closes the difference with the previous motorcycle who cuts the lap smoothly. The average was stable at 12-second range. However, the player Deguchi Osamu does not return from the Sector 3 to the home straight at the 50th lap which is expected. The monitor showed the fall of the 10th motorcycle at the last corner..... and it is the situation where the player Deguchi Osamu cannot walk alone and was taken to the medical office with an ambulance.
The machine was brought back to the pit in a tow truck after a few minutes. The doctor who made a medical examination to the player Deguchi was informed that it is impossible to ride due to his condition.
Meanwhile, when the mechanics checked the machine that was overturned, it turned out that the handlebar on the right side was bent due to the fall and broke through the frame. And, Director Tsuruta refused to continue the race because it is dangerous to continue the competition with the damage to the frame.
However, rather than ending this way, the team began to restore the machine and try to cut off the goal. It is a mechanistic effort to repair the destroyed machine and send it to the course again at 7:20 p.m. Then, the rider is Matthew. A big applause rose from the cheering seat, and went on a course in, in order to get a checkered flag.
This 10-minutes was the first stint of the SUZUKA 8 Hour Endurance Road Race Final in 2018 and became the last stint for the player Matthew.
And, riding firmly in order to reach the goal at 7:30pm.
Comment by Osamu Deguchi
"Thank you very much the generous support of Eva RT First Machine WEBIKE TRICK STAR and SUZUKA 8 Hour Endurance Road Race in 2018. The race, which started from the 22nd place that changed for me in the place where Anthony raised the position greatly in difficult condition. I ranked up to ninth and continued to battle intensifies to aim at the upper rank, but in the last corner, I fell over the high side from gear omission.
I was carried to the medical office and the machine was picked up afterwards, but it was not enough to receive a checkerboard to repair it. I would like to take apology for the team staff, a support company, and to all the fans who supported us warmly."
"I am fine, even my body had some injuries. I sincerely apologize to everyone who was worried about it. Now, I am focusing on my injury treatment and aim for early recovery.
It would be pleased with me, if you still support us."
Comment by Anthony
"The race was ended with a disappointing result, but this is a race. There is no help.
As for me, this team had an excellent rider, excellent mechanic, and good machine, that's why I was very motivated and able to tackle the race.
Moreover, every one of the fans was very warm and wonderful.
And, I want to take a challenge again if given a chance.
Thank you for the sponsors, teams, and Director Tsuruta, and fans who have been very supportive to participate in this race."
Comment by Matthew
"Racing accident is a race that can happen in any team. A person who is experiencing a durable race will know it better. I also have a bitter and happy experience from the past. That's why I like this endurance race.
I am very grateful to Tsuruta for giving me a chance. This team was very excellent and comfortable.
Thank you for all the teams and all of the fans!"
Comment by Ryuji Tsuruta
"I already gave up to participate the EWC in this season and came up with this in the game.
The team's potential for the last year has been improved and the response was satisfying.
It is very regrettable that it became a form of leaving the line by the fall of the early stage, even though the weather was in good shape and had the possibility of being in a victory's stand.
After all, there was a cause behind the accident, and it was felt that it was important to clear the problem which had to be improved beforehand. This experience could be a provision to the next race.
It is a dream come true to be able to participate this kind of event in support of so many people.
We would like to thank for all the fans who support and agree with our team's challenge, and to the WEBIKE who is always cooperating, and for the sponsors, including the IKAZUCHI strategy supporter, individual sponsor, and to everyone who are concerned.
Please do not stop supporting us because we will continue to work like a revenge, although it is very long for 1-year."
