Zarco, Takahashi Win
Dramatic Suzuka 8 Hours
U
nder punishing heat and
heavy humidity, Honda HRC
pulled off a remarkable feat
at the 2025 Suzuka 8 Hours,
capturing victory with just two
riders—Takumi Takahashi and
Johann Zarco. The pair made
history by becoming the first
two-rider squad to win the endur
-
ance classic since three-rider
lineups became the norm.
With Xavi Vierge unable to
compete due to medical-clear-
ance issues, Takahashi and Zarco
carried the full workload, secur-
ing Honda's fourth consecutive
win at Suzuka and bringing the
manufacturer's all-time tally to 31.
For Zarco, it was a second career
victory at the event; for Takahashi,
a record-extending seventh, mark
-
ing him as the most successful
rider in the history of the event.
The weekend began with
fireworks in Saturday's Top 10
Trial, where Zarco blazed around
Suzuka Circuit in 2:04.290, setting
a new qualifying benchmark and
taking pole by just 0.026 of a sec
-
ond over Yamaha Racing Team's
Andrea Locatelli. Track tempera-
tures exceeded 96°F, previewing
the brutal conditions to come.
The race got underway at
11:30 a.m., with Takahashi
launching from pole. However,
Yuki Kunii (SDG HARC-Pro Hon
-
da) briefly surged ahead in turn
two, but the lead was short-lived,
as the number-30 Honda quickly
reestablished dominance and
settled into a strong rhythm.
Yamaha's factory trio of Lo
-
catelli, Jack Miller and Katsuyuki
Nakasuga stayed within striking
distance but couldn't consistent-
ly match the leaders' pace.
As the sun climbed higher,
both Honda riders rotated
through longer-than-usual stints,
facing dehydration and fatigue.
Meanwhile, BMW Motorrad's
squad of Markus Reiterberger,
Steven Odendaal and Michael
WIND
IN THE
P40
Johann Zarco's famous backflip is on
show once again as the Frenchman,
alongside Honda HRC teammate
Takumi Takahashi (right), took the
top honors in the 2025 Suzuka 8
Hours ahead of Yamaha Racing
Team and Yoshimura SERT Motul.
