Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Brazilian MotoGp star Alex Barros and Japanese teammate Yuichi Takeda topped Friday qualifying for the 25th running of the Suzuka 8-Hour endurance race. Barros’ 2:06.660 on the Team Sakurai Honda RC51 stood for the fastest time, while Takeda’s best lap was significantly slower at 2:09.307.

Team Suzuki’s Akira Ryo and Yukio Kagayama qualified second thanks to Kagayama’s 2:07.309 on their GSX-R750 Superbike. Apparently the pair have already reached a good compromise set-up. Ryo’s fastest lap time (2:07.593) was only 0.284-second slower than his teammate’s.

Honda’s all-star pairing of Daijio Kato and Colin Edwards was third-fastest based on Edwards’ lap of 2:07.001 on their Team Cabin Honda RC51. Edwards won last year’s 8-Hour with teammate Valentino Rossi.

Keiichi Kitagawa and Noriyasu Numata qualified fifth overall and first among Prototype class machines thanks to Kitagawa’s lap of 2:07.922 on their Kenz – J Trust Suzuki GSX-R1000.

American Doug Polen turned a lap of 2:09.699 on his Arata-Exhaust & Tsukigi Racing Honda CBR954RR, good enough for 12th overall and first among X-Formula teams. Unfortunately, reports from Japan indicate that Polen’s planned teammate, Mike Smith, who participated in a Suzuka test for the team just a few weeks ago, is missing in action. Former AMA racer Takahito Mori has been drafted into service and has a best lap of 2:18.896.

At 18th overall and fastest in Sport Production is the Team Corona Extra EBSCO Ti Force Suzuki pairing of Adam Fergusson (2:11.392) and Jordan Szoke (2:13.497). Fergusson has tested at Suzuka in the past. Szoke has not been to Suzuka before.

Michio Izumi (2:11.844) and Ken Eguchi (2:12.530) qualified 21st and first in the JSB1000 class on a F.C.C. TSR Honda CBR954RR.

American Jason Pridmore (2:11.851) and Mike Edwards (2:14.354) qualified 22nd overall and second in the Sport Production class on the QB Phase One Suzuki GSX-R1000. Pridmore and Edwards are the normal riders for the World Endurance Series team, QB Phase One.

Fumihisa Asano (2:19.070) and Takeshi Kimura (2:15.084) were 59th fastest overall and fastest of the two Stock Sport entries on their Team Little Wing & Matsu Honda CBR900RR.

Qualifying 66th in the field of 66, and seventh of seven Sport Production teams, was Mike Ciccotto (2:16.880), Kyoichi Kosaka (2:20.226) and reserve rider Dave Estok on the Hermann Verboven Hooters Ti Force Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Saturday’s activities at the Suzuka Circuit include the SuperPole-like Special Stage qualifying.

Friday Qualifying Results:

1. 2:06.660 – Alex Barros, 2:06.660/Yuichi Takeda, 2:09.307, Superbike, Honda RC51
2. 2:07.309 – Akira Ryo, 2:07.593/Yukio Kagayama, 2:07.309, Superbike, Suzuki GSX-R750
3. 2:07.001 – Daijio Kato, 2:07.267/Colin Edwards, 2:07.001, Superbike, Honda RC51
4. 2:07.620 – Makoto Tamada, 2:07.620/Tadayuki Okada, 2:08.722, Superbike, Honda RC51
5. 2:07.922 – Keiichi Kitagawa, 2:07.922/Noriyaso Numata, 2:08.805, Prototype, Suzuki GSX-R1000
6. 2:08.343 – Wataru Yoshikawa, 2:08.926/Takeshi Tsujimura, 2:08.343, Superbike, Yamaha YZF-R7
7. 2:08.945 – Morihiko Fujiwara, 2:09.908/Tekkyu Kayoh, 2:08.945, Superbike, Yamaha YZF-R7
8. 2:08.994 – Ryuji Tsuruta, 2:08.994/Osamu Nishijima, 2:09.153, Superbike, Kawasaki ZX-7RR
9. 2:09.220 – Satoshi Tsujimoto, 2:12.578/Yu-ki Takahashi, 2:09.220, Superbike, Honda RC51
10. 2:09.307 – Yukio Nukumi, 2:10.084/Shinichi Nakatami, 2:09.307, Superbike, Honda RC51

11. 2:09.699 – Doug Polen, 2:09.699/Takahito Mori, 2:18.896, X-Formula, Honda CBR954RR

18. 2:11.392 – Adam Fergusson, 2:11.392/Jordan Szoke, 2:13.497, Sport Production, Suzuki GSX-R1000

21. 2:11.844 – Michio Izumi, 2:11.844/Ken Eguchi, 2:12.530, JSB1000, Honda CBR954RR

22. 2:11.851 – Jason Pridmore, 2:11.851/Mike Edwards, 2:14.354, Sport Production, Suzuki GSX-R1000

59. 2:15.084 – Fumihisa Asano, 2:19.070/Takeshi Kimura, 2:15.084, Stock Sport, Honda CBR900RR

66. 2:16.880 – Mike Ciccotto, 2:16.880/Kyoichi Kosaka, 2:20.226, Sport Production, Suzuki GSX-R1000