Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Three X-Formula Division Two teams have been added to the grid of the 26th Suzuka 8-Hours race at the recommendation of the race organizers, Suzuka Circuitland Co., Ltd.

The three XF2 teams added–Project Big 1 (Honda CB1300SF), Boxer Sports Club (BMW R1100S), and La Bellezza Speed (Ducati Monster S4)–recorded qualifying times within 115 percent of the provisional pole time during Friday qualifying, as required by the rules, but were not fast enough to be in the top 66 teams.

The maximum capacity of the Suzuka 8-Hours grid is 66 bikes.

The race organizers, however, exercised their option to add four teams and added the above mentioned three XF Division Two squads plus Honda Kohyokai & Auto Technic, the 67th-fastest qualifiers.

Why XF Division Two teams Team Surf Jaja (D. Suzuki/E. Samura) and Spec-A Yamamoto Racing (M. Lane/T. Tuda) were not chosen even though they qualified faster than Boxer Sports Club and La Bellezza Speed was not indicated on the starting grid printout.

None of the five X-Formula Division Two teams entered at Suzuka qualified within the top 66 times.