The Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team has announced that its World Superbike championship rider Jonathan Rea will compete in the 2010 Suzuka 8 Hour race in Japan on 25th July. The iconic race forms part of the five-round World Endurance championship and during its 32-year history has featured some of the greatest ever riders in world championship motorcycle racing, from both GPs and the World Superbike championship. Rea will also contest the 300km Suzuka race on 13th June a race he won with former team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari in 2007 before competing in the 8 Hour in July, a week before round 10 of the World Superbike championship at Silverstone in the UK on 1st August. His team and team-mate have yet to be announced but Honda has confirmed that Rea will ride for one of the satellite Honda teams on an HRC (Honda Racing Corporation) CBR1000RR Fireblade with support from the factory. “I’m absolutely thrill ed to be given a chance to go back to Suzuka and compete in the 8 Hour race,” said Rea. “I raced there in 2007 in the 300km and was hoping for a chance to do the 8 Hour that year, but it didn’t happen. “The winners list reads like a ‘who’s who’ of racing,” he added, “and I’d love to add my name to that list. But there are also some fantastic riders who have raced there and never won. It’ll be a big thrill for me and I can’t wait!”