American Mikey Lou Sanchez was 12th during European Talent Cup Qualifying 2 Friday afternoon at MotorLand Aragón, in Spain. Riding his AC RACING TEAM A.S.D. Honda on the 3.15-mile (5.07 km) track, the Texan recorded a 2:03.513.
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American Kensei Matsudaira finished Qualifying 1 in 6th on his Snipers Igaxteam Honda with a lap time of 2:04.235. Matsudaira will start P3 for the Last Chance race tomorrow.
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Stefano Manzi won FIM Supersport World Championship Race One Saturday at Balaton Park Circuit, in Hungary. Riding his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate YZF R9, the Italian won the 18-lap race by 3.834 seconds.
Can Oncu was the runner-up on his Blu Cru Evan Bros Yamaha YZF R9, 1.941 second ahead of third-place finisher Bo Bendsneyder, who rode a MV Agusta Reparto Corse F3 800 RR.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise suffered a technical issue on his Renzi Corse Ducati Panigale V2 on Turn 9 and Did Not Finish (DNF).
Stefano Manzi leads the championship with 269 points, 50 ahead of Can Oncu who has 219 points. Tom Booth-Amos is third with 182 points.
Results wssp race 1
More from a press release issued by Dorna:
Manzi lands first blow at Balaton for 16th WorldSSP win, stealing critical Championship points from Oncu. Oncu led early, but Manzi made up the gap and took Race 1, further insulating his Championship lead.
Closing out the opening day of racing action at Balaton Park Circuit’s Hungarian Round, the FIM Supersport World Championship grid took to the lakeside circuit for their first race of the weekend. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) beat out Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) as the pair featured in P1 or P2 for the sixth race in a row. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) finished on the rostrum in P3 for his sixth podium of the year as he looks to be enjoying a return to form at Balaton.
Manzi lands first blow at Balaton: The Italian increased his Championship lead to 50 points
Can Oncu was quick as usual at lights out, claiming the holeshot to start the race. Early on, he led the encounter ahead of Bo Bendsneyder, Filippo Farioli (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Stefano Manzi, who started back in P5. Manzi slowly reeled in the Turkish rider, until striking on Lap 10 to push Oncu down from P1, quickly carving out a margin of more than a second between him and the #61. The Championship leader would go on to lock down the race win from there. Oncu finished in P2, complicating his comeback hopes in the Championship picture. Fellow Yamaha and WorldSSP rookie Roberto Garcia (GMT94-YAMAHA) looked like he would earn his first WorldSSP podium for most of the encounter, battling well with factory MV Agusta teammates Bo Bendsneyder and Filippo Farioli. However, nearing the end of the race, Bendsneyder got out in front and didn’t let go of the podium position to finish P3.
Jespersen career-high: The Danish rider, in his second full season, finished P6
Garcia was relegated off the podium for P4 by Bendsneyder and was later further demoted to P5 after being applied an Irresponsible Riding penalty by FIM WorldSBK Stewards. Farioli finished in P5; however, after Garcia’s penalty, he was bumped up to P4. Simon Jespersen (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) in P6 earned the best result of his 39-race WorldSSP career. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) had already made up 18 positions by Lap 3, going on to make up a total of 24 positions to finish P7 after his back-of-grid start due to being applied a technical infraction after the Tissot Superpole session.
Top ten spots: Bayliss P8, Oettl P9, Cardelus P10
Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) slipped down five positions after his front-row P3 start, finishing P8, 0.302s behind Masia. Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) finished in P9 for his ninth top ten finish of his third WorldSSP season. Xavi Cardelus (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) finished in P10, rounding out the top 10 spots.
Mahias and Booth-Amos taste gravel: Current Championship P6 and P3 DNF
Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) went down in the first lap of the race, followed by Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) a few turns later in the early running. Booth-Amos returned, however, crashed again with four laps to go on Turn 9. Mattia Casadei (Motozoo ME Air Racing) was the next to tumble as he and Masia went bar to bar, later resulting in Masia’s Irresponsible Riding Penalty. Niccolo Antonelli (VFT Racing) went down next on the Turn 11 chicane on lap 6. Corentin Perolari (Honda Racing World Supersport) crashed out on Lap 8 from P15 to miss out on scoring in Race 1. Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) retired early with three laps to go. Kaito Toba (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) was the next to fall, spilling over on Turn 11.
The top six from the WorldSSP Race 1: Full results here!
1 Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
2. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +3.834s
3. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +5.775s
4. Filippo Farioli (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 8.680s
5. Roberto Garcia (GMT94-YAMAHA) 9.000s
6. Simon Jespersen (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) 10.545s
Fastest lap: Stefano Manzi – 1’43.358s
Tune in tomorrow for WorldSSP’s Race 2 at 12:20 local time (UTC +2)! Tune in live or on demand with the WorldSBK VideoPass! Now 65% off!
American Rossi Attila Moor was 18th during Moto2 European Championship Qualifying 2 Saturday afternoon at MotorLand Aragón, in Spain. Riding his MMR Kalex on the 3.15-mile (5.07 km) track, the American recorded a 1:53.235. Moor Matsudaira will start P17 for the tomorrow’s race.
Reminder: American Max Toth is out having a shoulder surgery.
Q2_Moto2 European championship
In a wet-to-dry Talent Cup Q2 at Mid-Ohio, only Sam Drane braved the tricky conditions. While others stayed in the pits, he went out alone, seizing the moment and logging valuable laps.
The starting grid has been determined based on the Q1 times recorded during yesterday’s qualifying one session.
CTR/D&D Cycles Bodie Paige took pole on Saturday in the MotoAmerica Talent Cup class at Mid-Ohio with a lap time of 1:36.084.
Warhorse Ducati/American Racing’s Alessandro Di Mario was second with a time of 1:36.685.
Tytler Cycles Racing’s Hank Vossberg was third with a time of 1:37.046.
The Talent Cup is running in conjunction with AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, along with selected WERA classes. Event operations are being run by WERA Motorcycle Roadracing, with the exception of Talent Cup officiating and timing & scoring, which is being handled by the usual MotoAmerica crew.
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Toprak Razgatlioglu won FIM Superbike World Championship Race One Saturday at Balaton Park Circuit, in Hungary. The 2024 WorldSuperbike Champion, started from pole position, rode his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR to a 3.738- seconds margin of victory in the 20-lap race.
Nicolo Bulega was the runner-up on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4R and his teammate Alvaro Bautista finished third.
Andrea Locatelli, riding his Pata Maxus Yamaha YZF R1, took fourth.
Danilo Petrucci crossed the finish line fifth on his Barni Spark Racing Ducati Panigale V4R.
American Garrett Gerloff went from 14th on the grid to 9th at the finish on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
Toprak Razgatlioglu leads the championship with 370 points, 9 ahead of Nicolo Bulega who has 361 points. Danilo Petrucci is third with 220 points.
Results race 1 WSBK
More from a press release issued by Dorna:
LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN: Seven wins in a row for Razgatlioglu as he wins red-flagged maiden race at Balaton. ‘El Turco’ led ‘Bulegas’ and Bautista across the line for his 160th WorldSBK podium.
MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s 999th race got off to a bumpy start with an early red flag restart. Once the Race resumed, the defending Champion was off like a shot for his 13th win of the season. His win marks his 31st win with BMW, tying Colin Edwards’ career win tally with Honda. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) stemmed the #1’s point gain with his sixth-consecutive P2, marking his 43rd WorldSBK podium. In P3, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) earned his 119thcareer rostrum finish, now only 10 points behind Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), who sits in front of him in third place in the Riders’ Championship.
Chaos at lights out: Seven riders came to grief seconds after lights out
As the pack funnelled into Lap 1’s first chicane, seven riders took a spill in a chain reaction of crashes that took place, involving: Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven), Danilo Petrucci, Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team), Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing), Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC), Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), and Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team). Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) was applied a Double Long Lap Penalty for Irresponsible Riding by FIM WorldSBK stewards to start the restarted race. While they were uninjured, Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) and Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) didn’t make the start of the race, ending their Saturday early. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC), who were taken to the medical centre they remained as the race began again. Later, Lecuona was diagnosed with a left wrist fracture, and Gardner was transported to the hospital with a back contusion and suspected concussion.
Beachead at Balaton: Razgatlioglu carves out a larger Championship points margin for himself with Race 1 win
At the second lights out, Razgatlioglu took the holeshot into the first chicane ahead of Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) and Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team). Pulling away lap after lap by Lap 6, ‘El Turco’ was already 3.166s ahead of the rest of the grid, steaming ahead for his 70th career win. After his crash, Bulega inherited P2 to mitigate ‘El Turco’s point gain. After a clinical overtake on Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha), Alvaro Bautista earned his second consecutive podium after tasting the prosecco at Donington’s Race 2.
Petrucci’s recovery ride: From the back of the grid to P5 for the Italian
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) started the race well, but to his misfortune, Bulega and later Bautista shuffled him aside to relegate the #55 to P4. Danilo Petrucci’s (Barni Spark Racing Team) bike was still undergoing repairs on the sighting lap, obligating him to start the race from the exit of pit lane for a back-of-grid start. Undeterred, Petrucci cut his way up the timesheet, finishing the contest in P5. After Petrucci overtook him for P5, Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) gave chase but was unable to recover the position. His P6 still comes as a welcome result, landing four manufacturers in the top six.
Battle for P8: Rea, Montella, Vierge and Gerloff lock horns
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team), Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) and Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) wrestled for P8 throughout the race before Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) crashed out with six laps to go. Montella ended up coming out on top, followed by Vierge in P8 and Gerloff in P9. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) rounded out the top 10, recovering from several lost positions after he ran wide early in the race. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) took home P11 and P12, Aegerter finishing just over half a second behind the Dutchman.
Mackenzie scores with new team: P14 for the Scotsman
Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) was hampered by his double long lap penalty but rode well to salvage points from the race and finish in P13. Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) finished in P14 in his first WorldSBK race on Ducati machinery, leading Bahattin Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) in the final point-scoring positions. Michael Rinaldi (GMT94-YAMAHA), Tito Rabat (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team), and Zaqhwan Zaidi (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team rounded out the last three finishers in P16, P17 and P18, respectively.
Letdown for Lowes: Crashes out after running in P2.
After the restart, Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was the first rider to crash, a disappointing Race 1 for the English rider after his P2 finish in the Tissot Superpole. Riding well in the top eight, with six laps to go, Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) crashed twice in two laps to finish with a DNF.
The top six from the WorldSBK Race 1: Full results here!
1 Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +3.738s
3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +6.002s
4. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +13.993s
5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +16.174s
6. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +16.590s
Fastest lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu – 1’39.732s
Tune in tomorrow at 11:00 local time (UTC +2) for the 1000th WorldSBK Race! Watch live or on demand with the WorldSBK VideoPass! Now 65% off!
Maria Herrera won Race One of the World Women’s Circuit Racing at Balaton Park Circuit, in Hungary. Riding her Klint Forward Racing Team Yamaha YZF-R7 on Pirelli control tires, Herrera won the 11-lap race by 1.395 second.
Chloe Jones was the runner-up on her GR Motosport Yamaha YZF-R7.
Beatriz Neila was third on her Ampito Crescent Yamaha YZF-R7.
American Mallory Dobbs finished 15th on her Diva Racing Yamaha YZF-R7 and American Sonya Lloyd got 20th on her Team Trasimeno Yamaha YZF-R7. Wild-card Elisa Gendron finished the first race 23th on her Pons Italika Racing FIMLA Yamaha YZF-R7.
Results WWCR RACE 1
More from a press release issued by Dorna:
Herrera fortifies WorldWCR Championship lead with Race 1 victory at Balaton, Jones strikes late for P2. Hererra increases her title lead to 18 points while the British rider earned her best result of her WorldWCR career behind her.
FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship kicked off its fourth round with race action in Hungary. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) found her way around the brand-new Balaton Park Circuit the fastest for her fourth win of the season. Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport) landed her second podium in a row after her maiden rostrum finish at her home round last time out at Donington. Beatriz Nelia (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) finished in third place for her seventh podium of the season after starting the contest from pole position.
Late Burst of speed: Herrera finished the race with the largest margin yet seen in a WorldWCR race, just +1.395s
Maria Herrera jumped ahead with the holeshot, leading Neila and Jones, who had a similarly rapid leap off the line from P6. That trio threw caution to the wind and traded overtakes to lead the race for stretches. Sarah Sanchez had caught up to the lead group by Lap 5, throwing her hat in the ring to make it a four-rider battle. Sanchez made an incisive move through the pack to P1, leading the group until the #6 reasserted herself at the front. Herrera would go on to run away from the pack, winning her 10th race in the category. Chloe Jones benefitted from a final-lap error from Neila, cutting past her in the final chicane for her first-ever WorldWCR P2. Neila shuffled down to the last spot on the podium, dropping a total of nine points to Herrera to increase the deficit to 18 points.
Bad luck for Sanchez: Despite riding in the thick of the fight for the race win, she falls to P5
Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) showed determination in closing the distance to the lead group, and while she wasn’t able to fight through to battle for the race win, she finished in P4 for a solid 13 points it was a tough break for Sara Sanchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) who despite riding well and even leading the race after fighting through the pack at the front, she was overtaken by the lead posse to finish in P5. Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team) finished the race in P6, leading the second group after overtaking Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno), who was shuffled to P7.
Metronomic consistency from Lewis: The Kiwi rider has never missed the top 10 in races that she has finished
Avalon Lewis (Carl Cox Motorsports) finished P8 in Race 1, just under two seconds behind Howden. In P9, French rookie Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94-YAMAHA) led Astrid Madrigal (Pons Italika Racing FIMLA) across the finish line after the Mexican rider charged up the grid from a P15 start to round out the top 10 positions.
Ongaro unfit: Lap 1 crash sees her Hungarian Round end early.
Ornella Ongaro was the first to crash out on Turn 11 of the Race’s first lap, being escorted on a stretcher to be reviewed in the medical centre. She was later diagnosed with a broken right humerus; she will be transported to Vezprem Hospital for further assessment. Tayla Relph (Full Throttle Racing) went down in Turn 5 with just three laps to go.
The top six from the WorldWCR Race 1: Full results here!
1 Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team)
2. Chloe Jones (GR Motosport) +1.395s
3. Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) +1.536s
4. Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) +3.575s
5. Sara Sanchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) +4.275s
6. Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team) +6.820s
Fastest lap: Roberta Ponziani – 1’53.338s
Tune in tomorrow at 12:20 WorldWCR’s Race 2 at Balaton! Watch live with the WorldSBK VideoPass! Now 65% off!
Toprak Razgatlioglu took pole position during World Superbike Superpole qualifying Saturday at Balaton Park Circuit, in Hungary. Riding his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR, the 2024 WorldSuperbike Champion recorded a lap time of 1:38.357 to lead the field of 23 riders.
Sam Lowes qualified second with a 1:38.834 on his ELF Marc VDS Ducati Panigale V4R.
Andrea Locatelli did a 1:38.843 on his Pata Maxus Yamaha YZF R1 to earn the third and final spot on the front row.
Row two starters include Aruba.it Racing’s Nicolo Bulega (1:38.969), Barni Spark Racing Team’s Danilo Petrucci (1:39.080), and Honda HRC’s Iker Lecuona (1:39.130).
American Garrett Gerloff qualified 14th with a 1:39.665 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
Here, you can watch the Superpole last 5 minutes.
Results superpole wsbk
More from a press release issued by Dorna:
Rapid Razgatlioglu storms to Balaton Park pole ahead of Sam Lowes, title rival Bulega fourth. Reigning Champion Razgatlioglu was uncatchable during Superpole as he claimed his 22nd WorldSBK pole position.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed the first MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship pole position at the Balaton Park Circuit by almost half-a-second during the Tissot Superpole session. ‘El Turco’ has been quick all weekend and backed that up with pole position with a 0.477s margin over Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) at the Hungarian Round, with Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) on the front row for the first time in 664 days.
The first run: Razgatlioglu goes quicker than FP3 on his first lap
It didn’t take long for Razgatlioglu to beat his time from FP3 as he set a blistering 1’38.459s, 0.459s quicker than his closest challenger, Locatelli. On his second run, he went a tenth quicker to set a new benchmark of 1’38.369s to extend his lead at the head of the field. Sam Lowes, the pacesetter in two of the three practice sessions, was third after the first runs.
Reed flag interrupt proceedings: Razgatlioglu almost half-a-second clear
A big crash for Tito Rabat (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) at Turn 9 brought out the red flags, with the #53 able to walk away from the crash but he was taken to the medical centre for a check-up. He was declared fit follow his check and was 18thin Superpole. There was a separate crash at Turn 16 for Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) before the red flags were shown, interrupting the second runs. The session was resumed with 2’43 on the clock. When the session restarted, the #22 crashed again at Turn 1, ending his hopes of improving his times. The Brit was classified in 12th place.
Razgatlioglu was ahead of the Bimota rider’s second spill and was able to improve his time to a 1’38.357s as he secured pole position at a 14th different venue and his 22nd in WorldSBK, while it’s also the ninth venue BMW have recorded a pole position at. Sam Lowes also improved his time to usurp Locatelli, lining up alongside ‘El Turco’ and Locatelli falling to third. It’s Locatelli’s first front row start since Portimao 2023, a wait of almost two years for the Italian.
Bulega on the second row: three places behind the Championship leader…
Title contender Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) will lead away the second row after claiming P4 in Superpole, his 1’38.969s coming after the red flag as he moved up a few positions but unable to put himself on the front row, two tenths away from Locatelli. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) is alongside ‘Bulegas’ in fifth with Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) the lead Honda rider in sixth, completing the second row.
Starting from the third row: Bautista leads Iannone and Vierge
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was nine tenths away from Razgatlioglu’s time as he claimed seventh with a 1’39.266s, with Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) in eighth. Two Honda machines were in the top nine with Lecuona’s teammate, Xavi Vierge, taking ninth with a 1’39.350s. Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) completed the top ten after posting a 1’39.375s, finishing half-a-tenth clear of Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in 11th.
The top six from WorldSBK Superpole, full results here:
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’38.357s
2. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.477s
3. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +0.486s
4. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.612s
5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.723s
6. Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) +0.773s
Don’t miss the first race at Balaton Park! Race 1 takes place from 14:00 Local Time (UTC+2) and watch it LIVE and UNINTERRUPTED on the WorldSBK VideoPass – now only €24.99!
Remy Gardner and Yamaha Motor Europe have reached an agreement for the Australian to continue with Yamaha in the FIM Superbike World Championship for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
The 2021 Moto2 World Champion moved from MotoGP to WorldSBK with Yamaha in 2023, and after what was very much a learning year, he became a regular top six contender in 2024. 2025 has seen Gardner display impressive speed aboard the R1, including achieving a second career WorldSBK podium at the TT Circuit Assen earlier this year.
The new agreement will see Gardner enter a fourth season with Yamaha Motor Europe, remaining with the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team.
Remy Gardner
“I am happy to be continuing with Yamaha in WorldSBK, our journey together so far has been good but I still feel that we are only scratching the surface of what we can achieve. We’ve shown that when everything comes together, we can be quick and fight for the podium, my target is to do this more consistently over the remainder of the 2025 season and look towards taking a further step in 2026.”
Niccolò Canepa – Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Sporting Manager
“Remy has become a valuable member of our line-up over the last few years, not just through his speed and potential, but also his ability to give detailed feedback which proves useful to our engineers as we look to continue developing the R1 in WorldSBK. We have already seen he has the ability to fight for the podium, and the target is to be more consistent in this goal towards the end of this season and then build on this for next year.”
Bradley Ray moved back ahead of his Bennetts British Superbike Championship rivals after the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship Free Practice sessions at Brands Hatch with 0.247s separating the Raceways Yamaha rider and Knockhill race winner Rory Skinner.
Ray moved back ahead as he fought back on defending champion Kyle Ryde who set the pace in the opening session, with Skinner separating the pair as the OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha rider ended his afternoon with a crash at Stirlings, but is ready to bounce back tomorrow.
Leon Haslam ended the day fourth fastest for the Moto Rapido Ducati Racing team; a small crash at Druids midway through the session wouldn’t halt his momentum as he bids for a podium return, edging out the returning Scott Redding on the Hager PBM Ducati.
Christian Iddon was sixth fastest as the AJN Steelstock Kawasaki rider was nudged to sixth in the closing moments ahead of McAMS Racing Yamaha’s Danny Kent and Honda Racing UK’s Andrew Irwin.
Lee Jackson and Charlie Nesbitt completed the top ten, with Tommy Bridewell just 0.001s adrift in 11th position with Max Cook the final rider inside the leading 12 who progress directly into tomorrow’s Bandero Café Shoot Out Qualifying 2 session.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, combined Free Practice times:
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
The heat and humidity will be on when the FIM Endurance World Championship title chase stops off in Japan next week for one of international motorcycle racing’s most prestigious, iconic and demanding fixtures.
From 1-3 August, top EWC riders will take on aces from MotoGP, World Superbike, the All Japan Road Race Championship and more during the 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race.
Taking place on the legendary 5.821-kilometre Suzuka Circuit, complete with its figure-of-eight layout, the event might last for eight hours rather than 24 (the duration of the EWC season-opening and closing events), but with ambient temperatures expected to top 30 degrees centigrade and humidity due to exceed 90 per cent, a hugely tough challenge is in store.
Despite the race’s punishing and unrelenting reputation, 55 teams have signed up for action compared to 46 in 2024. Of those, 15 are teams contesting the entire EWC season, which represents an increase of four compared to 2024 and is the highest number since 2019 when 13 permanent outfits entered the famous Japanese event.
After three permanent EWC Superstock teams took part last season when the Suzuka 8 Hours formed part of the FIM Endurance World Cup schedule for the first time, six will bid for glory in the Dunlop-equipped category.
While National Motos Honda FMA (below), Team Étoile and Wójcik Racing Team return after competing in 2024 – the first year that Japan’s EWC counter formed part of the FIM Endurance World Cup schedule – Dafy-RAC 41-Honda, Honda No Limits and Revo-M2 are Suzuka Superstock rookies.
BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, ELF Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99, ERC Endurance, F.C.C. TSR Honda France, Kawasaki Webike Trickstar, Motobox Kremer Racing powered by 123, Tati Team AVA6 Racing, Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team and Yoshimura SERT Motul are the nine permanent Formula EWC category teams contesting Japan’s EWC round.
The high turnout for the 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race continues a trend of increasing entry numbers for EWC events in 2025. April’s 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans attracted 53 registrations compared to 48 in 2024, while 44 teams entered the 8 Hours of Spa Motos last month after 37 did so the previous year. The 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race does not form part of the new-for-2025 FIM Endurance World Trophy for production motorcycles.
Aside from the EWC regulars and All Japan Road Race frontrunners, star riders assembling for the 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race are Albert Arenas, Loris Baz, Jonas Folger, Leon Haslam, Iker Lecuona, Andrea Locatelli, Jack Miller, Marcel Schrötter, Michael van der Mark and Johann Zarco, last year’s winner alongside Teppei Nagoe and Takumi Takahashi, who will also be competing.
TOP 10 TRIAL TO DECIDE LEADING GRID POSITIONS
As with all EWC events, private testing, free practice and night practice are scheduled along with two qualifying sessions for all rider colour groups with the qualifying result based on the average time recorded by a team’s fastest two riders. However, the Suzuka 8 Hours also features the spectacular Top 10 Trial shootout to decide the first 10 places on the starting grid for the race on Sunday 3 August.
Following Second Qualifying on the afternoon of Friday 1 August, the leading 10 teams go forward into the Top 10 Trial on Saturday afternoon (2 August), once the final practice session has taken place.
Two nominated riders per team compete separately against the clock with teams taking to the track in descending order of their qualifying positions in two groups. Each rider gets a warm-up lap, a flying lap and a cool-down lap during which they return to the pitlane prior to a team’s second rider getting their Top 10 Trial bid under way, but only once all first riders from the first group have taken part.
The teams finishing qualifying in positions 10th to sixth go first with the slowest rider from each team first to run. Once the riders from the first group have completed their flying laps it’s the turn of the teams in positions fifth to first following qualifying. The Top 10 Trial results are based on the fastest lap per team, rather than a combined time, by taking into account the performances of the two riders.
The 5-4-3-2-1 qualifying points are awarded after the Top 10 trial rather than after the completion of Second Qualifying, which is the case at other EWC events.
GROUNDBREAKING SUZUKI ALL SET FOR EWC SUZUKA 8 HOURS WITH 100% SUSTAINABLE FUEL
Suzuki Motor Corporation’s groundbreaking Team Suzuki CN Challenge initiative is back for Japan’s round of the 2025 FIM Endurance World Championship – but with a notable difference. After contesting the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race with a Suzuki GSX-R1000R motorcycle using 40 per cent bio-sourced fuel, Team Suzuki CN Challenge, which is operated by Suzuki employees, will enter the 46th edition of the legendary event utilising 100 per cent sustainable fuel. The move is in line with Suzuki’s aim to “achieve both environmental load reduction and performance at a higher level to accelerate the development of environmental performance technologies through actual riding under severe conditions in endurance races. By verifying valuable data obtained through race activities, Suzuki will promote technical feedback for future products”. CLICK FOR FULL STORY.
EWC RIDERS SAID WHAT
Quotes from a selection of EWC riders follow:
Gregg Black (Yoshimura SERT Motul): “The level in Suzuka is really high, there are lot of factory teams, all the strong permanent teams and also some local private teams are at a really high level. The Japanese teams absolutely give 200 per cent to get a result and it really closes up the competition so we’re really not far off 10 bikes that can be on the podium. Three years ago we managed to get a podium [with just me and Kazuki Watanabe], two years ago we missed the podium but, last year, we finished third and a podium is the aim again. It’s going to be a tough race. You’ve always got to imagine that anything can happen during the race and you don’t know where it’s going to go so the dream, of course, is to win.”
Mike Di Meglio (Kawasaki Webike Trickstar): “The last round at Spa was not an easy race, but we managed to bring back as many points as we could for the championship and we are still in second position. Suzuka is a special race. It’s very hot, the S Curves are amazing but when you get out of the S Curves you are nearly finished.”
Andrea Locatelli (Yamaha Racing Team, below left): “It is a pleasure to be invited to ride the Suzuka 8 Hours for Yamaha. For my whole WorldSBK career, I have been a Yamaha rider and this is an honour. It means a lot to me for Yamaha to give me this opportunity; it has been something I have always wanted to do, but to do it with the Yamaha Racing Team is really special. Suzuka is an amazing track, and this is a new opportunity and experience for me, so I am very much looking forward to it. I can’t wait to go for the race as we look to achieve the best result for Yamaha in this important race.”
Étienne Masson (Team Suzuki CN Challenge): “Last year was a year to learn and discover, this year all the goals have been revised upwards. Last year, for our first time out, we finished eighth. This year, with an improved performance and more capable team-mates, we’re obviously aiming higher. I think a top five finish would be a very good result. It would give credibility to the project and, who knows, it might inspire others.”
Hikaru Okubo (Team Étoile): “We have been able to develop the set-up in a positive direction through discussions among the three of us. With all three riders achieving high-level average times, this will serve as an excellent weapon for the race. While we haven’t yet extracted maximum performance in qualifying simulation, if we can put together a complete lap, I believe we can secure a good position in qualifying. This was an extremely positive test but the pace around us has increased compared to last year, and I expect it will be a high-level race, so I want to focus on riding stably and calmly.”
Alan Techer (F.C.C. TSR Honda France): “The Suzuka 8 Hours is a very important race, especially this year as we are right in the middle of EWC title hunt with an epic win in the 8 Hours of Spa Motos. Suzuka is also very special place for me, and it’s a home track for my team. Plus, I’ve had many good times and some challenging times there over many past seasons. Our bike, riders and team are working very well now, so we can show our speed and aim to take maximum championship points home.”
Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, above): “You have to push but you cannot be as fast as you want for the full hour [of your stint]. Then you have to focus because you pass a lot of people. To do the focus and the consistency together is quite difficult but it’s the only way during these stints. The main thing is consistency, we know we have a good speed, a good pace but it’s eight hours and so many things can happen. Everyone knows their pace, we know what we can do, we’re all ready to do our stints but no one knows what’s going to happen. This is the nice thing about endurance, it’s eight long hours but we have to push for eight hours, we have to be smart, ride on our toes to do everything as perfectly as we can.”
Johann Zarco (Honda HRC): “I am very pleased to be back as a member of Honda HRC in this traditional and prestigious race. I will bring my good momentum from MotoGP to Suzuka and, clearly with this trio, we’re in contention to win. Whether we’ll have enough margin to win is something I don’t know, and we’ll still have to do everything right. But Iker had some very good tests after me. My tests were good. We were still able to work well and get a good feel. It was also very instructive on a drying track, especially on a track lasting over two minutes per lap. This allowed us to gather information for tyre management. Then, on the second day, we were able to do quite a few laps in the dry and test many settings.”
PROVISIONAL KEY EWC TIMINGS (LOCAL CET +7)
Friday 1 August
08h30-10h30: Free Practice
12h00-12h20: First Qualifying (Blue Riders)
12h35-12h55: First Qualifying (Yellow Riders)
13h10-13h30: First Qualifying (Red Riders)
15h30-15h50: Second Qualifying (Blue Riders)
16h05-16h25: Second Qualifying (Yellow Riders)
16h40-17h00: Second Qualifying (Red Riders)
18h30-19h50: Night Free Practice
Saturday 2 August
14h15-15h00: Free Practice
15h30-17h00: Top 10 Trial
Sunday 3 August
08h30-09h15: Warm-up
11h30: Start of 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race
19h30: Finish of 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race
All timings are CET +7 and subject to change
46TH COCA-COLA SUZUKA 8 HOURS ENDURANCE RACE ESSENTIALS:
Where: Suzuka Circuit
Location: 7992 Ino-Cho, Suzuka-shi, Mie-ken 510-0295, Japan
When: 1-3 August 2025
Track length: 5.821 kilometres
Race distance: 8 hours
BEST LAPS:
Qualifying: Team HRC (Tetsuta Nagashima, 2m04.934s, 2022)
Race: Kawasaki Racing Team (Jonathan Rea, 2m06.805s, 2019)
IN 100 WORDS:
Suzuka Circuit continues to play an integral role in the ongoing success of the EWC with the Japanese venue’s iconic eight-hour event taking place from 1-3 August. Featuring a mid-morning start and early evening finish, the Suzuka 8 Hours isn’t the longest race on the EWC calendar, but it’s always one of the toughest. This is due to the highly-demanding figure-of-eight track layout and the expected hot and humid conditions that require the EWC stars to be at the peak of their physical powers. The event is a round of the Superstock-based FIM Endurance World Cup for the second time.
FAST FACTS:
*The Suzuka 8 Hours retuned to the EWC calendar in 2022 having not taken place since 2019 due to the global health crisis.
*Americans Mike Baldwin and Wes Cooley won the inaugural Suzuka 8 Hours on 30 July 1978 on a Yoshimura Racing Suzuki.
*Japanese fans had to wait until 1982 for the first home rider victory when Shigeo Iijima and Shinji Hagiwara won for Honda.
*Although it was billed as an eight-hour race, the onset of a typhoon meant there were only six hours of racing.
*Other winners of the Suzuka 8 Hours include Wayne Rainey (1988), Eddie Lawson (1990) Mick Doohan (1991), Valentino Rossi (2001) and Johann Zarco (2024).
RECENT WINNERS:
2024: Team HRC with Japan Post
(Teppei Nagoe, Takumi Takahashi, Johann Zarco, above)) 220 laps
2023: Team HRC with Japan Post
(Tetsuta Nagashima, Takumi Takahashi, Xavi Vierge) 216 laps
2022: Team HRC
(Tetsuta Nagashima, Takumi Takahashi, Iker Lecuona) 214 laps
2019: Kawasaki Racing Team Suzuka 8H
(Jonathan Rea, Leon Haslam, Toprak Razgatlioğlu) 216 laps
2018: Yamaha Factory Racing Team
(Katsuyuki Nakasuga, Alex Lowes, Michael van der Mark) 199 laps
2017: Yamaha Factory Racing Team
(Katsuyuki Nakasuga, Alex Lowes, Michael van der Mark) 216 laps
2016: Yamaha Factory Racing Team
(Katsuyuki Nakasuga, Alex Lowes, Pol Espargaró) 218 laps
2015: Yamaha Factory Racing Team
(Katsuyuki Nakasuga, Bradley Smith, Pol Espargaró) 204 laps
2014: MuSASHi [ja] RT HARC-PRO.
(Takumi Takahashi, Michael van der Mark, Leon Haslam) 172 laps
2013: MuSASHi [ja] RT HARC-PRO.
(Takumi Takahashi, Michael van der Mark, Leon Haslam) 214 laps
ENTRY LIST: Click HERE to view the provisional entry list for the 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race and click HERE for the full story.
RESULTS AND LIVE TIMING: https://www.its-results.com
LATEST STANDINGS: https://www.fimewc.com/en/standings
HOW TO WATCH: Click HERE soon to find out more.
EWC SPORTITY APP MEDIA CHANNEL REMINDER
The EWC’s dedicated Sportity app media channel for the 2025 season is available using the password 2025EWCMEDIA. The Sportity app is a digital information resource widely used in sports events and championships around the world. It’s attractive to users because it keeps all relevant information in one place and is accessible through smartphones or computers. Users are made aware of new information becoming available through push notifications and the app can be downloaded for free via the App Store or Google Play.
WHATSAPP NEWS CHANNEL
The EWC WhtasApp news channel launched on 1 January 2025 and can be followed here:
https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaj9aVW89inlcLzVRK1L
FIM ENDURANCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR REFRESHER
24 Heures Motos (Le Mans, France): 17-20 April
8 Hours of Spa Motos (Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium): 6-7 June
46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race (Suzuka, Japan): 1-3 August
Bol d’Or (Circuit Paul Ricard, France): 18-21 September
WATCH THE 2024 SUZUKA 8 HOURS ALL-ACCESS HERE:
American Mikey Lou Sanchez was 12th during European Talent Cup Qualifying 2 Friday afternoon at MotorLand Aragón, in Spain. Riding his AC RACING TEAM A.S.D. Honda on the 3.15-mile (5.07 km) track, the Texan recorded a 2:03.513.
Q2_ETC_GR-A
American Kensei Matsudaira finished Qualifying 1 in 6th on his Snipers Igaxteam Honda with a lap time of 2:04.235. Matsudaira will start P3 for the Last Chance race tomorrow.
Q1_ETC_GR-A
Stefano Manzi won FIM Supersport World Championship Race One Saturday at Balaton Park Circuit, in Hungary. Riding his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate YZF R9, the Italian won the 18-lap race by 3.834 seconds.
Can Oncu was the runner-up on his Blu Cru Evan Bros Yamaha YZF R9, 1.941 second ahead of third-place finisher Bo Bendsneyder, who rode a MV Agusta Reparto Corse F3 800 RR.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise suffered a technical issue on his Renzi Corse Ducati Panigale V2 on Turn 9 and Did Not Finish (DNF).
Stefano Manzi leads the championship with 269 points, 50 ahead of Can Oncu who has 219 points. Tom Booth-Amos is third with 182 points.
Results wssp race 1
More from a press release issued by Dorna:
Manzi lands first blow at Balaton for 16th WorldSSP win, stealing critical Championship points from Oncu. Oncu led early, but Manzi made up the gap and took Race 1, further insulating his Championship lead.
Closing out the opening day of racing action at Balaton Park Circuit’s Hungarian Round, the FIM Supersport World Championship grid took to the lakeside circuit for their first race of the weekend. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) beat out Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) as the pair featured in P1 or P2 for the sixth race in a row. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) finished on the rostrum in P3 for his sixth podium of the year as he looks to be enjoying a return to form at Balaton.
Manzi lands first blow at Balaton: The Italian increased his Championship lead to 50 points
Can Oncu was quick as usual at lights out, claiming the holeshot to start the race. Early on, he led the encounter ahead of Bo Bendsneyder, Filippo Farioli (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Stefano Manzi, who started back in P5. Manzi slowly reeled in the Turkish rider, until striking on Lap 10 to push Oncu down from P1, quickly carving out a margin of more than a second between him and the #61. The Championship leader would go on to lock down the race win from there. Oncu finished in P2, complicating his comeback hopes in the Championship picture. Fellow Yamaha and WorldSSP rookie Roberto Garcia (GMT94-YAMAHA) looked like he would earn his first WorldSSP podium for most of the encounter, battling well with factory MV Agusta teammates Bo Bendsneyder and Filippo Farioli. However, nearing the end of the race, Bendsneyder got out in front and didn’t let go of the podium position to finish P3.
Jespersen career-high: The Danish rider, in his second full season, finished P6
Garcia was relegated off the podium for P4 by Bendsneyder and was later further demoted to P5 after being applied an Irresponsible Riding penalty by FIM WorldSBK Stewards. Farioli finished in P5; however, after Garcia’s penalty, he was bumped up to P4. Simon Jespersen (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) in P6 earned the best result of his 39-race WorldSSP career. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) had already made up 18 positions by Lap 3, going on to make up a total of 24 positions to finish P7 after his back-of-grid start due to being applied a technical infraction after the Tissot Superpole session.
Top ten spots: Bayliss P8, Oettl P9, Cardelus P10
Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) slipped down five positions after his front-row P3 start, finishing P8, 0.302s behind Masia. Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) finished in P9 for his ninth top ten finish of his third WorldSSP season. Xavi Cardelus (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) finished in P10, rounding out the top 10 spots.
Mahias and Booth-Amos taste gravel: Current Championship P6 and P3 DNF
Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) went down in the first lap of the race, followed by Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) a few turns later in the early running. Booth-Amos returned, however, crashed again with four laps to go on Turn 9. Mattia Casadei (Motozoo ME Air Racing) was the next to tumble as he and Masia went bar to bar, later resulting in Masia’s Irresponsible Riding Penalty. Niccolo Antonelli (VFT Racing) went down next on the Turn 11 chicane on lap 6. Corentin Perolari (Honda Racing World Supersport) crashed out on Lap 8 from P15 to miss out on scoring in Race 1. Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) retired early with three laps to go. Kaito Toba (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) was the next to fall, spilling over on Turn 11.
The top six from the WorldSSP Race 1: Full results here!
1 Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
2. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +3.834s
3. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +5.775s
4. Filippo Farioli (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 8.680s
5. Roberto Garcia (GMT94-YAMAHA) 9.000s
6. Simon Jespersen (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) 10.545s
Fastest lap: Stefano Manzi – 1’43.358s
Tune in tomorrow for WorldSSP’s Race 2 at 12:20 local time (UTC +2)! Tune in live or on demand with the WorldSBK VideoPass! Now 65% off!
American Rossi Attila Moor was 18th during Moto2 European Championship Qualifying 2 Saturday afternoon at MotorLand Aragón, in Spain. Riding his MMR Kalex on the 3.15-mile (5.07 km) track, the American recorded a 1:53.235. Moor Matsudaira will start P17 for the tomorrow’s race.
Reminder: American Max Toth is out having a shoulder surgery.
Q2_Moto2 European championship
In a wet-to-dry Talent Cup Q2 at Mid-Ohio, only Sam Drane braved the tricky conditions. While others stayed in the pits, he went out alone, seizing the moment and logging valuable laps.
The starting grid has been determined based on the Q1 times recorded during yesterday’s qualifying one session.
CTR/D&D Cycles Bodie Paige took pole on Saturday in the MotoAmerica Talent Cup class at Mid-Ohio with a lap time of 1:36.084.
Warhorse Ducati/American Racing’s Alessandro Di Mario was second with a time of 1:36.685.
Tytler Cycles Racing’s Hank Vossberg was third with a time of 1:37.046.
The Talent Cup is running in conjunction with AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, along with selected WERA classes. Event operations are being run by WERA Motorcycle Roadracing, with the exception of Talent Cup officiating and timing & scoring, which is being handled by the usual MotoAmerica crew.
25_10_MIDOVMD_TCP_Q2_res
25_10_MIDOVMD_TCP_R1_grid
Toprak Razgatlioglu won FIM Superbike World Championship Race One Saturday at Balaton Park Circuit, in Hungary. The 2024 WorldSuperbike Champion, started from pole position, rode his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR to a 3.738- seconds margin of victory in the 20-lap race.
Nicolo Bulega was the runner-up on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4R and his teammate Alvaro Bautista finished third.
Andrea Locatelli, riding his Pata Maxus Yamaha YZF R1, took fourth.
Danilo Petrucci crossed the finish line fifth on his Barni Spark Racing Ducati Panigale V4R.
American Garrett Gerloff went from 14th on the grid to 9th at the finish on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
Toprak Razgatlioglu leads the championship with 370 points, 9 ahead of Nicolo Bulega who has 361 points. Danilo Petrucci is third with 220 points.
Results race 1 WSBK
More from a press release issued by Dorna:
LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN: Seven wins in a row for Razgatlioglu as he wins red-flagged maiden race at Balaton. ‘El Turco’ led ‘Bulegas’ and Bautista across the line for his 160th WorldSBK podium.
MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s 999th race got off to a bumpy start with an early red flag restart. Once the Race resumed, the defending Champion was off like a shot for his 13th win of the season. His win marks his 31st win with BMW, tying Colin Edwards’ career win tally with Honda. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) stemmed the #1’s point gain with his sixth-consecutive P2, marking his 43rd WorldSBK podium. In P3, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) earned his 119thcareer rostrum finish, now only 10 points behind Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), who sits in front of him in third place in the Riders’ Championship.
Chaos at lights out: Seven riders came to grief seconds after lights out
As the pack funnelled into Lap 1’s first chicane, seven riders took a spill in a chain reaction of crashes that took place, involving: Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven), Danilo Petrucci, Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team), Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing), Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC), Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), and Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team). Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) was applied a Double Long Lap Penalty for Irresponsible Riding by FIM WorldSBK stewards to start the restarted race. While they were uninjured, Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) and Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) didn’t make the start of the race, ending their Saturday early. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC), who were taken to the medical centre they remained as the race began again. Later, Lecuona was diagnosed with a left wrist fracture, and Gardner was transported to the hospital with a back contusion and suspected concussion.
Beachead at Balaton: Razgatlioglu carves out a larger Championship points margin for himself with Race 1 win
At the second lights out, Razgatlioglu took the holeshot into the first chicane ahead of Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) and Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team). Pulling away lap after lap by Lap 6, ‘El Turco’ was already 3.166s ahead of the rest of the grid, steaming ahead for his 70th career win. After his crash, Bulega inherited P2 to mitigate ‘El Turco’s point gain. After a clinical overtake on Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha), Alvaro Bautista earned his second consecutive podium after tasting the prosecco at Donington’s Race 2.
Petrucci’s recovery ride: From the back of the grid to P5 for the Italian
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) started the race well, but to his misfortune, Bulega and later Bautista shuffled him aside to relegate the #55 to P4. Danilo Petrucci’s (Barni Spark Racing Team) bike was still undergoing repairs on the sighting lap, obligating him to start the race from the exit of pit lane for a back-of-grid start. Undeterred, Petrucci cut his way up the timesheet, finishing the contest in P5. After Petrucci overtook him for P5, Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) gave chase but was unable to recover the position. His P6 still comes as a welcome result, landing four manufacturers in the top six.
Battle for P8: Rea, Montella, Vierge and Gerloff lock horns
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team), Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) and Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) wrestled for P8 throughout the race before Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) crashed out with six laps to go. Montella ended up coming out on top, followed by Vierge in P8 and Gerloff in P9. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) rounded out the top 10, recovering from several lost positions after he ran wide early in the race. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) took home P11 and P12, Aegerter finishing just over half a second behind the Dutchman.
Mackenzie scores with new team: P14 for the Scotsman
Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) was hampered by his double long lap penalty but rode well to salvage points from the race and finish in P13. Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) finished in P14 in his first WorldSBK race on Ducati machinery, leading Bahattin Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) in the final point-scoring positions. Michael Rinaldi (GMT94-YAMAHA), Tito Rabat (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team), and Zaqhwan Zaidi (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team rounded out the last three finishers in P16, P17 and P18, respectively.
Letdown for Lowes: Crashes out after running in P2.
After the restart, Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was the first rider to crash, a disappointing Race 1 for the English rider after his P2 finish in the Tissot Superpole. Riding well in the top eight, with six laps to go, Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) crashed twice in two laps to finish with a DNF.
The top six from the WorldSBK Race 1: Full results here!
1 Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +3.738s
3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +6.002s
4. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +13.993s
5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +16.174s
6. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +16.590s
Fastest lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu – 1’39.732s
Tune in tomorrow at 11:00 local time (UTC +2) for the 1000th WorldSBK Race! Watch live or on demand with the WorldSBK VideoPass! Now 65% off!
Maria Herrera won Race One of the World Women’s Circuit Racing at Balaton Park Circuit, in Hungary. Riding her Klint Forward Racing Team Yamaha YZF-R7 on Pirelli control tires, Herrera won the 11-lap race by 1.395 second.
Chloe Jones was the runner-up on her GR Motosport Yamaha YZF-R7.
Beatriz Neila was third on her Ampito Crescent Yamaha YZF-R7.
American Mallory Dobbs finished 15th on her Diva Racing Yamaha YZF-R7 and American Sonya Lloyd got 20th on her Team Trasimeno Yamaha YZF-R7. Wild-card Elisa Gendron finished the first race 23th on her Pons Italika Racing FIMLA Yamaha YZF-R7.
Results WWCR RACE 1
More from a press release issued by Dorna:
Herrera fortifies WorldWCR Championship lead with Race 1 victory at Balaton, Jones strikes late for P2. Hererra increases her title lead to 18 points while the British rider earned her best result of her WorldWCR career behind her.
FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship kicked off its fourth round with race action in Hungary. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) found her way around the brand-new Balaton Park Circuit the fastest for her fourth win of the season. Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport) landed her second podium in a row after her maiden rostrum finish at her home round last time out at Donington. Beatriz Nelia (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) finished in third place for her seventh podium of the season after starting the contest from pole position.
Late Burst of speed: Herrera finished the race with the largest margin yet seen in a WorldWCR race, just +1.395s
Maria Herrera jumped ahead with the holeshot, leading Neila and Jones, who had a similarly rapid leap off the line from P6. That trio threw caution to the wind and traded overtakes to lead the race for stretches. Sarah Sanchez had caught up to the lead group by Lap 5, throwing her hat in the ring to make it a four-rider battle. Sanchez made an incisive move through the pack to P1, leading the group until the #6 reasserted herself at the front. Herrera would go on to run away from the pack, winning her 10th race in the category. Chloe Jones benefitted from a final-lap error from Neila, cutting past her in the final chicane for her first-ever WorldWCR P2. Neila shuffled down to the last spot on the podium, dropping a total of nine points to Herrera to increase the deficit to 18 points.
Bad luck for Sanchez: Despite riding in the thick of the fight for the race win, she falls to P5
Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) showed determination in closing the distance to the lead group, and while she wasn’t able to fight through to battle for the race win, she finished in P4 for a solid 13 points it was a tough break for Sara Sanchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) who despite riding well and even leading the race after fighting through the pack at the front, she was overtaken by the lead posse to finish in P5. Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team) finished the race in P6, leading the second group after overtaking Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno), who was shuffled to P7.
Metronomic consistency from Lewis: The Kiwi rider has never missed the top 10 in races that she has finished
Avalon Lewis (Carl Cox Motorsports) finished P8 in Race 1, just under two seconds behind Howden. In P9, French rookie Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94-YAMAHA) led Astrid Madrigal (Pons Italika Racing FIMLA) across the finish line after the Mexican rider charged up the grid from a P15 start to round out the top 10 positions.
Ongaro unfit: Lap 1 crash sees her Hungarian Round end early.
Ornella Ongaro was the first to crash out on Turn 11 of the Race’s first lap, being escorted on a stretcher to be reviewed in the medical centre. She was later diagnosed with a broken right humerus; she will be transported to Vezprem Hospital for further assessment. Tayla Relph (Full Throttle Racing) went down in Turn 5 with just three laps to go.
The top six from the WorldWCR Race 1: Full results here!
1 Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team)
2. Chloe Jones (GR Motosport) +1.395s
3. Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) +1.536s
4. Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) +3.575s
5. Sara Sanchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) +4.275s
6. Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team) +6.820s
Fastest lap: Roberta Ponziani – 1’53.338s
Tune in tomorrow at 12:20 WorldWCR’s Race 2 at Balaton! Watch live with the WorldSBK VideoPass! Now 65% off!
Toprak Razgatlioglu took pole position during World Superbike Superpole qualifying Saturday at Balaton Park Circuit, in Hungary. Riding his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR, the 2024 WorldSuperbike Champion recorded a lap time of 1:38.357 to lead the field of 23 riders.
Sam Lowes qualified second with a 1:38.834 on his ELF Marc VDS Ducati Panigale V4R.
Andrea Locatelli did a 1:38.843 on his Pata Maxus Yamaha YZF R1 to earn the third and final spot on the front row.
Row two starters include Aruba.it Racing’s Nicolo Bulega (1:38.969), Barni Spark Racing Team’s Danilo Petrucci (1:39.080), and Honda HRC’s Iker Lecuona (1:39.130).
American Garrett Gerloff qualified 14th with a 1:39.665 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
Here, you can watch the Superpole last 5 minutes.
Results superpole wsbk
More from a press release issued by Dorna:
Rapid Razgatlioglu storms to Balaton Park pole ahead of Sam Lowes, title rival Bulega fourth. Reigning Champion Razgatlioglu was uncatchable during Superpole as he claimed his 22nd WorldSBK pole position.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed the first MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship pole position at the Balaton Park Circuit by almost half-a-second during the Tissot Superpole session. ‘El Turco’ has been quick all weekend and backed that up with pole position with a 0.477s margin over Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) at the Hungarian Round, with Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) on the front row for the first time in 664 days.
The first run: Razgatlioglu goes quicker than FP3 on his first lap
It didn’t take long for Razgatlioglu to beat his time from FP3 as he set a blistering 1’38.459s, 0.459s quicker than his closest challenger, Locatelli. On his second run, he went a tenth quicker to set a new benchmark of 1’38.369s to extend his lead at the head of the field. Sam Lowes, the pacesetter in two of the three practice sessions, was third after the first runs.
Reed flag interrupt proceedings: Razgatlioglu almost half-a-second clear
A big crash for Tito Rabat (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) at Turn 9 brought out the red flags, with the #53 able to walk away from the crash but he was taken to the medical centre for a check-up. He was declared fit follow his check and was 18thin Superpole. There was a separate crash at Turn 16 for Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) before the red flags were shown, interrupting the second runs. The session was resumed with 2’43 on the clock. When the session restarted, the #22 crashed again at Turn 1, ending his hopes of improving his times. The Brit was classified in 12th place.
Razgatlioglu was ahead of the Bimota rider’s second spill and was able to improve his time to a 1’38.357s as he secured pole position at a 14th different venue and his 22nd in WorldSBK, while it’s also the ninth venue BMW have recorded a pole position at. Sam Lowes also improved his time to usurp Locatelli, lining up alongside ‘El Turco’ and Locatelli falling to third. It’s Locatelli’s first front row start since Portimao 2023, a wait of almost two years for the Italian.
Bulega on the second row: three places behind the Championship leader…
Title contender Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) will lead away the second row after claiming P4 in Superpole, his 1’38.969s coming after the red flag as he moved up a few positions but unable to put himself on the front row, two tenths away from Locatelli. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) is alongside ‘Bulegas’ in fifth with Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) the lead Honda rider in sixth, completing the second row.
Starting from the third row: Bautista leads Iannone and Vierge
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was nine tenths away from Razgatlioglu’s time as he claimed seventh with a 1’39.266s, with Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) in eighth. Two Honda machines were in the top nine with Lecuona’s teammate, Xavi Vierge, taking ninth with a 1’39.350s. Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) completed the top ten after posting a 1’39.375s, finishing half-a-tenth clear of Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in 11th.
The top six from WorldSBK Superpole, full results here:
1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’38.357s
2. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.477s
3. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +0.486s
4. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.612s
5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.723s
6. Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) +0.773s
Don’t miss the first race at Balaton Park! Race 1 takes place from 14:00 Local Time (UTC+2) and watch it LIVE and UNINTERRUPTED on the WorldSBK VideoPass – now only €24.99!
Remy Gardner and Yamaha Motor Europe have reached an agreement for the Australian to continue with Yamaha in the FIM Superbike World Championship for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
The 2021 Moto2 World Champion moved from MotoGP to WorldSBK with Yamaha in 2023, and after what was very much a learning year, he became a regular top six contender in 2024. 2025 has seen Gardner display impressive speed aboard the R1, including achieving a second career WorldSBK podium at the TT Circuit Assen earlier this year.
The new agreement will see Gardner enter a fourth season with Yamaha Motor Europe, remaining with the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team.
Remy Gardner
“I am happy to be continuing with Yamaha in WorldSBK, our journey together so far has been good but I still feel that we are only scratching the surface of what we can achieve. We’ve shown that when everything comes together, we can be quick and fight for the podium, my target is to do this more consistently over the remainder of the 2025 season and look towards taking a further step in 2026.”
Niccolò Canepa – Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Sporting Manager
“Remy has become a valuable member of our line-up over the last few years, not just through his speed and potential, but also his ability to give detailed feedback which proves useful to our engineers as we look to continue developing the R1 in WorldSBK. We have already seen he has the ability to fight for the podium, and the target is to be more consistent in this goal towards the end of this season and then build on this for next year.”
Bradley Ray moved back ahead of his Bennetts British Superbike Championship rivals after the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship Free Practice sessions at Brands Hatch with 0.247s separating the Raceways Yamaha rider and Knockhill race winner Rory Skinner.
Ray moved back ahead as he fought back on defending champion Kyle Ryde who set the pace in the opening session, with Skinner separating the pair as the OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha rider ended his afternoon with a crash at Stirlings, but is ready to bounce back tomorrow.
Leon Haslam ended the day fourth fastest for the Moto Rapido Ducati Racing team; a small crash at Druids midway through the session wouldn’t halt his momentum as he bids for a podium return, edging out the returning Scott Redding on the Hager PBM Ducati.
Christian Iddon was sixth fastest as the AJN Steelstock Kawasaki rider was nudged to sixth in the closing moments ahead of McAMS Racing Yamaha’s Danny Kent and Honda Racing UK’s Andrew Irwin.
Lee Jackson and Charlie Nesbitt completed the top ten, with Tommy Bridewell just 0.001s adrift in 11th position with Max Cook the final rider inside the leading 12 who progress directly into tomorrow’s Bandero Café Shoot Out Qualifying 2 session.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, combined Free Practice times:
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
The heat and humidity will be on when the FIM Endurance World Championship title chase stops off in Japan next week for one of international motorcycle racing’s most prestigious, iconic and demanding fixtures.
From 1-3 August, top EWC riders will take on aces from MotoGP, World Superbike, the All Japan Road Race Championship and more during the 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race.
Taking place on the legendary 5.821-kilometre Suzuka Circuit, complete with its figure-of-eight layout, the event might last for eight hours rather than 24 (the duration of the EWC season-opening and closing events), but with ambient temperatures expected to top 30 degrees centigrade and humidity due to exceed 90 per cent, a hugely tough challenge is in store.
Despite the race’s punishing and unrelenting reputation, 55 teams have signed up for action compared to 46 in 2024. Of those, 15 are teams contesting the entire EWC season, which represents an increase of four compared to 2024 and is the highest number since 2019 when 13 permanent outfits entered the famous Japanese event.
After three permanent EWC Superstock teams took part last season when the Suzuka 8 Hours formed part of the FIM Endurance World Cup schedule for the first time, six will bid for glory in the Dunlop-equipped category.
While National Motos Honda FMA (below), Team Étoile and Wójcik Racing Team return after competing in 2024 – the first year that Japan’s EWC counter formed part of the FIM Endurance World Cup schedule – Dafy-RAC 41-Honda, Honda No Limits and Revo-M2 are Suzuka Superstock rookies.
BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, ELF Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99, ERC Endurance, F.C.C. TSR Honda France, Kawasaki Webike Trickstar, Motobox Kremer Racing powered by 123, Tati Team AVA6 Racing, Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team and Yoshimura SERT Motul are the nine permanent Formula EWC category teams contesting Japan’s EWC round.
The high turnout for the 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race continues a trend of increasing entry numbers for EWC events in 2025. April’s 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans attracted 53 registrations compared to 48 in 2024, while 44 teams entered the 8 Hours of Spa Motos last month after 37 did so the previous year. The 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race does not form part of the new-for-2025 FIM Endurance World Trophy for production motorcycles.
Aside from the EWC regulars and All Japan Road Race frontrunners, star riders assembling for the 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race are Albert Arenas, Loris Baz, Jonas Folger, Leon Haslam, Iker Lecuona, Andrea Locatelli, Jack Miller, Marcel Schrötter, Michael van der Mark and Johann Zarco, last year’s winner alongside Teppei Nagoe and Takumi Takahashi, who will also be competing.
TOP 10 TRIAL TO DECIDE LEADING GRID POSITIONS
As with all EWC events, private testing, free practice and night practice are scheduled along with two qualifying sessions for all rider colour groups with the qualifying result based on the average time recorded by a team’s fastest two riders. However, the Suzuka 8 Hours also features the spectacular Top 10 Trial shootout to decide the first 10 places on the starting grid for the race on Sunday 3 August.
Following Second Qualifying on the afternoon of Friday 1 August, the leading 10 teams go forward into the Top 10 Trial on Saturday afternoon (2 August), once the final practice session has taken place.
Two nominated riders per team compete separately against the clock with teams taking to the track in descending order of their qualifying positions in two groups. Each rider gets a warm-up lap, a flying lap and a cool-down lap during which they return to the pitlane prior to a team’s second rider getting their Top 10 Trial bid under way, but only once all first riders from the first group have taken part.
The teams finishing qualifying in positions 10th to sixth go first with the slowest rider from each team first to run. Once the riders from the first group have completed their flying laps it’s the turn of the teams in positions fifth to first following qualifying. The Top 10 Trial results are based on the fastest lap per team, rather than a combined time, by taking into account the performances of the two riders.
The 5-4-3-2-1 qualifying points are awarded after the Top 10 trial rather than after the completion of Second Qualifying, which is the case at other EWC events.
GROUNDBREAKING SUZUKI ALL SET FOR EWC SUZUKA 8 HOURS WITH 100% SUSTAINABLE FUEL
Suzuki Motor Corporation’s groundbreaking Team Suzuki CN Challenge initiative is back for Japan’s round of the 2025 FIM Endurance World Championship – but with a notable difference. After contesting the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race with a Suzuki GSX-R1000R motorcycle using 40 per cent bio-sourced fuel, Team Suzuki CN Challenge, which is operated by Suzuki employees, will enter the 46th edition of the legendary event utilising 100 per cent sustainable fuel. The move is in line with Suzuki’s aim to “achieve both environmental load reduction and performance at a higher level to accelerate the development of environmental performance technologies through actual riding under severe conditions in endurance races. By verifying valuable data obtained through race activities, Suzuki will promote technical feedback for future products”. CLICK FOR FULL STORY.
EWC RIDERS SAID WHAT
Quotes from a selection of EWC riders follow:
Gregg Black (Yoshimura SERT Motul): “The level in Suzuka is really high, there are lot of factory teams, all the strong permanent teams and also some local private teams are at a really high level. The Japanese teams absolutely give 200 per cent to get a result and it really closes up the competition so we’re really not far off 10 bikes that can be on the podium. Three years ago we managed to get a podium [with just me and Kazuki Watanabe], two years ago we missed the podium but, last year, we finished third and a podium is the aim again. It’s going to be a tough race. You’ve always got to imagine that anything can happen during the race and you don’t know where it’s going to go so the dream, of course, is to win.”
Mike Di Meglio (Kawasaki Webike Trickstar): “The last round at Spa was not an easy race, but we managed to bring back as many points as we could for the championship and we are still in second position. Suzuka is a special race. It’s very hot, the S Curves are amazing but when you get out of the S Curves you are nearly finished.”
Andrea Locatelli (Yamaha Racing Team, below left): “It is a pleasure to be invited to ride the Suzuka 8 Hours for Yamaha. For my whole WorldSBK career, I have been a Yamaha rider and this is an honour. It means a lot to me for Yamaha to give me this opportunity; it has been something I have always wanted to do, but to do it with the Yamaha Racing Team is really special. Suzuka is an amazing track, and this is a new opportunity and experience for me, so I am very much looking forward to it. I can’t wait to go for the race as we look to achieve the best result for Yamaha in this important race.”
Étienne Masson (Team Suzuki CN Challenge): “Last year was a year to learn and discover, this year all the goals have been revised upwards. Last year, for our first time out, we finished eighth. This year, with an improved performance and more capable team-mates, we’re obviously aiming higher. I think a top five finish would be a very good result. It would give credibility to the project and, who knows, it might inspire others.”
Hikaru Okubo (Team Étoile): “We have been able to develop the set-up in a positive direction through discussions among the three of us. With all three riders achieving high-level average times, this will serve as an excellent weapon for the race. While we haven’t yet extracted maximum performance in qualifying simulation, if we can put together a complete lap, I believe we can secure a good position in qualifying. This was an extremely positive test but the pace around us has increased compared to last year, and I expect it will be a high-level race, so I want to focus on riding stably and calmly.”
Alan Techer (F.C.C. TSR Honda France): “The Suzuka 8 Hours is a very important race, especially this year as we are right in the middle of EWC title hunt with an epic win in the 8 Hours of Spa Motos. Suzuka is also very special place for me, and it’s a home track for my team. Plus, I’ve had many good times and some challenging times there over many past seasons. Our bike, riders and team are working very well now, so we can show our speed and aim to take maximum championship points home.”
Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, above): “You have to push but you cannot be as fast as you want for the full hour [of your stint]. Then you have to focus because you pass a lot of people. To do the focus and the consistency together is quite difficult but it’s the only way during these stints. The main thing is consistency, we know we have a good speed, a good pace but it’s eight hours and so many things can happen. Everyone knows their pace, we know what we can do, we’re all ready to do our stints but no one knows what’s going to happen. This is the nice thing about endurance, it’s eight long hours but we have to push for eight hours, we have to be smart, ride on our toes to do everything as perfectly as we can.”
Johann Zarco (Honda HRC): “I am very pleased to be back as a member of Honda HRC in this traditional and prestigious race. I will bring my good momentum from MotoGP to Suzuka and, clearly with this trio, we’re in contention to win. Whether we’ll have enough margin to win is something I don’t know, and we’ll still have to do everything right. But Iker had some very good tests after me. My tests were good. We were still able to work well and get a good feel. It was also very instructive on a drying track, especially on a track lasting over two minutes per lap. This allowed us to gather information for tyre management. Then, on the second day, we were able to do quite a few laps in the dry and test many settings.”
PROVISIONAL KEY EWC TIMINGS (LOCAL CET +7)
Friday 1 August
08h30-10h30: Free Practice
12h00-12h20: First Qualifying (Blue Riders)
12h35-12h55: First Qualifying (Yellow Riders)
13h10-13h30: First Qualifying (Red Riders)
15h30-15h50: Second Qualifying (Blue Riders)
16h05-16h25: Second Qualifying (Yellow Riders)
16h40-17h00: Second Qualifying (Red Riders)
18h30-19h50: Night Free Practice
Saturday 2 August
14h15-15h00: Free Practice
15h30-17h00: Top 10 Trial
Sunday 3 August
08h30-09h15: Warm-up
11h30: Start of 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race
19h30: Finish of 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race
All timings are CET +7 and subject to change
46TH COCA-COLA SUZUKA 8 HOURS ENDURANCE RACE ESSENTIALS:
Where: Suzuka Circuit
Location: 7992 Ino-Cho, Suzuka-shi, Mie-ken 510-0295, Japan
When: 1-3 August 2025
Track length: 5.821 kilometres
Race distance: 8 hours
BEST LAPS:
Qualifying: Team HRC (Tetsuta Nagashima, 2m04.934s, 2022)
Race: Kawasaki Racing Team (Jonathan Rea, 2m06.805s, 2019)
IN 100 WORDS:
Suzuka Circuit continues to play an integral role in the ongoing success of the EWC with the Japanese venue’s iconic eight-hour event taking place from 1-3 August. Featuring a mid-morning start and early evening finish, the Suzuka 8 Hours isn’t the longest race on the EWC calendar, but it’s always one of the toughest. This is due to the highly-demanding figure-of-eight track layout and the expected hot and humid conditions that require the EWC stars to be at the peak of their physical powers. The event is a round of the Superstock-based FIM Endurance World Cup for the second time.
FAST FACTS:
*The Suzuka 8 Hours retuned to the EWC calendar in 2022 having not taken place since 2019 due to the global health crisis.
*Americans Mike Baldwin and Wes Cooley won the inaugural Suzuka 8 Hours on 30 July 1978 on a Yoshimura Racing Suzuki.
*Japanese fans had to wait until 1982 for the first home rider victory when Shigeo Iijima and Shinji Hagiwara won for Honda.
*Although it was billed as an eight-hour race, the onset of a typhoon meant there were only six hours of racing.
*Other winners of the Suzuka 8 Hours include Wayne Rainey (1988), Eddie Lawson (1990) Mick Doohan (1991), Valentino Rossi (2001) and Johann Zarco (2024).
RECENT WINNERS:
2024: Team HRC with Japan Post
(Teppei Nagoe, Takumi Takahashi, Johann Zarco, above)) 220 laps
2023: Team HRC with Japan Post
(Tetsuta Nagashima, Takumi Takahashi, Xavi Vierge) 216 laps
2022: Team HRC
(Tetsuta Nagashima, Takumi Takahashi, Iker Lecuona) 214 laps
2019: Kawasaki Racing Team Suzuka 8H
(Jonathan Rea, Leon Haslam, Toprak Razgatlioğlu) 216 laps
2018: Yamaha Factory Racing Team
(Katsuyuki Nakasuga, Alex Lowes, Michael van der Mark) 199 laps
2017: Yamaha Factory Racing Team
(Katsuyuki Nakasuga, Alex Lowes, Michael van der Mark) 216 laps
2016: Yamaha Factory Racing Team
(Katsuyuki Nakasuga, Alex Lowes, Pol Espargaró) 218 laps
2015: Yamaha Factory Racing Team
(Katsuyuki Nakasuga, Bradley Smith, Pol Espargaró) 204 laps
2014: MuSASHi [ja] RT HARC-PRO.
(Takumi Takahashi, Michael van der Mark, Leon Haslam) 172 laps
2013: MuSASHi [ja] RT HARC-PRO.
(Takumi Takahashi, Michael van der Mark, Leon Haslam) 214 laps
ENTRY LIST: Click HERE to view the provisional entry list for the 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race and click HERE for the full story.
RESULTS AND LIVE TIMING: https://www.its-results.com
LATEST STANDINGS: https://www.fimewc.com/en/standings
HOW TO WATCH: Click HERE soon to find out more.
EWC SPORTITY APP MEDIA CHANNEL REMINDER
The EWC’s dedicated Sportity app media channel for the 2025 season is available using the password 2025EWCMEDIA. The Sportity app is a digital information resource widely used in sports events and championships around the world. It’s attractive to users because it keeps all relevant information in one place and is accessible through smartphones or computers. Users are made aware of new information becoming available through push notifications and the app can be downloaded for free via the App Store or Google Play.
WHATSAPP NEWS CHANNEL
The EWC WhtasApp news channel launched on 1 January 2025 and can be followed here:
https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaj9aVW89inlcLzVRK1L
FIM ENDURANCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR REFRESHER
24 Heures Motos (Le Mans, France): 17-20 April
8 Hours of Spa Motos (Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium): 6-7 June
46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race (Suzuka, Japan): 1-3 August
Bol d’Or (Circuit Paul Ricard, France): 18-21 September
WATCH THE 2024 SUZUKA 8 HOURS ALL-ACCESS HERE:
