MICHEL FABRIZIO REPLACES TONI ELIAS AT DONINGTON PARK The Italian rider Michel Fabrizio, 21 years old , replaces the Fortuna Honda rider Toni Elias for the British GP. The Spaniard infact continues a forced recovery after the crash at Assen. The recovery process is getting well and he should be fit for the German GP. Michel Fabrizio, that is racing on a Honda with team DFXtreme comes back to the motogp paddock after the experience with WCM in 2004. MICHEL FABRIZIO: “I’m very happy, This i san important occasion for me to grow and work with a top team on the best bike. I want to thank Honda and Fausto Gresini for this opportunity.” FAUSTO GRESINI: “Michel replaces Toni Elias for this race. I hope that Toni will recover soon and to have him back in Germany. As for Michel, I think that this can be for him a good experience.”

As the British Superbike season has a three-week break the action is non-stop for the Hawk Kawasaki squad who are busy working hard preparing for the remainder of the season. Firstly an update on Hawk Superbike rider Dean Thomas who was involved in a serious incident with James Haydon at Snetterton. Thomas is now at home resting after being discharged from hospital on Thursday 22nd June, he sustained four broken ribs and he punctured his right lung in the crash. Although still in a lot of pain and struggling plus now an added complication of an infection in the lung Dean is on the slow road to recovery. It is unsure as to when he will return to the Superbike series as he is taking each day at a time and will only return once he is fully fit. Hawk would like to wish Dean a speedy recovery and they hope to see him back on track soon. Team Manager Stuart Hicken was in London last week at the National Courier Awards in which the Minister of Transport was present. Hawk were proud to have a Dean Thomas’ 2006 ZX-10R Kawasaki on display. This was a good opportunity to put the presence of the Motorcycle Industry at the front of people’s minds. Hawk Kawasaki riders Craig Coxhell and Peter Hickman will both be attending the official British Superbike test days at Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire next week, 5th and 6th July. They will be continuing their test programme to modify and find a good race set up for the British Superbike meeting there in August. For further information on the testing schedule please see www.mcrcb-events.co.uk. From there the team will be heading to Scarborough for the ‘Cock of the North’ race at Oliver’s Mount. They will be running TT star 26-year-old Ian ‘Hutchy’ Hutchinson from Bingley, West Yorkshire. Hutchy scored some fantastic results on a Kawasaki at this year’s TT races and will be hoping to continue that strong form for Hawk in Scarborough. Hutchy will be competing in the Supersport race on the 2006 ZX-6RR and in the Superbike races on Dean Thomas’ 2006 ZX-10R in the hope to gain some good results for the Hawk Team. Following that the team will be heading to Scotland for round eight of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Knockhill on the 15th and 16th July. For more information please see www.hawkkawasaki.co.uk

Less than one week after Shinya Nakano claimed a career best result with second place in the Dutch TT the Kawasaki Racing Team are back in action, having crossed the North Sea from Holland to England for this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Donington Park. The British Grand Prix marks the halfway point in this year’s 17 round MotoGP World Championship, and it is an important race for both Kawasaki riders. Nakano heads for Donington determined to carry the momentum from his impressive Assen result into the second half of the season, but to do that he knows that he must secure another strong result around the 4.023 km Donington Park circuit this weekend. Nakano has finished on the 250cc podium at Donington Park in the past, but the 28-year-old Japanese rider doesn’t rate the East Midlands circuit as one of his favourites, nor as a circuit that has particularly suited the characteristics of Kawasaki’s Ninja ZX-RR in the past. This weekend Nakano will benefit from a new exhaust system on his Ninja ZX-RR, as well as tyres developed by Bridgestone specifically for the Donington Park circuit. Together with the advances made with set-up during the Dutch TT, these additional changes mean that the Japanese rider heads into this weekend’s event confident of a strong performance. Nakano’s Kawasaki teammate, Randy de Puniet, arrives in Donington determined to kick-start what he feels has, so far, been a disappointing rookie season in the premier MotoGP class. The 25-year-old Frenchman has impressed during practice and qualifying at every round, but has been unable to translate this into strong race performances for a number of reasons. A good result in Sunday’s 30-lap British Grand Prix would be a big confidence boost for de Puniet, and the perfect start to the second half of his rookie season. Shinya Nakano: #56 “There is nothing like a good result for building confidence, so after Assen my confidence going into this weekend at Donington Park is high. But, this is not only because of the second place in the Dutch TT; we made some advances with chassis set-up and the balance of our Ninja ZX-RR at Assen, which I know will stand us in good stead for the British Grand Prix this weekend. Also, we will have a new exhaust pipe here, which has been designed by Kawasaki to address some of the issues we’ve had in recent races, and I know that Bridgestone have brought something new for us to try here. At Donington Park you need a bike that is set-up to be stable on the brakes, but also able to accelerate quickly out of the slower corners, like the Fogarty Esses and the Melbourne Loop. With the progress we made at Assen, I think we will have a competitive package in the Ninja ZX-RR for this track, but I guess the proof will come in free practice on Friday.” Randy de Puniet: #17 “On the 250cc machine I was not such a big fan of the Donington Park circuit, but this will be my first time here on the Ninja ZX-RR, and there’s a good chance that the circuit will look very different at the higher speeds possible on the MotoGP bike. This weekend marks the halfway point in the championship, and after a disappointing start to the season in terms of race results, I need to put in a strong performance in Sunday’s race to carry us into the second half of the year on a hIgh. On the whole, we’ve been fast in practice and qualifying at each round this year, but so far I’ve been unable to translate this into race results. This weekend that needs to change. Despite the fact that our results in the last two races were not what we were hoping for, I have a good feeling on the bike and I’m confident that, with a little better luck that we’ve had recently, the race results will come. Obviously, my aim is that the improvement will start this weekend at Donington.”

The “Track Crossings” scheduled during the U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca are to expedite race fans across the track. Last year, waits to cross the start/finish and Dunlop Tire bridges were up to 45 minutes long. The bridges will remain open this year above the Track Crossings, where Astroturf will be temporarily laid across the track to accommodate foot traffic.

TORONTO, ON He may be from Brantford, ON, but Calgary could be considered a second home for Parts Canada Superbike Championship points leader Jordan Szoke. The Canadian Kawasaki factory rider comes to this weekend’s third round of the national road race series at Race City Motorsport Park aiming to add to his already impressive numbers at the 3.2km (2.0-mile) circuit. Szoke’s five career national Superbike victories at Race City are more than any other rider, and that number includes two doubleheader sweeps (2000 and 2002). Not surprisingly, perhaps, the two-time Canadian Superbike champion claimed his first career national Superbike win in Calgary in 1998. Szoke’s bid for another Race City win won’t come without a fight, however. Leading the charge will be local hero Clint McBain, who won both ends of last year’s doubleheader. The Team Suzuki / Blackfoot Suzuki rider has suffered a rough start to his 2006 campaign with a pair of falls in the first two rounds, but will be looking to regain ground on home turf. His teammate Francis Martin of Rock Forest, QC, the defending Parts Canada Superbike champion, should also be in the thick of the action. Martin won in Calgary in 1999 on the way to his first of two national titles and is second in points this year. Close behind Martin in the standings is Granby, QC’s Kevin Lacombe. Riding for the Picotte Performance / Yamaha Canada / Toyota Yamaha team Lacombe has finished on the podium at the first two rounds of the season. His teammate Picotte is battling back from injury, but has won four times in Calgary, including a sweep of a doubleheader two years ago. Szoke’s Canadian Kawasaki teammate Tom Kipp is fourth in the series standings after two events, and the Chardon, OH native qualified on pole for the season opener. Szoke will also be aiming to keep a perfect record intact in the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Championship standings. He has won the first two races in the national support class as well and has never taken the Canadian title in that series. McBain sits second in points after a pair of runner-up finishes in the first two races. The Calgarian won the title in 2002. Lacombe and Kipp have traded third place finishes so far this season. Ross Millson of Hamilton, ON comes to Calgary leading the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike standings on his Suzuki. Honda rider Karl Daigle of Roxton Pond, QC and Saskatoon Yamaha racer Brett McCormick have split the wins in the first two rounds. Three-time Calgary national Superbike winner Michael Taylor has come out of retirement to race a BMW in the Thunder twins class, which makes its Race City debut. The Toronto ace will try to stop the Buell juggernaut and defending Thunder champion Darren James of North Vancouver. Another Brantford rider, Rob Busby, is riding a two-race winning streak in the Suzuki SV650 National Cup and has a comfortable lead in the standings entering round 3 this weekend. Official practice for the Parts Canada Superbike Championship will be held Friday, with qualifying for the national classes on Saturday afternoon. Feature races will go Sunday. For more series information, visit www.cdnsuperbike.com All Time Race City Superbike Wins Jordan Szoke (Brantford, ON) 5; Pascal Picotte (Granby, QC) 4; Michael Taylor (Toronto, ON) 3; Steve Crevier (Maple Ridge, BC) 2; Clint McBain (Calgary, AB) 2; Gary Goodfellow (Vancouver, BC) 1; Rueben McMurter (London, ON) 1; Michel Mercier (Thetford Mines, QC) 1; Don Munroe (Halifax, NS) 1; Francis Martin (Rock Forest, QC) 1; Jeff Williams (Harrowsmith, ON) 1; Owen Weichel (Toronto, ON) 1 Race City Fast Facts “¦ This weekend Jordan Szoke will also be going for a feat that hasn’t been managed in 13 years, as he tries to open the Parts Canada Superbike season with three straight wins. The last time a racer won the first three rounds of the national season was in 1993, when Pascal Picotte managed it riding for Ducati. “¦By winning the previous round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Szoke moved into sole possession of second place in all-time national Superbike wins with 17. Pascal Picotte is now third with 16 victories. Steve Crevier leads all racers with 23. “¦.Should Szoke be beaten this weekend, it may be by a new face. Since 1998 five racers have scored their first career national Superbike wins at Race City, including local ace Clint McBain last season. 2006 Point Standings Parts Canada Superbike: 1. Jordan Szoke (Kawasaki) 106; 2. Francis Martin (Suzuki) 80; 3. Kevin Lacombe (Yamaha) 79; 4. Tom Kipp (Kawasaki) 65; 5. Pascal Picotte (Yamaha) 61 Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike: 1. Jordan Szoke (Kawasaki) 107; 2. Clint McBain (Suzuki) 84; 3. Tom Kipp (Kawasaki) 70 International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike: 1. Ross Millson (Suzuki) 87; 2. Karl Daigle (Honda) 71; 3. Brett McCormick (Yamaha) 71 Canadian Thunder: 1. Darren James (Buell) 112; 2. Olivier Spilborghs (Buell) 77; 3. Brett McCormick (Buell) 75 Suzuki SV650 National Cup: 1. Rob Busby 109; 2. Dave Bagshaw 90; 3. Martin Grande 74 Provisional Weekend Schedule Saturday July 1 1:00 p.m.-1:25 p.m. Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Qualifying 1:35 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Thunder Qualifying 2:10 p.m.-2:35 p.m. International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Qualifying 2:45 p.m.-3:45 p.m. Parts Canada Superbike Qualifying (for the Vicious-I Pole Position Award) 3:55 p.m.-4:20 p.m. Suzuki SV650 Cup Qualifying Sunday July 2 12:45 p.m. Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Race 16 laps 1:30 p.m. Thunder Race 14 laps 2:15 p.m. International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Race 14 laps 2:50 p.m. Parts Canada Superbike Championship Race 20 laps 3:45 p.m. Suzuki SV650 Cup Race 14 laps

This season’s MotoGP title race is turning into a season of nail-biting intensity with almost as many dramatic twists and turns as the tracks that provide the stage for this 17-race rolling showdown. ‘Kentucky Kid’ Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) now heads the standings by 42 points from Spanish rookie Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC211V) after the American’s last-gasp win at Assen last weekend. After Honda’s 200th premier class win last weekend, this Sunday’s race, the ninth of the year, will mark the exact mid-point of the season, with the German and American rounds still to come before the ‘summer break’. Donington will again shape the World Championship as trailing riders either get on terms with Hayden now, or are left with perhaps too much work to do as the season draws to a conclusion. Nicky has upped his game this year and at tracks where he previously placed fourth or fifth he is now on the rostrum. His consistency has been his greatest strength so far 10 podiums in 11 races but he knows that if he can follow up his Assen win with another victory here, he could gather a title momentum that might prove hard to stop. With Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) riding injured after his practice crash in Holland, without Toni Elias (Fortuna Honda RC211V) not riding after his fall there, with Marco Melandri (Fortuna Honda RC211V) battered and sore and Loris Capirossi (Ducati) fighting the pain after the Catalunya turn one melée, this season is proving a tough one. Michel Fabrizio, 21-years old from Rome rider has been drafted into the Fortuna Honda team as substitute rider for the injured Toni Elias for Donington Park. Fabrizio currently rides a Honda CBR1000RR Superbike for the DFXTreme squad. Donington Park usually provides an eventful race, whether in the dry or in the ‘British’ weather conditions that rendered last year’s contest a dripping-wet, yet enthralling race. The track was resurfaced in 2004 and this year a new pit complex should ensure the facilities are a match for this excellent racetrack. Many riders have a great deal of affection for Donington Park. It’s a track that rewards competitors who relish fast, open, sweeping turns. And even if the slightly stilted Melbourne Loop section of the track spoils the rhythm and flow, it still provides drama as riders endure three bouts of heavy braking towards the end of a lap. But it’s the dramatic downhill fifth-gear Craner Curves that are the high point of a Donington lap. This section of the track requires bravery and inch-perfect commitment to a line and if a rider struggles to come to terms with these turns, a fast lap is but a distant hope. Donington demands two main machine characteristics that are hard to provide simultaneously. Stability on the brakes and quick turn-in is required for the Esses and Melbourne Loop sections while perfect high-speed manners are needed for the other parts of this 4.023km track. Some riders opt for stability in the knowledge that a fast lap time will be dictated by speed over the flowing first three-quarters of the track, others prefer to have a bike set up to perform well under braking where places can be won and lost on the final three turns. Good acceleration is also vital while top speed is slightly less of an issue than at other venues. Nicky said, “Donington is a home Grand Prix for some of my team there’s a lot people in the Repsol Honda Team based in England and we want to get the best possible for them. I really like the first section of the track and I’ve been quick there before. The Craner Curves really separate the men from the boys pretty quickly you need some guts and a good set-up to get through there fast. I haven’t always been so quick in the last section with the hairpin and the chicanes, so that’s what I’ll be trying to improve this weekend.” His team-mate Dani said, “I’ll try to improve my overall performance at Donington because, even though third was OK at Assen, I was not so satisfied with the race. The main thing to work on for me is the beginning of the race where sometimes I’ve not been so strong. And making better use of the practice and qualifying sessions on Saturday will help with this too. Donington is not my favourite track, although they have improved the surface and made it less bumpy.” Melandri said, “I needed to put my feet up for a couple of days because since the Barcelona crash everything has happened really quickly: hospital, the trip to Assen, the medical checks and then the race. Now I’ve been able to relax a little and start to get back into my normal routine. Hopefully I will have recovered a lot of strength before Sunday’s race because Donington Park is a place I love. Its characteristics make it hard going on your arms, there are so many direction changes and it will really test my physical condition.” Elias, who will not ride here after breaking his shoulder at Assen, said, “The pain is still really strong. I hoped to have recovered already but the tests on Monday showed that it’s still too early to get back on the bike. The fracture still needs time and that’s without considering the fact that Donington is really demanding and tiring and you have to be at 100% fitness to deal with that. I am really disappointed not to be there and I hope to be back as soon as possible.” Casey Stoner (LCR Honda RC211V), who finished third here on a 250 last year, said, “We had a good race package in Assen and I was racing for the podium, which is what I should be doing everywhere. The team’s doing a great for me and I’ve just got to make sure I can do the same for them. Donington gives us a great chance to do well if we keep on with the work we’re doing.” Kenny Roberts (Roberts KR211V) said, “The new frame is being finished off now and we’ll have it at Donington. It’s a combination of the stuff we’ve learned so far this season and some input from Honda and the team. We’re confident this thing will work better than the chassis we have right now. We’ll be ready for Donington and we’ll see if we can’t get a good result here.” Casey Stoner (LCR Honda RC211V) raced to a solid fourth place at Assen and is looking forward to improving on that this time round. “Donington will be a bit like a home race for me as I raced in England when I first came over from Australia,” said the 20-year old. “Even though I finished fourth at Assen I’m not satisfied. I made a mistake on the last lap and lost third. That’s three mistakes I’ve made this year in races. More importantly I know that at Mugello I had the pace to win the race so it’s just a matter of not making a mistake and I will improve.” Makoto Tamada (Konica Minolta Honda RC211V) said, “The changeable weather conditions of this region often determine the race result. My feeling with the RC211V is getting better. Now, I must try to be consistent in practice and during the race. In this respect, I hope to take an important step forward in England and to be fighting hard for a good result.” In the 250cc class ultra-consistent Andrea Dovizioso (Humangest Racing Honda RS250RW) heads the standings going into round nine. The Italian has 149 points, while Jorge Lorenzo (Aprilia) in second has 133. Yuki Takahashi (Humangest Racing Honda RS250RW) in third overall has 99 points. The Columbian Martin Cardenas (Repsol Honda RS250RW) is expected to ride here, despite a recently broken collarbone, while Brit Chaz Davies replaces Arnaud Vincent here on the Molenaar Racing Honda RS250RW. Dovi said, “Our pace has always been lower than the Aprilias except at Le Mans and Barcelona where our bike was competitive. And, for many reasons, the gap was even bigger at Assen. But I’m happy because my team is doing a great job and providing me most of the time with an excellent bike. We are going to Donington, which is a track that I like and where Honda will be more competitive.” “Unfortunately, at Assen I couldn’t do better than sixth,” said Dovi’s team-mate Takahashi. “I was involved in that first lap collision and I went wide. But I’m happy I was able to recover some ground and eventually score 10 important points. The next two races will take place at tracks I like very much Donington Park and the Sachsenring. Even if I didn’t finish the British Grand Prix last year, I’m confident I can run a good race now.” Shuhei Aoyama can’t wait to ride here. He said, “I scored my first points of the World Championship on European soil at Donington back in 2002 in the 125cc class. It’s a circuit I like and this time I won’t have the handicap of having to learn the layout again. Unlike Assen, which I also knew, there have been no changes made to this circuit so I hope to be able to be fast from the first practice.” Martin Cardenas said, “I left the hospital on Monday and I’ve already started to move my arm slightly. I’m having my stitches out in one week and I hope to be at 100% again in Germany. Alberto Puig and for Repsol, but the only thing left to do now is to wait until Germany where I’ll try to make up for this incident.” Reigning 125cc World Champion Thomas Luthi (Elit Grand Prix Honda RS125R) is doing all he can to claw his way back up the points ladder after a rotten start to his title defence season. The Swiss currently sits seventh with 62 points to series leader Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia) who has 160. Luthi said, “Nowadays every track has to be your favourite because the 125cc class is so competitive. But I like Donington Park, especially the Craner Curves section it’s really great to ride that part of the track.” Gabor Talmacsi (Humangest Honda RS125R) said, “I like Donington Park and at least this track has not been changed like Assen has. I hope the weather conditions won’t be like last year when it rained and I crashed out. Along with the team I’m working on the set-up of the bike in order to improve its performance both in terms of engine and suspension.” British hope Bradley Smith (Repsol Honda RS125R) said, “After finishing 16th in the last two races the team are joking that I’m waiting for Donington for those first points. It’ll be good to ride at home although I’ve probably ridden at some of the Spanish circuits more times than Donington. However, it will be a help knowing the circuit because I still need to improve my qualifying to start the race higher up the grid.”

Although marking the culmination of the MotoGP triple-header of three races in as many weekends, the teams and riders can’t afford to look ahead to a well deserved break just yet. Last week’s race in Assen has made the championship even more thrilling, and there are surely more surprises to come this weekend at the historic Donington Park circuit. Nicky Hayden heads to Great Britain in the World Championship driving seat, courtesy of a first Grand Prix win of 2006 in a breathtaking duel with Colin Edwards at Assen which ended in last corner mayhem. The Kentucky Kid leads the standings by 42 points, with team-mate and rookie sensation Dani Pedrosa moving up into second after a third place in Holland. The third, fourth and fifth places in the classification are occupied by some of MotoGP’s walking wounded. Loris Capirossi, Valentino Rossi and Marco Melandri were all doubts for the race last time out, Capirossi and Melandri as a result of a huge crash in Catalunya and Rossi after breaking bones in his hand and ankle following a nasty looking tumble in the first Assen practice session. That they were able to race at all at the Dutch track was a testament to the heart and desire of a MotoGP rider, showing the depth of talent present in the premier class. Rossi however is the “King of Donington,” with five premier-class wins under his belt at the British track, but will have to recover quickly from his injuries to make it six this weekend. A former British championship competitor, Casey Stoner’s tremendous debut year continues to impress, with the young Australian taking fourth at the A-Style TT Assen after a tremendous battle with former 250cc title rival Pedrosa. Colin Edwards suffered heartbreak on the final corner last weekend, a daring manoeuvre to push for the victory seeing him crash just metres from the finish line. With the Texas Tornado hungry for victory, could Donington Park be his opportunity for redemption? He lies six points ahead of Shinya Nakano in the overall standings, the Japanese rider benefiting from Edwards’ misfortune to take second place. Kenny Roberts Jr and Makoto Tamada complete the top ten. Sete Gibernau will miss his second consecutive race as he recovers from collarbone surgery, once again being replaced by Alex Hofmann behind the bars of the Desmosedici GP06. Ivan Silva will in turn continue to replace Hofmann in the Pramac d’Antin outfit. Toni Elias is another absentee after his shoulder injury was scanned back at home in Barcelona and he was ruled out until the German race in two weeks time. With Britain being an hour behind mainland Europe, there will be a change to the schedule for the races on Sunday. MotoGP will take place at 1pm local time (2pm CET), with 250cc at 11.15am and 125cc at 2.30pm. 250cc The title race is hotting up in the 250cc category, with Andrea Dovizioso just sixteen points ahead of the in-form Jorge Lorenzo. Dovizioso has been on the podium at every race this season, whilst Lorenzo’s runaway victory last weekend gives his rival little margin for error. Third-placed Yuki Takahashi heads a close pack of consistent performers in the standings, with Hiroshi Aoyama, Alex de Angelis and Roberto Locatelli all within 8 points of each other. Better news for British fans is that Chaz Davies will make his return to the 250cc category for the Molenaar Racing outfit, having cycled to Donington from his home town in Wales on the Tuesday in aid of MotoGP’s official charity Riders For Health who once again celebrate their ever-popular Day of Champions event on Thursday. 125cc Mika Kallio’s crucial victory in Assen aided his championship cause somewhat, although he still trails Alvaro Bautista by 47 points. Bautista’s mathematical domination of the category doesn’t reflect the tightness of the 125cc races, which have been a guarantee of close races throughout the first half of the season. The Master MVA Aspar team are willing to battle amongst each other for the victory, with Sergio Gadea, Hector Faubel and Mattia Pasini all in the top five, with Derbi’s Lukas Pesek just behind. The Track Built in 1931 to stage motorcycle events, but closed down during the Second World War, a derelict Donington circuit was bought in 1971 by local businessman and motor sport enthusiast Tom Wheatcroft. It was re-opened in 1977 after huge investment and is now regarded as one of the best circuits in Britain, with a recent facelift to the pits, race control and media centre complex hoping to make sure the off-track experience is as good as on it. Located in beautiful countryside near to the village of Castle Donington in the English Midlands, the circuit is set in a natural amphitheatre that facilitates excellent viewing possibilities. Its flowing layout is broken up by a slow second-half of tight corners meaning a combination of smooth racing and good corner speed must be combined with last-gasp braking and hard acceleration.

Eight teams will compete for national honour at the Suzuka 8 Hour Japanese round of the FIM World Endurance Championship next month. The FIM Endurance Cup of Nations will be awarded to the highest placed team from the following list: · Austria: Yamaha Austria Racing Team · Belgium: Acropolis Zone Rouge 199 Yamaha · France: Suzuki Castrol · Great Britain: Yamaha Phase One Endurance · Italy: No Limits & RT Suzuki · Japan: Seven Stars Honda HRC · Sweden: Team Fagersjo-el.se Suzuki · Switzerland: Bolliger Team Kawasaki The teams were selected based on their positions in the current World Endurance Championship standings, except for Seven Stars Honda who only race at the Suzuka 8 Hour. They are Japan’s leading endurance team, however, and are undoubtedly the team to beat at Suzuka. The other seven teams pack a real punch when it comes to endurance experience. Both Suzuki Castrol and Yamaha Phase One Endurance are previous multiple World Endurance Championship winners, while Yamaha Austria and Bolliger Kawasaki are currently second and third in this year’s championship and are podium regulars. Fagersjo-el.se Suzuki are the most improved team this season, holding fourth place in the title chase after a run of good results, and No Limits (7th in the standings) and Acropolis Zone Rouge (8th in the standings) are also carving a good name for themselves in the results sheets. The Suzuka 8 Hour race takes place on July 30th.