SUZUKA 8 Hours – Race Release

July 2007, SUZUKA (Japan) - The 8-endurance race of Suzuka always attracts great interest from manufacturers, media and also the public.
Japanese manufacturers in particular care really care a lot about this race, even more than most of the World Championship races.
 This is why riders more used to racing in Europe, in WSBK or other competitions, once a year change their leathers, colours and sponsors, and move to Japan.

This race is part of the QMMF Endurance FIM World Championship, but the participation of official bike manufacturers, teams and thus riders of different championships requires two separate standings: one for the event itself and one for the regular Championship.
Pirelli is competing in the World Endurance Championship where it is having great results, and Pirelli also took part in the 8 Hrs of Suzuka race.

In order to have an idea of what this race means, riders complete between 22 to 26 laps before swapping the bike with their team-mate. The track is 5,821 meters long, and the winner completed 216 laps.
Conditions change during the 8 hrs, so this year they had to face an air temp from 28 to 36°C, and a track temp from 36 to 48°C.

This makes the choice of tyres interesting, and the job of Pirelli technicians was particularly important: they had to provide the best solution, even  in changing conditions. Pirelli fielded 16 teams and took 2,000 tyres to Japan to make sure the teams had exactly what they needed.
The result was good in the World Championship SBK class with four teams in the top 10 positions, but was even better in the World Championship SportProduction class, where Pirelli Moto 38 team finished 1st and Pirelli placed four teams in the first five positions.
Last but not least, team ABG finished 3rd in the Superstock class.
In the 'Junior' Endurance race, held on Saturday, Pirelli finished third - a great result as the tyres have to last for all four hours without being changed.