[2026 Suzuka 8 Hours] Yamaha Factory Continues with J. Miller and A. Locatelli, Aiming for Ninth Title with Nakasuga

Yamaha Motor has announced that the "YAMAHA FACTORY RACING TEAM" will compete in the 47th "Coca-Cola" Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race, the 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship, with MotoGP rider Jack Miller and Superbike World Championship rider Andrea Locatelli. The team's goal is to achieve their ninth victory since 2018.

Challenging for Consecutive Victories with a Strong Lineup

Yamaha Motor has announced its participation in the "2026 FIM Endurance World Championship 'Coca-Cola' Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race, 47th Event," to be held at Suzuka Circuit from July 3-5, 2026, as the "YAMAHA FACTORY RACING TEAM." The rider lineup includes Jack Miller from MotoGP, Andrea Locatelli from the Superbike World Championship, and Katsuyuki Nakasuga from the All Japan Road Race Championship. The team will compete with Yamaha's ace number, "21."

This marks the second consecutive year of participation in a factory team setup. The machine will naturally be the YZF-R1. Based on last year's second-place finish, extensive analysis led to the decision that the same rider lineup is optimal. The three-rider team of Nakasuga, Miller, and Locatelli aims for their ninth Suzuka 8 Hours victory, the first since 2018.

Katsuyuki Nakasuga will participate in the special sports riding session organized by Suzuka Circuit on May 12-13 to conduct basic machine setup. Miller and Locatelli will be absent due to their regular season racing schedules and are expected to join the team for testing just before the event week.

Rider Comments and Team's Determination

Jack Miller

"I'm incredibly happy to be competing in the Suzuka 8 Hours again this year. Last year, I had a crash in the Top 10 Trial and finished second in the race, which was very frustrating. On the other hand, I was supported by so many fans and Yamaha employees, and the work done by Nakasuga-san, Loca, and the team was superb, making it a truly enjoyable experience. This year, my goal is to surpass everything from last year. I want to take pole position and stand on the top step of the podium with Nakasuga-san, who is retiring after this race! I also want to create the best 8 hours with the fans from Japan and around the world, everyone at Yamaha, and all the team members!"

Andrea Locatelli

"Wonderful news has arrived from Japan again this year! I am immensely grateful to be able to compete in the Suzuka 8 Hours with the factory team once more. Racing with a fantastic factory machine, the team staff, and the best teammates in Nakasuga-san and Jack is crucial for my own growth. This year, the victory we missed last year is our target. I understand that this is why I, along with Jack, who has Suzuka 8 Hours experience, have been chosen alongside Nakasuga-san. Our rivals are strong, but we are not inferior! We will combine our strengths to challenge and deliver the best result to the fans!"

Masaru Nakamura, Yamaha Motor (General Manager, MS Business Unit, Motorsports Division)

"Finally, we are able to announce the lineup for 2026. The riders are the same three as last year, but we believe this is the best possible lineup when prioritizing victory. Miller and Locatelli demonstrated overwhelming performance befitting top global riders in qualifying, the Top 10 Trial, and the race in 2025. However, the primary reason for welcoming them back to the team is their dedication. Last year, it was precisely their attitude of challenging with the team's victory as the top priority that allowed us to fight until the very end against our rivals.
This year, we are also planning an employee support tour. With the entire company united in aiming for victory, we want to share the emotional experience of this endeavor with our fans and ourselves.
Lastly, aiming for victory at the Suzuka 8 Hours with Nakasuga-san, who has announced his retirement, is a challenge that holds special significance for the team. We believe this challenge will further strengthen the team's unity as riders, staff, and Yamaha Motor become one towards victory. Please look forward to the YAMAHA FACTORY RACING TEAM's performance at the Suzuka 8 Hours."

Yamaha Motor: https://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/

YAMAHA FACTORY RACING TEAM: https://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/ms/racing/

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