Takuma Aoki's Motorsport Life Vol. 29 [2026 Suzuka 8 Hours Discussion] A Huge Upset in the Rainy Suzuka — 3 SCs, First Ever SC Finish in History! HRC Achieves 5 Consecutive Victories!

Photo by : FIM EWC

In a word, this year's Suzuka 8 Hours was a "rain-soaked, turbulent 8 Hours." That sums it up perfectly.

Held about a month earlier than usual, right in the middle of the rainy season. The final race day turned into 8 hours of being at the mercy of the rain. And with a staggering three Safety Car (SC) interventions, the race concluded in an unprecedented fashion, with the checkered flag waved under SC conditions for the first time in history.

The SC system requires all vehicles to follow the pace car without overtaking. It's the most dreaded scenario in an 8-hour race, as it nullifies any accumulated lead or time gaps. This year's SC interventions were:

• 1st time: 12:05 PM - #4 "Tati Team AVA6 Racing" leaked oil from its engine at 130R, requiring cleanup.
• 2nd time: 1:05 PM - Following a crash by #3 "SANMEI Team TARO PLUSONE with SDG" at the second S-curve. The SC period was extended due to fluctuating rain intensity.
• 3rd time: 6:55 PM - Consecutive crashes at the Reverse Bank and renewed rainfall. This led to a red flag and the checkered flag.

These were the three acts of the race.

"Takuma Aoki's Motorsport Life" Previous Article Here!

Shumitsu Urata of AutoRace Ube Shines!

Photo by : AutoRace Ube Racing Team

First, I have to talk about #76 AutoRace Ube Racing Team. They were the highlight right from the start!

While #12 Yoshimura SERT Motul took the holeshot in the Le Mans-style start, it was "Shumitsu Urata" who showed an even more incredible reaction. In no time, he passed #30 HRC's "Takumi Takahashi" and took the lead from the opening lap! What's more, he built a comfortable margin, making the stands at Suzuka erupt with cheers.

This year, Urata was competing with BMW Motorrad factory rider "Sylvain Guintoli." As a member of the AutoRace Ube family, I was honestly thrilled.

However, the race dynamics changed dramatically with the first SC intervention just 35 minutes after the start. The hard-earned advantage was instantly reset. I can only imagine how frustrating it must have been for Urata himself. Despite this, he never gave up, finishing the race in 5th place. For a privateer team to finish in the top 5 was a performance that held more value than the result itself.

Katsuyuki Nakasuga's Final Year, Yamaha's Pride

Photo by : Yamaha Motor Racing Information

And then there's #21 YAMAHA FACTORY RACING TEAM, who are impossible to ignore this year. Their ace, "Katsuyuki Nakasuga," had announced his retirement at the end of this season. It was an incredibly emotional final year for the undisputed king who had won 13 JSB1000 championships.

The team consisted of "Jack Miller" and "Andrea Locatelli" alongside Nakasuga. However, in the final race, Nakasuga only rode for one stint, with Miller and Locatelli handling the bulk of the riding. Nakasuga watched from the pit, connecting the bike at crucial moments. This was Yamaha's strategic "resolve." In the mid to late stages, Yamaha put immense pressure on HRC, narrowing the gap to the leaders to just a few seconds. Miller's speed in the rain was undeniable, and seeing him carry the baton passed by Nakasuga forward was truly moving.

Takumi Takahashi's Fierce Ride, Refusing to Let Nakasuga Win Easily

Photo by : FIM EWC

Responding directly to Yamaha's charge was HRC's Takumi Takahashi. It was truly incredible.

With his greatest rival of many years at Suzuka, Nakasuga, having decided to retire this year, Takahashi's determination to "absolutely not let him win and retire" was evident in his riding. After the race, Takahashi himself commented, "I'm glad I didn't let Nakasuga win and retire," and his riding perfectly embodied those words.

Even as the Yamaha riders closed in in the rain, he maintained his pace, calmly regrouping after each SC intervention to defend the lead. It wasn't just skill; it was the pride of a champion who refused to yield, perfectly executed with flawless laps. With a solid two-rider relay alongside Jonathan Rea, this was truly the performance of a champion who "won because he was meant to win."

And Another Piece of History – BMW #37 Achieves First Podium for a Foreign Manufacturer!

Photo by : BMW Motorrad Motorsport

And then there was another historic moment at this year's 8 Hours: the machine that took the third step of the podium. #37 BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team!

This marked the first-ever podium finish for a foreign manufacturer (European maker) in the long history of the Suzuka 8 Hours. While the podium has traditionally been dominated by Japan's four major manufacturers – Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki – BMW, with their M 1000 RR, navigated the harsh conditions of rain and three SC interventions to secure third place. This event etched a new page in the 47-year history of the 8 Hours. It was a moment where BMW's development efforts and their full-season EWC participation finally bore fruit.

The First Ever SC Finish, and HRC's 5th Consecutive Victory

Photo by : HRC

"It's not over until it's over," we thought, as the third SC was deployed at 6:55 PM. Following renewed rainfall in the twilight and consecutive crashes, the SC was introduced, leading to a dramatic conclusion with a red flag at 7:31 PM and the checkered flag waved under SC conditions for the first time in Suzuka 8 Hours history.

The winners were #30 HRC, completing 188 laps to achieve their 5th consecutive victory. For Takahashi, this was his unprecedented 8th win. Yamaha, with Nakasuga's final year, took second place, followed by the historic first podium for BMW #37 in third, and AutoRace Ube in fifth – a lineup of truly memorable results.

An Unforgettable Race

Eight hours at the mercy of the rain, three SC interventions, an unprecedented SC finish, Urata's brilliant performance, Yamaha's second place in Nakasuga's final year, BMW's historic first podium for a foreign manufacturer, and HRC's 5th consecutive win with Takahashi's 8th victory – thank you to all the fans and staff who braved the rain to support us! It was truly an exhausting but rewarding race.

Perhaps the Suzuka 8 Hours is best suited for a hot summer?! But then again, late July can be excessively scorching.