Aug 1, 2013
FIM Endurance World Championship Series "Coca-Cola Zero" Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race (Suzuka 8 Hours): MuSASHi RT HARC-Pro Victorious with Brakes Supplied by Akebono!
The "Coca-Cola Zero" Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race (Suzuka 8 Hours), the final race of the FIM Endurance World Championship Series, was held on July 28 at the Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture, and the MuSASHi RT HARC-Pro team (riders: Takumi Takahashi, Leon Haslam, and Michael Van Der Mark, motorcycle: Honda CBR1000RR), to which Akebono supplies the braking system, captured the victory.
The TOP10 trials that were held the previous day were plagued by rain, resulting in the trials being changed to a time based qualifying session by the top 10. While not as fast the top two teams in the qualifying session, the MuSASHi RT HARC-Pro team (HARC-Pro) set a mark of 2'07.260 to obtain the 3rd grid position, giving the team hope of maintaining a strong performance to win the final race.
Despite the rain in the earlier trials, the final race started with clear, sunny weather. The top group was formed of four teams that had all received high preliminary reviews including the HARC-Pro team, the F.C.C. TSR Honda team, the Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team, and the MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA-YART team. The race progressed with the teams continuously trading the top positions in a furious fight, and then on the 11th lap, the HARC-Pro team gained the lead position. After exchanging riders, the MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA-YART team gradually fell behind, and in the midst of a battle by the riders in the top three positions, HARC-Pro was overtaken by F.C.C. TSR Honda, putting HARC-Pro in second place.
On the 58th lap, at which point 2 hours had passed since the start of the race, the F.C.C. TSR Honda rider overturned on the Degner Curve, forcing the team to retire. On the 68th lap, the Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team fell behind after suffering a penalty and overturning, and the HARC-Pro team found itself alone in the lead.
Next, the HARC-Pro team steadily distanced itself from the trailing riders, and was poised to lap the 2nd place and other remaining riders. Then in the midst of rain that began to fall in the last hour of the race, the Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team riding in second place began to gain on the HARC-Pro team, but rather than changing to wet tires, the HARC-Pro team persevered and kept running on slick tires, capturing the top spot at the checkered flag. This was the HARC-Pro team's second victory following its win in 2010.
Akebono participated in JSB1000, the top category of the All Japan Road Race Championship Series, from 2004 to 2008. In the 2011 season, Akebono took part for the first time in two years, and in the 2012-2013 season, too, Akebono is supplying the brake system for the MuSASHi RT HARC-Pro.
RACE DATA
Weather: Fine / Rain
Course: Dry / Wet
Spectators: 61,000
Number of Racing Teams: 63
Winner: MuSASHi RT HARC-Pro 214 laps (8 hours)
