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Aug 26, 2013

2013 MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship Series Round 6 SUGO Superbike 100 Mile Endurance Race: Racer Takumi Takahashi takes second place for the MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO team with Brakes Supplied by Akebono

Round 6 of the 2013 MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship Series, the SUGO Superbike 100 Mile Endurance Race, was held August 25 at Sportsland SUGO in Miyagi Prefecture, and the MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO team (rider: Takumi Takahashi, Honda CBR1000RR), to which Akebono supplies the braking system, finished in second place.

Round 6 for the JSB1000 class was held as the first endurance race in the All Japan Road Race Championship Series. During the race, each team, up to one or two riders, races a distance of 100 miles (43 laps, approximately 160km) and is required to make at least one pit stop of 15 seconds or longer. These pit stops are a highlight of the race and reveal the strategies of each team including the timing at which they refuel their bikes, replace the tires, and change riders.

The MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO team participated in the race with Takumi Takahashi as its only rider. Takahashi, who is in the top position in this season's point ranking, came in third in the preliminary round the previous day, and in the final race, Takahashi spent the first laps of the race in fourth place, at which point a heated competition between the top four teams unfolded. On the 18th lap, Takahashi successfully moved up to the third position, and on the 38th lap, he advanced again to grab hold of the second position. Then on the third corner of the 42nd lap, Takahashi moved into the lead position, but on the fourth corner, he was overtaken and finished in second place at the checkered flag a mere 0.072 seconds behind the first place finisher. With the successful completion of this race, Takahashi was able to maintain his top spot in the point rankings.

After the race, Takahashi commented, "Looking back, I've had a hard time picking up the pace in the early stages of these races recently, and the same was true this time. I still need to work on controlling the bike and skillfully utilizing the tires. In the second half of the race, I felt confident that I could overtake the riders ahead of me, and I did fight my way to the lead position, but unfortunately was passed. The riders battling for the top position were all extremely exhausted, myself included, and understanding this, I should have been able to win by giving it my all. But unfortunately, I didn't win, which I deeply regret. I intend to do my best in the remaining races."

Round 8 of the 2013 MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship Series, which is the next race in which Takahashi will compete, will be held September 28 and 29 at the Okayama International Circuit in Okayama Prefecture.

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
Course: Dry
Laps: 43 (1 lap: 3,737.5m)
Spectators: 3,800