2023 Suzuka 8 Hours results: Honda dominate with 1-2-3-4 finish
The Japanese manufacturer dominated on home soil, racking up a 1-2-3-4 finish in the world famous endurance race. It was Honda’s 29th win, a record.
2023 Suzuka 8 Hours results#FIMEWC #Suzuka8hours pic.twitter.com/qM7JM7S0Bh
— FIM EWC (@FIM_EWC) August 6, 2023
The victorious #33 HRC Fireblade trio beat their nearest challengers, the #104 Toho Racing, by a full lap.
Takahashi’s fifth win at the race makes him the joint-most successful-ever rider at the Suzuka 8 Hours, alongside Tohru Ukawa.
Vierge became a first-time winner, emulating Iker Lecuona who won last year. Lecuona pulled out of this year's Suzuka 8 Hours because Honda needed him to ride at the British MotoGP instead.
Takahashi initially started poorly but his advantage in machinery came to the fore and he had reclaimed the lead by Lap 11.
The #7 Yamaha, which threatened the eventual winners in the early stages, retired with a mechanical problem in the second hour.
Ex-WorldSBK rider Ryuichi Kiyonari, Takuma Kunimine and Ikuhiro Enokido were the runners-up.
The #73 SDG Honda Racing, with Naomichi Uramoto, Teppei Nagoe and Haruki Noguchi, completed an all-Honda podium.
Britain's Tarran Mackenzie was part of the FCC TSR Honda unit who finished fourth, and retook the Endurance World Championship points lead.
The best non-Honda finish was fifth, the #76 Suzuki of Britain's Dan Linfoot and Takuya Tsuda.
