FIM Endurance
Honda announces works 2023 Suzuka 8h line-up, adds Vierge
Honda has announced its works rider line-up for this year's Suzuka 8 Hours, with Xavi Vierge replacing Tetsuta Nagashima on last year's winning Team HRC machine.
Jamie Klein
Edited: Jun 27, 2023, 11:41 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Following its first victory in the Japanese endurance classic for eight years last year, Honda is aiming to defend its title with Vierge sharing the #33 Honda CBR1000RR-R with Takumi Takahashi and Iker Lecuona.
Vierge served as the reserve rider last year after taking part in pre-event testing, but now steps up to join his World Superbike team-mate Lecuona as well as Takahashi, who competes in the Stock 1000 category of All-Japan Superbike.
“This will be the first time for me to ride in the Suzuka 8 Hours," commented Vierge. "I am very happy to be able to ride as a rider in the same stage where so many riders have created legends.
"Iker Lecuona is my teammate in WSBK, and Takumi Takahashi is a great rider who has won many 8 Hours races in the past. I believe that we can win this race to work hard three riders together. Please give us your power!”
Nagashima, who impressed with his speed at Suzuka last year, will serve as HRC test rider this year after making way in the works line-up for Vierge.
“Unfortunately, due to an injury to my left foot, I was not in perfect condition at the time of entry this year," said the Japanese rider. "However, I am working on my rehabilitation so that I will be able to race.
"I have a special passion for the 8 Hours and have not given up on it. I am still in the process of recovery, but I would be happy to join the Team HRC again.”
In addition to the works Team HRC effort, Honda is supporting a number of other teams using the CBR1000RR-R.
Josh Hook, Mike di Meglio and Alan Techer will represent TSR Honda France, their regular team in the FIM Endurance World Championship. Techer replaces Gino Rea from last year's line-up after Rea suffered serious injuries in a crash.
Elsewhere, Japan Superbike rider Teppei Nagoe spearheads the line-up for SDG Honda Racing, British Superbike legend Ryuichi Kiyonari returns for Toho Racing and Ryo Mizuno, another ex-BSB racer, joins Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing.
Leandro Mercado, who previously rode for Honda's WSBK satellite squad MIE Racing, will compete at Suzuka in an all-international line-up for Honda Viltais Racing alongside Steven Odendaal and Florian Alt.
Honda looks set to be the only one of Japan's major manufacturers with a full works presence on the grid at Suzuka this year, with Kawasaki having already announced it won't participate with its factory team.
Read Also:
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Why Aston Martin won’t copy Red Bull F1 floor design
Next article Super Formula Lights reveals plans for one-make engine
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jamie Klein
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
1 mo
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
1 mo
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
More from
Xavi Vierge
Honda set to keep current riders in '23, no room for Nakagami
World Superbike
World Superbike Aug 12, 2022
Honda set to keep current riders in '23, no room for Nakagami
Honda WSBK rider Vierge suffers multiple fractures in Misano crash
World Superbike
World Superbike
Misano
Jun 13, 2022
Honda WSBK rider Vierge suffers multiple fractures in Misano crash
Honda "really impressed" by WSBK rookies Lecuona and Vierge
World Superbike
World Superbike Jan 27, 2022
Honda "really impressed" by WSBK rookies Lecuona and Vierge
More from
Team HRC
Marc Marquez admits first Sunday MotoGP 2023 finish “looks like a joke”
MotoGP
MotoGP
Austrian GP
Aug 21, 2023
Marc Marquez admits first Sunday MotoGP 2023 finish “looks like a joke”
Nagashima replaces injured Lecuona for WSBK finale
World Superbike
World Superbike
Phillip Island
Nov 17, 2022
Nagashima replaces injured Lecuona for WSBK finale
Honda test rider Nagashima gets Motegi MotoGP wildcard
MotoGP
MotoGP
Japanese GP
Sep 2, 2022
Honda test rider Nagashima gets Motegi MotoGP wildcard
Latest news
The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
25 min
The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down
2027 Formula E drivers and teams: The line-up so far
Formula E
FE Formula E 2 h
2027 Formula E drivers and teams: The line-up so far
Kimi Antonelli meets Italian president Sergio Mattarella
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 2 h
Kimi Antonelli meets Italian president Sergio Mattarella
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe