7th July 2026, SUZUKA, Japan: Honda HRC has done it again. In a rain-lashed, safety-car-strewn 47th running of the Suzuka 8 Hours, the factory Honda squad delivered a masterclass in nerve and strategy to claim a stunning fifth consecutive victory. Starting from pole, Takumi Takahashi set the tone from the first lap, sharing the Honda CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP #30 with Jonathan Rea and Suzuka debutant Somkiat Chantra. As conditions turned increasingly treacherous, Honda leaned on Takahashi and Rea's experience to hold the lead through wave after wave of rain and safety cars. In the closing stages, heavy rain returned and daylight faded. With just 34 minutes left, two safety cars on lap 179 sealed the result, preserving Honda's advantage to the flag after 188 laps. And Honda's depth showed all the way down the order with the SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda crossed the line eighth, Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo followed in ninth, and Team ATJ with NTT docomo Business rounded out a strong top ten for the brand. Additionally, F.C.C. TSR Honda France had been running inside the top five for hours, until a mechanical issue in hour four sent the Honda #5 tumbling to 36th. But the team fought back hard, clawing their way to a 26th-place finish by the flag. Over in Superstock, NCXX RACING with RIDERS CLUB stormed to the class win with an impressive 14th overall, while Wójcik Racing Team #77 SST rounded out the podium in third. Attention now turns to the season finale at the Bol d'Or, September 19 at Circuit Paul Ricard, France.
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