The Latest Breaking News from Takumi Takahashi

Johann Zarco gave up MotoGP’s summer break to race - and win - the Suzuka 8 Hours for Honda, after the team failed to sort out the paperwork for Xavi Vierge, leaving the Frenchman and Takumi Takahashi as a duo in a race designed for trios.

Factory Honda rider Luca Marini has dislocated his hip in a fall while testing for the Suzuka 8 Hours.

Takumi Takahashi, Tetsuta Nagashima and Xavi Vierge took the top spot on the factory #33 HRC Fireblade after a virtually unchallenged run in the Japanese endurance classic, beating the Toho Racing team by a full lap.

Takumi Takahashi held a two-minute advantage on the #33 HRC CBR1000RR-R he shares with Tetsuta Nagashima and Xavi Vierge after four hours of racing at the Suzuka Circuit, putting the factory Honda squad on course for a second consecutive win in the Japanese endurance classic.

Xavi Vierge and Tetsuta Nagashima combined to set an average time of 2m05.624s at the Suzuka circuit, claiming pole position by 0.193s on the #33 factory HRC entry they share with Takumi Takahashi.

Nagashima was part of last year's winning Honda squad alongside Lecuona and Takumi Takahashi, but was replaced by Xavi Vierge when the marque made its initial 2023 announcement last month.

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.

Honda test rider Tetsuta Nagashima has been handed the chance to make his MotoGP debut in this month's Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi as a wildcard.

Leon Haslam feels Kawasaki should have no reason to be disappointed with a second-place finish in the Suzuka 8 Hours after being outshone by a dominant Honda team.