Honda secures 31st Suzuka 8 hours Endurance Race victory
Honda is proud to announce that its factory team, the Honda HRC, has won the 2025 FIM Endurance World Championship “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Road Race. Riding the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, the team of Takumi Takahashi and Johann Zarco secured their fourth consecutive victory at the Suzuka Circuit on Sunday, August 3.
This win also marks a significant milestone for Honda, as it is the company’s 31st victory at the prestigious event.
Takahashi extended his all-time record for the most Suzuka 8 Hours wins to seven, with four of those being consecutive. Zarco, on the other hand, also achieved his second consecutive win. The team’s path to victory began with a strong performance in qualifying, which led to a spot in the Top 10 Trial.
There, Zarco set a new Suzuka 8 Hours lap record with a time of 2 minutes 4.290 seconds, securing pole position for the team.
The race on Sunday saw Takahashi take the lead from the start. Although he briefly fell to second, he regained the lead on Lap 14 and steadily built a commanding advantage. Through consistent performance, efficient pit stops, and strong fuel management, the team established a one-lap lead over the second-place team by the halfway point. Despite two late safety car deployments that closed the gap, Honda HRC maintained its lead.
Zarco crossed the finish line on Lap 217, securing a 40-second lead and sealing the team’s historic fourth consecutive victory.
Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), expressed his deep gratitude to the team and its supporters, acknowledging their resilience in the extreme heat. He praised Takahashi for his record-breaking seventh victory and thanked Zarco for his continued dedication. Watanabe also extended his appreciation to all sponsors and fans, vowing that HRC will continue to strive for excellence in motorsport.
