World Superbike's Ryuichi Kiyonari was one half of the Suzuka 8 Hours-winning Honda team in 2008.
Reports are stating Honda will not participate in this year’s prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race. The news comes on the accompanies similar announcements regarding Honda’s reduced racing effort, the Japanese marque withdrawing from F1 car racing and the AMA Road Racing motorcycle series.
The silver lining in this cloud is word of Honda’s exit from Suzuka was combined with news that it will not lessen its MotoGP effort. So worst-cases disaster scenarios for the embattle MotoGP grid are alleviated somewhat as Honda’s sizable stable of RC212Vs will be unchanged.
Honda will also continue to support motorcycles at Suzuka, just not field a factory team. Last year Honda claimed victory at the coveted endurance race with World Superbike Ten Kate Honda riders Carlos Checa and Ryuichi Kiyonari.
