Message of the Suzuka 8 Hours

Yamaha has won the Suzuka 8 Hours race for the first time in 19 years. The 8 Hours is one of three events in the FIM Endurance World Championship calendar but has in the past been a central contest among the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers—the single event they were most invested in winning.

I could see this when factory teams in the Daytona 200 suddenly arrived with exotic quick-release wheels and brake calipers, pneumatic jack stands, and intensive training for refueling and wheel-changing. None of this had been created for the Daytona 200; it was all Suzuka gear, finding a related use.

On the other hand, the 8 Hours has clearly lost importance if Yamaha has failed to win for 19 years. In MotoGP's last 19 years, a Honda rider was champion 11 times and a Yamaha rider six times. This suggests Suzuka has been far less attractive or "essential" to Yamaha than MotoGP.

What has changed? Two things, for sure. First came the “Asian Depression” beginning around 1997 followed by the “World Recession” beginning 2008-09, limiting the extras manufacturers can afford. In the present economy, MotoGP tends to vacuum up any available racing budgets.

Another is that, as in the late lamented Trans-Atlantic Match Races, top riders are either declining to compete in the 8 Hours (they lose weight and become exhausted), or their contracts forbid taking such extra-curricular chances to break a leg.

Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith, two of the three winning Yamaha 8 Hours riders, represent the second echelon in MotoGP. Casey Stoner on a Honda had the ill luck to crash (fracturing his shoulder and ankle) with a stuck throttle while briefly leading, only minutes into his first stint on the bike. He has been away from top-level racing for two seasons.

What has changed for Yamaha is that its new YZF-R1 has received every accolade as the highest expression of MotoGP electronics in a production bike. Such a bike would be worth backing in the 8 Hours.

Despite setbacks such as Espargaro’s yellow-flag penalty, the Yamaha was able to make up time enough to win by more a minute, the only bike remaining on the same lap being a Honda. Why not a larger margin of victory? Good management means winning at the lowest possible speed.

What happened to Stoner? Post-event examination by Honda revealed its throttles to be at 26 percent open.