Marc VDS Honda rider Jack Miller will make his debut at the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race later this year with the MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO Honda team.
The Australian, currently in the third and final year of his HRC contract in MotoGP, has been keen to contest the iconic endurance race and eluded at the Catalunya Grand Prix that a deal was done for him to compete.
Miller will be joined by Moto2 race winner and potential 2018 LCR Honda rider Takaaki Nakagami. Takumi Takahashi completes the line-up, the Japanese rider a three-times winner of the event in 2010, 2013 and 2015, the first of those alongside Nakagami.
Despite 2017 marking Miler’s first appearance at the Suzuka 8 Hours, the Australian still has his sights set on joining an elite list of MotoGP winners at the event, which includes the likes of Valentino Rossi, Wayne Gardner and Tadayuki Okada.
“I’m excited to be racing for the first time at the Suzuka 8 Hours race with a highly competitive Honda team, MuSASHi HARC-PRO Honda,” said Miller.
“Endurance races are different to other road races, and this will be a great opportunity for me. I’ll be aiming for the top of the podium, battling a tough race, along with a very talented, competitive team.”
Miller will not be the only star from the international scene to contest Suzuka this year. Honda World Superbike rider Stefan Bradl joins the FCC TSR Honda squad – who last won in 2012 – along with double Suzuka podium finisher and Moto2 race winner Dominique Aegerter.
Also from WorldSBK, Pata Yamaha duo Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark will be out to claim the Japanese manufacturer’s third successive Suzuka win. Lowes took victory alongside Pol Espargaro in last year’s event, while van der Mark helped the MuSASHi team to wins in 2013 and 2014.
Van der Mark was joined by 2016 British Superbike runner-up Leon Haslam for both of those years, the Briton now hoping to add a third Suzuka victory to his tally with the factory Kawasaki squad.
Fellow BSB riders Josh Brookes and Sylvain Guintoli will form two thirds of the Yoshimura Suzuki team, while Jason O’Halloran will contest the event with the Dream Sakurai Honda squad.
The 40th running of the Suzuka 8 Hours takes place on July 28-30.
