Suzuki return to Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race with greener GSX-R1000R running 100% sustainable fuel

Suzuki will return to the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race this August 1-3, continuing their carbon-neutral racing project while hoping to build on last year’s eighth-place result.

Team Suzuki CN Challenge will run an upgraded GSX-R1000R dripping with even more planet-friendly tech this time around – including 100% sustainable fuel and aerodynamic wings, which could hint at future road bike development.

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The bike will once again be competing in the Experimental Class, with Suzuki ditching the 40% bio-sourced petrol mix used last year in favour of a 100% sustainable blend provided by TotalEnergies – a feat MotoGP intends to replicate by 2027.

Taking the base 199bhp machine (which left European showrooms with the introduction of Euro5 restrictions), the endurance racer will sport a full superbike trim, including upgraded chassis and cycle parts, such as the swingarm, suspension, and brakes.

Leading the effort again is former MotoGP team boss Shinichi Sahara, with ex-Suzuki MotoGP and endurance test rider Takuya Tsuda returning to pilot the bike. The team is primarily composed of Suzuki employees, working in close collaboration with Yoshimura Japan.

Suzuki President, Toshihiro Suzuki said: “Although it was a whole new challenge for the company in the previous year’s participation, thanks to the support of partner companies including Yoshimura Japan, as well as enthusiastic cheers from our fans, we were able to achieve eighth place overall.

“We will continue to participate this year in the Suzuka 8 Hours as a part of the company’s technology development in the sustainability field.

“This not only means that we’re simply continuing our activity, but we’re also having the purpose of overcoming various issues by setting higher goals, and I believe that by making products as one team along with our partner companies, it would lead to realizing a better future. I kindly ask for everyone’s cheers.”

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The bike’s carbon bodywork is recycled, its fenders are made from flax, and its inline-four motor – which will be pushed at a race pace for eight hours – will be lubricated by bio-based oil from Motul.

New for 2025 is the introduction of front aero wings – absent from last year’s machine – hinting at possible ongoing development behind the scenes. Tyres come courtesy of Bridgestone and feature an increased ratio of recycled and recyclable materials compared with last year.

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Yoshimura will supply a full-system exhaust also, complete with a catalytic converter to absorb some emissions and made from an eco-friendly titanium called TranTixxii.

Even the brake pads to be used have been engineered to minimise dust, and the uniform worn by the entire team will be constructed from 100% recycled fabric.

Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Executive General Manager of Motorcycle Operations, added: “Last year, we were able to take one significant step toward the future of internal combustion and motorsports.

“This year we will expand the use of sustainable items and make efforts for technology development.”

This year’s race marks the 46th running of the event, which forms part of the 2025 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC).