EWC: Brookes and Guintoli team up for Suzuka 8 Hour

MCE British Superbike rivals Josh Brookes and Sylvain Guintoli will team up for the 2017 Suzuka 8 hour race this July, with the pair announced alongside Suzuki MotoGP test rider Takuya Tsuda at the Yoshimura Suzuki team.

Brookes will return to the factory team that he took to podium success in 2013, and says he’s out to take a step forward in 2017: “The Suzuka 8 Hour is very important to me and I have always had aspirations of winning here. It is a great privilege to be invited to join Yoshimura Suzuki again this year and after our podium success together in 2013 and 2016, I’m really looking forward to riding the new bike and aiming for the top step together again this year.”

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And while normally a rival on track in the British championship, former world champion Guintoli says that he’s excited to make his debut at the prestigious race: “The 8 Hours of Suzuka is famous for being one of the most important and difficult motorcycle race in the World. It represents a great challenge so I am very excited to be a part of the prestigious Yoshimura Suzuki Team with the new GSX-R1000. My last experience in Endurance racing was fantastic with Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the 8 Hours of Doha in 2010. We won the race and the world championship for Suzuki so I hope we can go to the top step again.”

The pair will join Suzuki MotoGP test rider Tsuda on the brand new GSX-R1000, and with Brookes and Guintoli joining the three-time local podium finisher on the factory-supported bike, team manager Yohei Kato says that they’re certain of their targets for the race.

“Yoshimura Suzuki MOTUL Racing will race to win the 40th Suzuka 8 hours World Endurance Championship with 3 experienced riders, Takuya Tsuda, Sylvain Guintoli, and Josh Brookes.

The new GSX-R1000 has been developed through All Japan Championship JSB1000 series, and it will be faster and stronger than ever by the time of the Suzuka 8 hours.

“Carrying expectations of Suzuki who released the new GSX-R1000 and all Yoshimura fans with their great support, we will race for the 5th champion of Suzuka 8 Hours together with three reliable riders.”

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