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4w ago

Honda HRC On Pole After Top 10 Trial Canceled at Suzuka 8 Hours

Organisers set the grid by Friday qualifying times, creating strategic uncertainty for teams as weather forecasts for Sunday remain unstable.

Somkiat Chantra, Jonathan Rea, Takumi Takahashi take 2026 Suzuka 8H pole with Honda. Credit: Honda Racing Corporation.
Jonathan Rea, 2026 Suzuka 8 Hours Wednesday test, pit box. Credit: Honda Racing Corporation.
Jack Miller, 2026 Suzuka 8 Hours, pit box. Credit: Yamaha Racing.
Jonathan Rea, 2026 Dutch WorldSBK, pit box. Credit: Gold and Goose.

Overview

  • Heavy rain on Saturday led organisers to cancel the Top 10 Trial, so the full 50-team starting order is locked to Friday’s two-rider qualifying averages.
  • Jonathan Rea set the fastest lap in Friday qualifying (2:04.422) and, combined with Takumi Takahashi’s time, put Honda HRC (Rea/Takahashi/Chantra) on pole.
  • Somkiat Chantra was called up to replace the injured Johann Zarco and has shown steady improvement in testing and qualifying to complete Honda’s revised line-up.
  • Close challengers including the BMW factory EWC team, Marc VDS KM99 and Yamaha Factory Racing start immediately behind Honda and will rely on clean pit work and tyre calls to take advantage.
  • Honda HRC will chase a fifth straight Suzuka 8 Hours victory, but the cancellation hands greater weight to race-day strategy, tyre choice and avoiding errors if changing wet and dry conditions occur on Sunday.