The last time we saw Yamaha compete in the iconic Suzuka 8 Hours race, Japan's round of the FIM Endurance World Championship, was in 2019. And if you bleed blue, that should make you sad.
But never fear, Yamaha's about to turn that frown upside down.
The factory team is preparing to contest the event, which takes place from August 1 through 3, 2025, as part of the company's 70th anniversary celebrations. Yamaha was founded on July 1, 1955, and it raced in the Mount Fuji Ascent Race just 10 days later. To honor such a storied history, Yamaha has decorated the team's YZF-R1 with significant features from the brand's past, starting with its livery.
The iconic red and white paint scheme that once came as standard on the limited-edition YZF-R7, which was released in 1999, is thankfully on display again. This might seem like a somewhat random bike to pay tribute to until you realize that the team manager is Wataru Yoshikawa, who raced the YZF-R7 at the 1999 Suzuka 8 Hours.
The team's logo won't be the current Yamaha one, but will instead be an updated version of the one used in the late 90s. Everything from the rider and team clothing to the pit garage will channel Yamaha's 1999 identity.
This year, quadruple Suzuka 8 Hours winner Katsuyuki Nakasuga is the Yamaha Factory team's first signing. Nakasuga was part of the line-up that gave Yamaha its most recent Suzuka 8 Hours victory in 2018, and has a total of 89 race victories and 12 titles in the All Japan Road Race Championship’s JSB1000 category. The rest of the three-strong team will be filled by riders competing in MotoGP and World Superbike.
The eagle-eyed amongst you will have already noticed the number 21 on the fairing. This is a hat tip that dates back to 1985 when the team was sponsored by the Shiseido skincare brand through its TECH 21 range. Let us know what you think about Yamaha's chances in the Suzuka 8 Hours race this year.
