WSB stars head for Japan's 8 Hour Suzuka classic

This coming weekend the Suzuka 8 Hour race in Japan celebrates its 35th edition and the entry list for the FIM-sanctioned Endurance racing classic looks to be one of the strongest in recent years, with 61 teams and 164 riders set to line up at the start. Honda appear to be favourite once again, but Yamaha and Suzuki are also looking particularly competitive this year with several past and present WSB stars coming on board to help boost their efforts.

At the top of the list of candidates for the win must be the Anglo-Japanese pairing of Jonathan Rea, who tackles the race with current Honda test-rider, JSB champion and 2011 winner, Kosuke Akiyoshi (photo) for the F.C.C. TSR Honda team. Rea is no stranger to this race either following two participations in 2008 and 2010.

Takumi Takahashi, three-time WSB race winner Ryuichi Kiyonari and Rea's current team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama will ride for the MuSASHi RT HARC-PRO Honda outfit, with Kiyonari already having four Suzuka wins to his name (in 2005, 2008, 2010 and 2011).

Honda's toughest opposition will probably come from the Monster Energy Yamaha-YART squad of Katsuyuki Nakasuga, current BSB leader Tommy Hill and WSB stalwart, the legendary Noriyuki Haga.

The Yoshimura Suzuki Racing Team have called upon FIXI Crescent's WSB rider Leon Camier, who will join former Australian SBK champion Josh Waters and Nobuatsu Aoki for their leading effort.

European manufacturers will also be represented by three BMW S 1000 RR machines, two Aprilia RSV4 and one KTM RC8R, as well as one Ducati 1199 Panigale entered by the Sugai Racing Team Japan.

First qualifying for the Suzuka 8 Hours race, one of the world's most gruelling and enduring endurance events, takes place on Friday with the race getting underway on Sunday morning.