While the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship paddock is beginning a few weeks of rest, some riders are heading to Japan for the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race. Iker Lecuona (Honda HRC) was scheduled to be part of the Honda HRC factory line-up but, after suffering fractures to his left distal forearm, was forced to withdraw from the event. In his place, WorldSBK teammate Xavi Vierge will race at the prestigious event.

Vierge raced at Suzuka in 2023 alongside Tetsuta Nagashima and Takumi Takahashi with the trio winning the event on the CBR1000RR-R machine. The Spanish rider has the chance to make it two wins in three years when he races at this year’s event, with Vierge set to race alongside Takahashi again. The other rider in this year’s trio will be two-time MotoGP winner Johann Zarco, who won the race in 2024.

A statement from Honda read: “Following Saturday’s incident during Race 1 at Round 8 of the World Superbike Championship in Balaton (Hungary), in which Iker Lecuona sustained fractures to his left distal forearm and was declared unfit to continue the weekend’s action, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) confirms a change to its rider lineup for the upcoming 46th edition of the “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race, part of the 2025 FIM Endurance World Championship, scheduled for 3 August 2025.

“In place of Lecuona, the factory team “Honda HRC” will field WorldSBK teammate Xavi Vierge, who will line up alongside Takumi Takahashi and Johann Zarco. Vierge was already part of the winning HRC factory lineup in 2023 (together with Takahashi and Tetsuta Nagashima).

“HRC expresses its full support and best wishes to Iker Lecuona for a prompt recovery.”

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