Reigning MCE British Superbike Champion Tommy Hill has done his first laps aboard the YART Monster Yamaha he will campaign at this year's Suzuka Eight-Hours.

The Surrey man jumped straight on a plane after his triple-win at Sunday's Oulton Park round, arrived in Japan and then got straight on the bike after just one and a half hours sleep. He has pretty much exclusive use of the track to learn where is goes and to get used to the Michelin tyres before coming straight back to the UK.