Milwaukee Yamaha’s Tommy Bridewell will make his Suzuka Eight-Hours debut this year when he joins Kats Nakasuga and MCE British Superbike team-mate Josh Brookes in the Monster YART squad.

Brookes was on the podium at last year’s race and Nakasuga is an Eight-Hours veteran but Bridewell is looking forward to racing at Suzuka for the first time, saying that it is one of the things he has wanted to experience.

“I’m really looking forward to it. It is one of those races that I previously thought would be better done in a small, low-key team but having thought about it, riding with YART and all their experience, data and what have you is a far more valuable way to go about it,” said Bridewell, speaking to bikesportnews.com.

“I have been able to up my training regime in recent months so I am hoping I should be able to cope with the heat, and spending long stints on the bike, well enough. It will be a learning year for me so I am not expecting there to be a lot of pressure on me. I just want to go out there and enjoy the experience.

“There will be different tyres to learn but I have already been doing my homework on the track. I think that if I can get into a rhythm of doing 2’09s or 2’10s then I should be happy enough on my first go out there. It should be good fun.”