Jonathan Rea’s FCC TSR Honda squad set the fastest time in the opening Suzuka Eight-Hours free practice sessions, grabbing top spot with five minutes to go with a 2’08.215 with Leon Haslam’s Musashi squad following them into second with their last flying lap of 2’08.335
Josh Brookes’ Monster Yamaha team had been in top spot for a majority of the session, swapping times with FCC TSR but they slipped into third place with their fastest of 2’09.306 while Team Kagayama secured fourth.
Honda Endurance Racing, starring Julien Da Costa, bagged fifth place with a lap 1.4s off on their Dunlop tyres compared to the front runners’ favoured Bridgestones.
Yoshimura Suzuki’s main team, starring Josh Waters and Randy De Puniet, ended the day in seventh place with a 2’09.721 while Kevin Schwanz’s Legends squad were in tenth place on a 2’10.625.
Tommy Bridewell Monster YART team, who are running on Pirellis, ended in 30th place on a 2’14.376. The Milwaukee Yamaha BSB man has experienced Suzuka veteran Wayne Maxwell in the team so expect them to move up the order tomorrow.
More later
