Britain’s Bradley Smith has topped the timesheets in the opening day of practice at the 2015 Suzuka Eight-Hours with his Factory Yamaha team lapping a second faster than the competition.
Smith, who is riding with Monster Yamaha team-mate Pol Espargaro and Yamaha test man Kats Nakasuga, put in a 2’07.282 on their Bridgestone-shod R1 compared to the 2’08.254 of the Toho Moriwaki team which features former MotoGP star Toni Elias.
Alex Lowes and the Yoshimura Suzuki team, which also has BSB rider Josh Waters, were third on a 2’08.403 while Jonathan Rea former team FCC TSR - with Dominique Aegerter and Kyle Smith as two riders - were fourth on a 2’08.438.
Reigning champions Musashi Honda, with Casey Stoner and Michael Van Der Mark, ended in fifth place on a 2’08.462. Team Kagayama were sixth with Ryuichi Kiyonari unhurt after suffering a fall at Spoon Curve.
Tommy Bridewell’s Penz13.com BME squad finished in 16th, Jason O’Halloran and the Honda Dream Sakuri bike were 14th overall with Broc Parkes’ Monster YART squad in 17th.
