Andrea Locatelli aided the Yamaha Racing Team to a second-place finish on their return to the Suzuka 8 Hours.

For the first time in his career, Andrea Locatelli was able to compete in the Suzuka 8 Hours for the factory Yamaha Racing Team.

The Italian rider teamed up with Prima Pramac Racing MotoGP rider, Jack Miller and four-time Suzuka 8 Hours winner Katsuyuki Nakasuga.

Locatelli, who competes in the World Superbike Championship with Pata Maxus Yamaha, set the fastest lap of the eight-hour race with a 2:06.604.

The 28-year-old aided the Yamaha Racing Team on their way to a second-place finish on their return to the iconic event.

"I'm pretty happy with this performance. We try to do our best," Locatelli said.

"Nakasuga-san made the best thing that he can. Jack also. I did my best. We finished only second.

"I would like to try to win, but anyway, I think we did an amazing job. So we are to be quite happy. We did an amazing weekend.

"For me, it was a first experience. I'm really, really happy. I want to say a big thanks to Yamaha to give me this amazing opportunity. Now I can say that maybe I made one of the hardest races in my life. My hand is completely done, so anyway…

"But good performance, good feeling on the bike for sure. I hope to come back in the future again because it's an amazing experience. It's an unbelievable track. So yeah, let's see.

"I'm proud to be here and I'm proud to all the guys that are working hard all weekend.

"Also I made a good lap time in the race, so I think it's also a new record lap of the race. So yeah, I need to be happy now we have summer holiday!"