Yamaha has confirmed its return to the Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race with a full factory team in 2025, as part of the Japanese manufacturer’s 70th anniversary celebrations.

The announcement was made in Tokyo alongside the unveiling of a retro-inspired white and red livery. 

Four-time Suzuka 8 Hours winner Katsuyuki Nakasuga was named as the first rider in the three-man squad, with the remaining two seats set to be filled by Yamaha’s top talent from MotoGP and World Superbike.

That means Yamaha has a deep pool of riders to choose from, including former MotoGP world champion Fabio Quartararo, grand prix winners Alex Rins, Jack Miller, and Miguel Oliveira, as well as six-time World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea, Andrea Locatelli, Remy Gardner, and Dominique Aegerter.

Among the MotoGP contingent, new Pramac signing Jack Miller has the most Superbike race experience from several end-of-season outings in the Australian SBK championship on a Ducati.

The last time Yamaha’s factory team won the Suzuka 8 Hours was in 2018, when Nakasuga shared victory with Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark. 

Since then, rival manufacturers have dominated, with Kawasaki taking the 2019 victory – a team that included Rea – before HRC secured a hat-trick of wins in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

MotoGP riders Johann Zarco and Takaaki Nakagami were part of Honda’s winning team last year.

The last time Yamaha hired full-time MotoGP riders for a Suzuka assault it brought instant success.

Pol Espargaro and Bradley Smith won alongside Nakasuga in 2015, with Espargaro also returning to defend the 8 Hours crown with Nakasuga and Alex Lowes the following year. 

When is the 2025 Suzuka 8 Hours?

The 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours will take place from August 1-3, 2025, as round three of the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC). 

The timing coincides with MotoGP’s summer break, making it possible for grand prix stars to join the event without clashing with their primary commitments.