From PlayStation to Pit Lane: I finally covered the Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours

For decades, the Suzuka Circuit existed for me exclusively in the PlayStation controller, a legendary track layout I memorised through simulated laps of the Spoon Curve, the double apex Turn 1, esses and the flat-out 130R. But finally in humid August race day I am at the Mie Prefecture.

Coming from a background focused heavily on Formula 1 and MotoGP, endurance racing always felt like a completely different discipline on paper. Seeing it live during the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours 2025 shifts your perspective entirely. Pit stops, rider changes, riders sprinting to the motorcycle, night floodlights and harsh conditions.

The Front-Runners: Team HRC Dominates, Yamaha's 70th Anniversary Livery

The 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours delivered: a tactical masterclass in execution from Honda, and a massive 70th anniversary celebration heritage from Yamaha.

Team HRC took a commanding victory on domestic soil.

Team HRC secured a commanding victory on home turf with the trio of Takumi Takahashi, Johann Zarco, and Iker Lecuona. The win marks a historic milestone for Takahashi, who now holds the all-time record with six individual Suzuka 8 Hours victories. Zarco transitioned seamlessly from the MotoGP paddock, immediately adapting his high-corner-speed style to the heavier, endurance-spec CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP.

While Honda locked down the top step, the visual and emotional centerpiece of the weekend belonged to the factory Yamaha Racing Team. Celebrating Yamaha’s 70th anniversary in international racing, the factory YZF-R1 rolled out in a stunning retro white-and-red speedblock livery.

The star-studded lineup of legendary domestic veteran Katsuyuki Nakasuga, MotoGP's Jack Miller, and WorldSBK's Andrea Locatelli pushed HRC to the absolute limit. Miller launched a fierce mid-race charge, slicing a 45-second deficit down to 21 seconds during his stint. In the final hours, Locatelli laid down a blistering lap record of 2'06.729 on lap 186 to hunt down Takahashi after a safety car deployment packed the field. They ultimately secured second place, just 34.2 seconds adrift of the winners.

In contrast, the full-time EWC title contenders Yamalube YART Yamaha suffered an incredibly tough weekend. Two separate crashes resulted in severe mechanical damage, forcing a rare and costly retirement from the race.

Trackside Perspective: Shooting a Real Race at Night

Moving away from the media center to trackside corners like Turn 1 and the final Chicane changes how you perceive the speed. In Turn 1, the entry velocity is terrifying; riders drop anchors from nearly 300 km/h, pitching heavy superbikes into the right-hander with extreme violence. At the final Chicane, the sudden change of direction requires immense physical leverage as riders fight for traction on heavily worn rubber. Sneaking a few quick photos of the bikes sitting pristine in the pit boxes before the race offered a stark contrast to the grime, melted rubber, and exhaust soot that would coat them hours later.

The real test, however, began when the sun dipped below the grandstands. Shooting a professional race in total darkness introduces unique technical hurdles.

Camera quipment: Sony FX3, Samyang 35-150mm f/2-2.8, Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 and the Samyang 35mm f/1.8

The final hour of the Suzuka 8 Hours is unlike anything else in motorsport. As the superbikes scream through the dark, thousands of fans fill the grandstands, waving glowing electronic sticks. It creates a massive, pulsing wall of light that mirrors the intensity on the tarmac. Honda reasserted its domestic dominance, and Yamaha put on a masterclass in heritage and raw pace, but the true takeaway is that Suzuka demands everything from riders, machinery, and media alike.