2017 YOSHIMURA SUZUKI Motul

Fujio Yoshimura / President

The first Suzuka 8 Hour Endurance Race in 1978 was the most memorable race in my whole life! The race plan that we’ve had towards Suzuka 8 hours was just simple, “Go flat out for 8 hours, just like a sprint race!” but the race plan of Honda RCBs would have been different that they kept their theoretical endurance style. It is obvious that Yoshimura’s style for the endurance race was far different from what most Japanese fans and motorcycle manufactures have imagined. It is because their thoughts were based on Honda RCBs who have won 4 consecutive FIM Endurance World Titles. In 1977, Takazumi Katayama won his first 350class World GP Title and his lap time in European circuits were about equal to so called “Unsinkable Fleet of RCB”! Well, in the US side, on the other hand, Wes Cooley on the Yoshimura tuned Z1 was doing fair battle against Yamaha TZ350 at local race events. So, we knew we’ve got the power to fight against RCB. But we’ve never known “8 Hours Endurance Race” was going to be held at Suzuka Circuit at that time! In late 1977, we’ve heard the news of the world-class race event would be scheduled at Suzuka Circuit and Honda would bring their triumphant RCB for the first time to the Japanese fans, wow!! We’ve never ever thought, one year later, we would show up in Suzuka with Suzuki GS1000 and head against the Honda RCBs which were supposed to be rewarded at Suzuka Circuit for another glorious victory to their record books. In those days, American road races were never highly valued by any of Japanese fans neither motorcycle manufacturers but Europe was the place to be for all the glorious heritage of racing. So, Honda RCBs and its riders were more than special that, as we all knew, they’ve won 4 consecutive world endurance titles in Europe. Meanwhile Yoshimura tuned GS1000 only had high street type handle bar and small bikini fairing, and our riders, Wes Cooley and Mike Baldwin, were showing their unique riding style from the US ready for 8 hours of battling! Yoshimura GS1000 qualified 2nd place ahead of RCBs. Obviously, everyone had the same question, “Can Yoshimura Team finish the race?”. Well, we’ve done it and won the “The First Suzuka 8 Hour Endurance Race” in the dramatic way that anyone never thought of! After the checker flag was dropped, Pops and rest of us at Yoshimura felt “Hey, are we not dreaming? Right?”
After 40 years of our racing history of Suzuka 8 hours, I am deeply impressed by the fact that we are still here.
See you in Suzuka!

Fujio Yoshimura