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Schwantz to race at Suzuka

C

Corr

Joined Jun 2007
202 Posts | 0+
Taken from a Speed TV twitter link

1993 500cc world champion Kevin Schwantz will make shock racing comeback at Suzuka 8 Hours

By William Dale SPEED May 01, 2013 3:03PM


Shock ... Schwantz will race for the first time since 1995 at the Suzuka 8 Hours.


It's official: American motorcycle racing legend Kevin Schwantz is making a shock comeback to racing at this year's Suzuka 8 Hours.


Schwantz will pair up with former World Superbikes star Nori Haga and Yukio Kagayama aboard a Suzuki at the iconic motorcycle enduro on July 28.


The 1993 500cc world champion, who will turn 49-years-old a month before the race, injuries led him to tearfully announce his retirement from racing prior to the Italian Grand Prix in 1995.


"Im riding a motorcycle on a daily basis and even though Ive retired from active duty some time ago I feel I will be up to the task," Schwantz said in a statement from the team.


"Both riders are very familiar with the Suzuka circuit and the bike, and are fast and proven competitors so there is a very real chance to contest for the win.


"I continue to be involved in the sport but Ive never won the Suzuka 8 Hour, its an unturned page in my career as yet."


For a retired world champion, Schwantz has been in the headlines plenty recently.


The tall Texan is currently taking the Circuit of The Americas to court over the promotion rights for the recent MotoGP event at the circuit.


Earlier this week, he sparked a war of words between he and Dani Pedrosa's mentor, former 500cc racer Alberto Puig, over the Spaniard's chances of winning a MotoGP title.


With thanks to cycleonline.com.au for the English translation.


Watch highlights of the Suzuka 8 Hours later this year, only on SPEED



Read more: http://www.foxsports.com.au/motor-sports/moto-gp/cc-world-champion-kevin-schwantz-will-make-shock-racing-comeback-at-suzuka-8-hours/story-fn2ms4i4-1226633184528#ixzz2S2khW1Ae
 
Yep...he announced this at the Gypsy Lounge MotoGP watch party. Just hit the presses last night.
 
As I recall, he wasn't terribly quick when he rode a Formula Xtreme bike at Road America in 2005. Certainly will be neat to see he and Nori contesting together, though.
 
Well, I wish him luck.  Endurance race, so steady is probably the order of the day. 49?  Wow, I didn't know he was that young.  How old is Checa and Biaggi?  They just came off Wsbk championships.  And Nori Haga, that's cool.  They probably are not setting out to get any track records (unless they are looking at getting the oldest guys team record) but for me, its good to see Nori on track.
 
Of course the next step in this escalation is that Puig announces his entry alongside Checa and Criville.
 
ThePhorest
3500371367426487

Of course the next step in this escalation is that Puig announces his entry alongside Checa and Criville.
Click to expand...


 


:lol: You sir, you sir, I see what you did there, well done.  
 
Jumkie
3500361367425956

Well, I wish him luck.  Endurance race, so steady is probably the order of the day. 49?  Wow, I didn't know he was that young.  How old is Checa and Biaggi?  They just came off Wsbk championships.  And Nori Haga, that's cool.  They probably are not setting out to get any track records (unless they are looking at getting the oldest guys team record) but for me, its good to see Nori on track.
Click to expand...


Biaggi 41, Checa 40, Haga 38.


 


Will be interesting to see how Kevin does.
 
Wander
3500511367430877

Biaggi 41, Checa 40, Haga 38.


 


Will be interesting to see how Kevin does.
Click to expand...


 


Thank you.  I wonder who talked KS into it.  I did see him talking to Eddie now that I remember.  
 
Jumkie
3500521367431356

Thank you.  I wonder who talked KS into it.  I did see him talking to Eddie now that I remember.  
Click to expand...


 


Mr Chequebook is quite persuasive.
 
I have always been fascinated by the Suzuka 8 hour and have read about the races in articles and whatnot but have seen literally zero footage of it ever.   I know it is a massive prestige thing in Japan and that paychecks for those races have always been good.


I seem to remember good ole Doug Polen doing really well there?    Also seeing the bikes with the mods for endurance racing has been interesting.
 
The heck with Polen,  just looked it up and Colin Edwards has won it three times!   A look at the past winners is pretty neat.
 
The 8 Hours produced some glorious bikes when Japan had money sloshing around in its 80's bubble. To Honda it was the race.


Those F1 spec RVFs were what Honda always wanted to produce instead of the NSR, and it showed in the cash they threw at them.


Gardner made his name with Honda for winning the '85 after doing an extra stint to win against a Yamaha and nearly passing out in the process.


Given how MotoGP is now and that the bikes are far from the important-to the factoryF1 spec factory specials, it's sad but not surprising that something that was once written into Factory rider's contracts is now pointedly rejected, I think Colin Edwards was the last to win one as a current GP rider.


I think a mate still has a manky old box of 2003 Suzuka 8 Hours Biscuits on his mantlepiece - brought home as a crappy souvenir from a friend who rode that year.


 


Oh and best of luck to Kevin.
 
Good luck to him, but fark I hope he knows what he is in for, it is a very demanding race with a lot of crazy locals going for glory. It isn't like doing a trackday teaching rookies or whatever Kev does these days when he isn't building racetracks.


 


My favourite story from the Suzuki 8hrs is Aussie Shaun Giles racing the Yoshimura Hayabusa. Going down the end of straight, he caught up to a guy who was laid out on the tank, full throttle on a GSXR. Giles sat up, they looked across at each other, and the Hayabusa accelerated away. He says nothing has ever compared to riding that bike at full gas.


 


hayabusa03.jpg



 


Another one I can think of was about a rider racing some highly strung Honda deathtrap. The riders decided they would try and break it so they wouldn't have to continue in the race (the team refused to retire). They did full noise up then down gear changes on the straight trying to get something to fail - but the stupidly reliable Honda refused to die and they ended up finishing.
 
Nadeem
3500841367464726

I have always been fascinated by the Suzuka 8 hour and have read about the races in articles and whatnot but have seen literally zero footage of it ever.   I know it is a massive prestige thing in Japan and that paychecks for those races have always been good.


I seem to remember good ole Doug Polen doing really well there?    Also seeing the bikes with the mods for endurance racing has been interesting.
Click to expand...


 


Endurance racing used to be big all over - NZ 6 hour and 8 hour, Bathurst, Philip Island, Le Mans, Spa, Suzuka - I have ridden in two NZ 8-hours and 1 Aussie 6-hour. 


 


They are immensely tiring - nothing at all like a sprint race. We used to have open classes, and we were competing with Suzuki 1000s and 1100s. It was just as well you had to put fuel, tyres and brakes on the things so we could get a break :)


 


It's a great format - it's as much to do with the team/crew prep as it is about the quality of the riders. If you can do consistent reasonably quick lap times, you can do well, whereas sprint racing is much more 'ragged edge'. I have seen many big names fail due to poor prep, mechanical failure, beating up their rides, etc. and some quick club racers do really well because they kept their head and their crew did a cracking job.


 


I see the Philip Island 8-hour was cancelled in 2012 for lack of entries... what a pity. :(


 


2-3 Hour races used to be popular as well in the smaller classes (125, 250, 350, 400) - which doesn't sound much, but an RZ250 will empty a tank in 120kms at top whack, so you might do 3 refuel/rider changes in 2 hours.


 


I imagine Colin is taking part as the 'alternate' rider, rather than the 'team' - he will do 20-40 hot laps and call it a day.
 
Sloth_27
3500951367477898

Good luck to him, but fark I hope he knows what he is in for, it is a very demanding race with a lot of crazy locals going for glory. It isn't like doing a trackday teaching rookies or whatever Kev does these days when he isn't building racetracks.


 


My favourite story from the Suzuki 8hrs is Aussie Shaun Giles racing the Yoshimura Hayabusa. Going down the end of straight, he caught up to a guy who was laid out on the tank, full throttle on a GSXR. Giles sat up, they looked across at each other, and the Hayabusa accelerated away. He says nothing has ever compared to riding that bike at full gas.


 


hayabusa03.jpg



 


Another one I can think of was about a rider racing some highly strung Honda deathtrap. The riders decided they would try and break it so they wouldn't have to continue in the race (the team refused to retire). They did full noise up then down gear changes on the straight trying to get something to fail - but the stupidly reliable Honda refused to die and they ended up finishing.
Click to expand...


 


My mate Malc the Milkman has a full-factory-spec Yoshi GSX1150EF - eventually it ended up with nitrous as well. He races it but it has been out on the road as well. He laughs at Hayabusa riders :) The last time I rode with him he decided a two-up wheelie at 130mph was the go... I nearly shat.


 


The old Mr Yoshimura really knew how to make Suzuki's go like stink, but a factory Hyabusa must be a thing to behold!


 


(the EF is one of these ones - 1986... an awesome bike with a wonderful engine and ...... suspension :) )


 


1986_GS1150EF_rw_side_500.jpg
 
Jumkie
3500361367425956

Well, I wish him luck.  Endurance race, so steady is probably the order of the day. 49?  Wow, I didn't know he was that young.  How old is Checa and Biaggi?  They just came off Wsbk championships.  And Nori Haga, that's cool.  They probably are not setting out to get any track records (unless they are looking at getting the oldest guys team record) but for me, its good to see Nori on track.
Click to expand...


Jum it will be very cool to see Nori, i was at Donny when he turned up on a YZF and won both races sideways, not only were his wins at Donny so cool as it was his first time there but he smoked Carl in his back yard ,outstanding, Then a podium in 500 GP in the same year. Mega.
 
thedeal
3501341367498365

Jum it will be very cool to see Nori, i was at Donny when he turned up on a YZF and won both races sideways, not only were his wins at Donny so cool as it was his first time there but he smoked Carl in his back yard ,outstanding, Then a podium in 500 GP in the same year. Mega.
Click to expand...


+1, man am i jealous though!


 


i'm very glad to see haga race again, hope theres good (english) coverage available of the race?only saw 1 hour highlights the past few years.


as of now i can't decide whether to agree with doc nos comment or expect him to do a hailwood.


yamaha and honda surely will step it up with suzuki fielding the most prominent team?


rea again riding or was that a one off?


cheers
 

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