The Suzuka 8 Hours has long been the race where MotoGP and World Superbike stars collide, and the 47th running on July 5 is shaping up to be no exception. Yamaha and Honda have each confirmed factory lineups stacked with grand prix and Superbike pedigree, setting up another heavyweight duel at the Japanese endurance classic.
Yamaha is sticking with the trio that pushed it back to the front in 2025. Jack Miller, Andrea Locatelli and veteran Katsuyuki Nakasuga will again share the #21 YZF-R1, chasing a ninth Suzuka win for the manufacturer and a first since 2018 after finishing second on the factory team's return last year. For Nakasuga, it carries extra weight: the 2026 race will be his final Suzuka 8 Hours before retirement.
"I'm absolutely stoked to be lining up for the Suzuka 8 Hours again this year," Miller said. "Last year was a bit of a tough one [...] but seeing the massive turnout from the Yamaha fans and staff, and getting to ride with Nakasuga-san and Loca [...] it actually turned out to be a real blast. For 2026, the goal is simple. We want to go one better and take pole, take the win, and get ourselves onto that top step for Nakasuga-san's final year."
Locatelli, who balances the event with his WorldSBK campaign, framed it as a chance to grow.
"I'm super thankful to compete in the Suzuka 8 Hours again with the factory team," he said. "Getting to ride the factory R1 and join incredible teammates like Jack and Nakasuga-san is so good for my growth as a rider. This year, our target is to get the win we missed last year."
Nakasuga, who was hurt in testing before the 2025 race, is determined to bow out in better shape.
"Last year [...] I got injured in pre-race testing and that ended up putting pressure on Jack, Loca, and the team, so this year I'll make sure I'm in the best form possible," he said. "Since we missed it last time, we're aiming for the top spot."
"Our decision to call them up again is mostly because of their incredible dedication to the team," Nakamura said. "Their 'team-first' mentality was what kept us working together and let us battle our rivals right down to the end."
Standing in their way is a Honda HRC effort built around Johann Zarco, chasing a third straight Suzuka victory on the CBR1000RR-R alongside seven-time Suzuka winner Takumi Takahashi and a returning Jonathan Rea. The six-time World Superbike champion, now a Honda test rider, has not raced at Suzuka since 2022 and already owns two wins there.
"I'm very happy to return to the Suzuka 8 Hours as a Honda HRC rider," Zarco said. "Winning last year was a special honor, and this year I'll give it my all again to try to climb back onto the top step of the podium. With Takumi and the addition of Rea, an experienced and reliable rider, I believe we can become an even stronger team."
Honda arrives on a winning run stretching back to 2022, and the depth on both sides of the garage suggests Suzuka will once again come down to strategy and stamina rather than raw pace. With Jack Miller's MotoGP future at Yamaha clouded for 2027, the Australian's endurance commitments have taken on fresh significance, but at Suzuka the only target that matters is ending Honda's streak.
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*Originally published on [Motorsports Global](https://motorsports.global/article/miller-and-zarco-lead-star-packed-suzuka-8-hours-lineups). Visit for full coverage.*
