Suzuka Eight-Hours: Rea takes first-ever Brit win

29/07/2012

Rea in action on the factory Honda

By WSBK desk
Image by Honda Racing

Jonathan Rea became this morning the first-ever British rider to win the prestigious Suzuka Eight-Hours when his works FCC-TSR Honda squad took victory at the Japanese circuit.

Rea, who hails from Northern Ireland and lives in the Isle of Man,  and team-mate Kousuke Akiyoshi finished some four laps ahead of the Toho Racing team with the GMT94 squad in third. Hopes of great results for Tommy Hill were dashed when Kats Nakasuga crashed 40 minutes into the race and the team were sidelined as a result of the damage.

Leon Camier's Yoshimura Suzuki team had to pit for a fuel leak and lost eight laps in the process but it was good news for the Honda TT Legends outfit who finished in 11th and rise to second in the World Endurance standings.

More later