Dan Linfoot has made his Suzuka debut with the Moriwaki Motul Honda team and the squad delivered a big surprise by topping the final Eight-Hours test times ahead of the iconic race later this month.
Linfoot, who is a Suzuka virgin, with team-mates Ryuichi Kiyonari and Yuki Takahashi finished the three-day test two-tenths ahead of the factory MuSASHi squad - which features MotoGP star Jack Miller - which posted a 2’07.593. Both teams are running Bridgestone tyres.
Alex Lowes’ factory Yamaha team were third and a further tenth in arrears while the FCC TSR team, also running a works-supported Fireblade with Dominique Aegerter and Stefan Bradl at the helm, ended in fourth place on a 2’07.700.
Leon Haslam’s Kawasaki Team Green were fifth on 2’07.805 with Josh Brookes and Sylvain Guintoli on the 2017 Yoshimura Suzuki in sixth. The BSB stars managed a best lap of 2’07.954.