Forty-five year-old Yukio Kagayama has been drafted into the Yoshimura Suzuki Suzuka Eight-Hours squad to partner Sylvain Guintoli and Kazuki Watanabe.
The former WorldSBK and BSB star has recently run his own team but is now back in the factory All-Japan Superbike fold and it means there is no place for Britain’s Bradley Ray this year.
“I am very excited to join Yoshimura team again this year for Suzuka Eight-Hours since some of my best racing memories is from Suzuka 8H in 2007 to get on the podium in the 1st place, and it was such an amazing experience,” said Kagayama.
As it is very well known, Suzuka Eight-Hours is extremely hard, competitive, very hot and changing race event. I know how to fight this race from my experiences and I am excited to get going with my mates and see what I can do.
“I’m really looking forward the race weekend and aiming for the top step with Yoshimura Suzuki MOTUL Racing again this year.”
Kagayama is currently eighth in the All-Japan Superbike points chase with three rounds gone. He trails Takumi Takahashi by 56 points.
Takahashi will likely line up with Leon Camier in the HRC team but a decision is to be made following the next tests.
