Honda TT Legends qualify in the top 20 for Suzuka 8-hour
The Honda TT Legends team completed its second day on track at the Suzuka 8-hour event by qualifying in 20th place. John McGuinness, Keith Amor and Cameron Donald took part in two 30-minute timed practice sessions each as temperatures at the legendary Japanese circuit reached over 33 degrees.
The road racing experts shaved valuable seconds off their lap times and managed to hold their own in a field of Suzuka veterans and specialist Japanese teams. After all three riders posted 2’14 laps in the first session, McGuinness ended his second stint by securing the first 2’13 lap for the team. Donald was the last of the Honda TT Legends to head out and his impressive session resulted in the team’s best lap of the day – 2’13.961.
In accordance with Suzuka 8-hour rules, the fastest lap time posted by each team dictates the grid positions. The top ten teams will take part in a superpole session tomorrow afternoon, while the remainder of the field will be allowed track time for free practice. This will provide the Honda TT Legends the chance to further improve their knowledge of the circuit before a decision is made on the final rider line-up for Sunday’s race.
Neil Tuxworth
The team has done an excellent job today – I said if we got in the top 25 we’d be doing well and if we were in the top 20 we’d be doing brilliantly. None of the riders knew the track, yet they have all qualified well and their lap times are actually very similar – Cam and John were just slightly quicker than Keith. It’s a good pace round here when you don’t know the track very well so we are really pleased and I think we are in a good position for the race on Sunday. We will make a decision late Saturday afternoon as to our rider strategy for the race, but for now we are happy.
John McGuinness
I think 20th is a realistic position. As a rider you want more all the time but considering we hadn’t been on a bike round here until yesterday, we’ve done ok. A lot of people I’ve spoken to here have said that you can’t learn the track in a day and they are probably right! Anything can happen and we just need to put in eight consistent hours between us. We’re all on a similar pace within half a second of each other so if we can stay consistent there’s no reason why we can’t get in the points and that’s what we’re looking for really.
Keith Amor
I’ve started to enjoy it now. I’m happy with the fact that I know roughly where I’m going now and that has helped a lot. It’s still difficult and every single lap we’re out there I’m learning where not to go and where to go. Tomorrow we’ll get a little bit more free practice in, do a bit more work with the bike and you never know, we might improve a bit more.
Cameron Donald
Today’s been great. We’ve continued to learn the track each time we’ve gone out and I tried a bit of race replication with the tyre in the last session, putting a lot of laps in and it was really interesting. It was hot and it was slippery but it was good fun. I did my personal best lap time that turned out to be the best lap for the team. I walked in here this morning hoping to end in the top 20 so I’m happy.
The Suzuka 8-hour race will take place on Sunday 31 July, starting at 10.30am Japan Standard Time, 02.30am British Summer Time and 03.30am Central European Summer Time. For real-time news, videos and images throughout the event follow @HondaTTLegends on Twitter and for post-race reports visit HondaTTLegends.com
