Johann Zarco powered to his second consecutive Suzuka 8 Hours victory with Honda HRC, teaming up once again with Takumi Takahashi. Unlike most of their competition, who fielded three-rider squads, Zarco and Takahashi took on the iconic endurance race as a duo—a move that meant each had to manage nearly four taxing hours on the bike in brutally hot and physically draining conditions.
Despite those challenges, the pair managed their race to perfection. With only seven pit stops and a strong, consistent pace, they crossed the finish line with a comfortable 34-second lead over the factory Yamaha Racing Team. Zarco, who took the final stint this year, described the experience as both beautiful and exhausting, especially as back-to-back safety car periods near the end made managing the gap and regaining rhythm even trickier. But having a sizable cushion in the last half-hour let him soak in the stunning Suzuka atmosphere and enjoy the closing laps at his own pace.
Zarco paid tribute to Takahashi’s form—remarking that his teammate stayed strong in every stint, no matter the heat—and highlighted how their streamlined pit strategy made the difference. He relished the opportunity to take the chequered flag this year, switching roles with Takahashi, who closed out the race in 2024. For Zarco, this win stands out as not only a testament to teamwork and racecraft under pressure, but also as a personally special moment at one of his favorite races.
