A long-cherished dream will finally come true for Jack Miller in 2017.
The Australian will compete for Honda’s factory team in the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race in Japan next month.
Miller will ride a CBR1000RR SP2 on the MuSASHi HARC-PRO Honda team with Japanese Moto2 star Takaaki Nakagami and local racing driver Takumi Takahashi.
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“I am delighted to be competing for the first time in the 8-hour race in Suzuka with a highly competitive Honda team, MuSASHi HARC-PRO. Honda, ”he said in the official Honda announcement.
The appointment completes a career goal for Miller, who is in his third and final year of his contract with the Honda plant.
The 8-hour race is traditionally the largest race on the international calendar for all major Japanese motorcycle companies; bigger than World Superbikes, bigger than MotoGP.
At the height of the event, over 130,000 people flocked to watch Japan’s great guns battle each other. MotoGP stars would top the entry list, their factories writing the grueling events into their contracts to ensure their bikes were equipped with the best talent possible.
The list of winners reads like a list of honor: Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan, Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson, Kevin Magee and Daryl Beattie won there as well as Valentino Rossi.
MotoGP stars kept disappearing from the entry list as the demands of the World Championship increased, but the now traditional “summer break” of the championship has brought them back to the iconic event in recent years.
The start of the 8 Hours of Suzuka in 2015. Image: HondaSource: Supplied
Casey Stoner drove for the team on his debut at the Suzuka 8 Hours in 2015 and crashed after his throttle was left open, while last year it was Nicky Hayden who drove the # 634 factory-assisted machine.
Like Stoner and Hayden before him, Miller is about to win it.
“Endurance races are different from other road races and this will be a great opportunity for me. I’m aiming for the top of the podium and I’m fighting a tough race with a very talented, competitive team. “
Australian Josh Hook will also ride a Honda at this event, along with former 500cc racer Shinichi Ito and French Gregg Black in Team SuP Dream Honda No. 79, while Honda’s World Superbike racer Stefan Bradl together with Moto2 Racing driver Dominique Aegerter will compete in the FCC TSR Honda squad.
The announcement comes ahead of the Dutch TT this weekend, which marks the first anniversary of Miller’s first MotoGP race win.
The 40th anniversary of the Suzuka 8 Hours takes place on July 30th.
TV GUIDE: MOTUL TT ASSEN
FOX SPORTS offers every session of MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 LIVE in HD and ad-free on the TT Assen Circuit throughout the weekend.
You can also access exclusive additional video feeds online during the MotoGP race on Sunday with the FOX SPORTS MotoGP Race Center, where you can see live on-board cameras, helicopter cameras, as well as live timing and driver trackers.
The Race Center will also show live timing and final results for each MotoGP session throughout the Assen weekend.
Here is our schedule for this weekend. All times AEST and on FOX SPORTS MORE (FS 507).
FRIDAY
4:55 p.m. – Moto3 Free Practice 1
5:55 p.m. – MotoGP Free Practice 1st
6:55 p.m. – Moto2 Free Practice 1
9:05 p.m. – Moto3 Free Practice 2nd
10:05 p.m. – MotoGP Free Practice 2nd
11:05 p.m. – Moto2 Free Practice 2
SATURDAY
4:55 p.m. – Moto3 Free Practice 3rd
5:55 p.m. – MotoGP Free Practice 3rd
6:55 p.m. – Moto2 Free Practice 3rd
8:30 p.m. – Moto3 qualification
9:30 p.m. – MotoGP Free Practice 4th
10:10 p.m. – MotoGP qualification
11:05 p.m. – Moto2 qualification
SUNDAY
4:30 p.m. – Moto3 Warm Up
5:10 p.m. – MotoGP Warm Up
5:40 p.m. – Moto2 Warm Up
6:05 p.m. – Pre-Race Show with Chris Stubbs, Kevin Magee and Chris Vermeulen
7:00 p.m. – Moto3 race
9:00 p.m. – MotoGP races
10:30 p.m. – Moto2 race