‘Why Suzuka strikes fear into top riders’
Back in the day, before top GP riders were pampered like today, there were three words that would strike fear into the hearts of even the boldest. Suzuki 8-Hour. Those words would appear in their bad dreams, or in moments of depression. And more significantly, in ink, on their contracts.
If you were good enough to be considered for a factory 500c GP bike, then your Japanese masters would require you to ride there. It’s certainly the biggest motorsport event in Japan on any number of wheels. But nowadays the likes of Marquez and Lorenzo are able to stay away.
Those old-generation riders disliked it for reasons that still apply. It’s a major mid-season interruption; it’s physically and mentally gruelling (hot and humid, and run throughout at a full sprint); and with all the testing and preparation required, it triggers significant jet lag. There was another reason. Their craft was highly polished and aimed at light, vicious 500cc two-strokes. Heavy four-strokes (they called them “diesels”) required a major shift in technique.
But they had little option; it was part of the deal. Wayne Rainey and Mick Doohan were probably the first to negotiate their way out of this obligation. But not until each ohad won it. Wayne Gardner, meanwhile, won no less than four times. Objections aside, it’s a great race. Winning is a shining addition to any top rider’s portfolio. Rossi went voluntarily, and won it (with GP team-mate Colin Edwards) in 2002. Casey Stoner also volunteered, but only after he’d retired from MotoGP (crashed while leading after his throttle jammed).
More recently, Pol Espargaro won twice, Bradley Smith once, and WSB stars Rea (once), Alex Lowes (twice) and Michael van der Mark (thrice). Admittedly now that MotoGP is four-stroke, the difference in technique is much less. But still there was much sympathy for Honda blue-eyed boy Taka Nakagami, GP racing at Assen and the Sachsenring red-eyed and visibly fatigued, after flying to and fro to test for HRC’s high-profile factory effort. As Marquez said, when asked if he’d to step in to the Honda team: “I’ve already booked my holiday.”
‘It’s physically and mentally gruelling’