Suzuka 8 Hours final qualifying: Yoshimura Suzuki on pole

The now-traditional “Time Attack” final qualifying for the top ten qualified teams—where the two quickest riders on each team attempt a “Superpole” style single flying lap for qualifying (in fact this is where the concept originated)—at Suzuka Circuit for the 2014 Suzuka 8 Hours saw the Yoshimura Suzuki Shell Advance team’s Takuya Tsuda break the year-old superbike record with a 2:06.703 lap, eclipsing the 2:06.817 set by Katsuyuki Nakasuga during qualifying for last year’s event. Nakasuga, riding for the Monster Energy Yamaha with YSP team this year, had to settle for second spot today with a 2:07.094 effort, while WSBK star Jonathan Rea surprised even himself with a stellar 2:07.398 lap to get his F.C.C. TSR Honda team into third spot. That Rea was able to acclimate himself to the different characteristics of his team’s Bridgestone tires (the World Superbike Championship is a Pirelli spec-tire series) in achieving that time was a testament in itself.

“I am very happy with getting the Pole Position and getting the best time,” said an elated Tsuda. “This is my first challenge in the Top-10 Trial and the result is better than I imagined.”

The official Kawasaki factory entry Team Green continued its momentum from yesterday’s qualifying (where they surprised the field by ending up third quickest) by slotting into fourth spot on the basis of All Japan superbike speedster Kazuki Watanabe’s 2:07.752 lap. Meanwhile, provisional polesitter Musashi HARC-Pro Honda couldn’t replicate its form from yesterday, with World Supersport star Michael Van Der Mark only barely able to go quicker than his best on race rubber from the day before, leaving the team in fifth spot. Team Kagayama & Verity put itself into sixth spot despite team leader Yukio Kagayama making a mistake during his Time Attack lap, as fellow team rider (and Moto2 contender) Dominique Aegerter was able to put in a 2:08.483 lap to get them into sixth.

Former 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Kevin Schwantz and the Legends of Yoshimura Shell Advance team ended up in 10th spot, but Schwantz was far from disappointed. The 50-year-old showed he still has that racing spark left by turning his best lap of the 3.62-mile circuit at 2:10.172. “I’m very happy with my lap time today,” said Schwantz. “It’s my best lap of the weekend so far. In the morning session, the team did some modifications and tuning and I got a great lap time, although I made some mistakes. I am here to do real competition and ride hard; it’s not just for enjoyment. I really appreciate the hard work and effort everyone in the team has put in.” Teammate and long-time Suzuki stalwart Nobuatsu Aoki couldn't quite match his lap from yesterday and put in a 2:09.775 lap time.

2014 Suzuka 8 Hours Time Attack qualifying results (top ten teams):