Jack Miller Joins Factory 'Yamaha Racing Team' Line-Up for 2025 Suzuka 8 Hours
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Copyright 2025 Yamaha Motor Racing Srl
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. is delighted to make a first update on its factory rider line-up for the 2025 "Coca-Cola" Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race. After eight years, MotoGP star Jack Miller is set to make his return to FIM Endurance World Championship racing with the factory Yamaha Racing Team. He will be joining seasoned Suzuka 8 Hours rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga, under the guidance of Team Manager Wataru Yoshikawa.
Silverstone (United Kingdom), 25th May 2025
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. is thrilled to announce that Jack Miller will join their factory Yamaha Racing Team line-up this year at the 46th edition of the FIM Endurance World Championship "Coca-Cola" Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race.
The Suzuka 8 Hours event is one of Japan's most prestigious motorcycle races, and the 2025 edition holds extra significance for Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. as they celebrate their 70th anniversary this year.
Yamaha was founded on July 1, 1955, and its motorsports activities started only 9 days later at the 3rd Mount Fuji Ascent Race on July 10. To commemorate this upcoming milestone, Yamaha will enter a factory equipe at the Suzuka 8 Hours for the first time since 2019.
Miller already has experience in endurance racing. He took part in the Suzuka 8 Hours once before in 2017. Though he finished just off the podium in fourth place, he caught the endurance racing bug and fell in love with the prominent Japanese event. He has been dreaming of a do-over ever since, and he feels all the more honoured to have been selected by Yamaha for the 2025 factory line-up.
Miller will be joined by seasoned Suzuka 8 Hours rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga, who played an integral part in Yamaha Factory Racing Team's four-consecutive victories (2015-2018) and is also a 12-time All Japan Road Race JSB1000 Champion. Yamaha's third rider for the 2025 Suzuka 8 Hours event will be selected from Yamaha's current crop of WorldSBK riders, with an announcement to follow shortly.
The appointed Team Manager for the factory entry is a rider who himself contested in the 1999 Suzuka 8 Hours and took the All Japan Road Racing Superbike title that same year: Wataru Yoshikawa, one of Yamaha's iconic stars of the 1990s.
The Yamaha Racing Team will complete two private test days on July 3-4 before they officially return to action at the 46th "Coca-Cola" Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race on Friday, August 1 when practice and qualifying get underway ahead of the traditional Top Ten Trial on Saturday and the Race on Sunday.
The Suzuka 8 Hours event is one of Japan's most prestigious motorcycle races, and the 2025 edition holds extra significance for Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. as they celebrate their 70th anniversary this year.
Yamaha was founded on July 1, 1955, and its motorsports activities started only 9 days later at the 3rd Mount Fuji Ascent Race on July 10. To commemorate this upcoming milestone, Yamaha will enter a factory equipe at the Suzuka 8 Hours for the first time since 2019.
Miller already has experience in endurance racing. He took part in the Suzuka 8 Hours once before in 2017. Though he finished just off the podium in fourth place, he caught the endurance racing bug and fell in love with the prominent Japanese event. He has been dreaming of a do-over ever since, and he feels all the more honoured to have been selected by Yamaha for the 2025 factory line-up.
Miller will be joined by seasoned Suzuka 8 Hours rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga, who played an integral part in Yamaha Factory Racing Team's four-consecutive victories (2015-2018) and is also a 12-time All Japan Road Race JSB1000 Champion. Yamaha's third rider for the 2025 Suzuka 8 Hours event will be selected from Yamaha's current crop of WorldSBK riders, with an announcement to follow shortly.
The appointed Team Manager for the factory entry is a rider who himself contested in the 1999 Suzuka 8 Hours and took the All Japan Road Racing Superbike title that same year: Wataru Yoshikawa, one of Yamaha's iconic stars of the 1990s.
The Yamaha Racing Team will complete two private test days on July 3-4 before they officially return to action at the 46th "Coca-Cola" Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race on Friday, August 1 when practice and qualifying get underway ahead of the traditional Top Ten Trial on Saturday and the Race on Sunday.
Tetsu Ono
General Manager – Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.’s Motorsports Strategy Division
Jack Miller
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP rider
"It's obviously a massive honour for me to be able to represent Yamaha at the Suzuka 8 Hours this year. It's a race I've been wanting to go back to since 2017 when I finished fourth, losing to Yamaha that time. It's a big pleasure that I get to ride that Yamaha R1 motorcycle this time and represent the factory Yamaha Racing Team in Japan at such a prestigious race. Like I said, I've been dreaming of this race, and to have the opportunity to come back with such a strong team is a massive pleasure. I look forward to hopefully a good result for them at home and receiving some big support from the Japanese fans."
"Miller has been a very important part of our double factory line-up in MotoGP. Since the opening round of the season, he has contributed not just to testing and development but has also spurred on the entire Yamaha team with his fighting attitude and strong presence. With his previous experience in the Suzuka 8 Hours he is the perfect fit for the Yamaha Racing Team as we aim for victory in 2025.
"Just as he already does in MotoGP, Miller will bring to the team his experience, knowledge, passion, and fighting spirit. With Miller in our line-up, we're aiming to put on a race that will be remembered by fans around the world. The team's third rider will be announced at a later date, so please keep an eye on future announcements."