EWC Explanation: Suzuka 8 Hours Top 10 Trial

As with all EWC events, in addition to testing, free practice and night practice, two qualifying sessions will be held for all rider groups. However, the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race will also feature the Top 10 Trial Shootout to determine the first 10 places on the starting grid for round three of the FIM Endurance World Championship.

After the second qualifying round, the 10 fastest teams according to the combined classification will advance to the Top 10 Trial this afternoon.

Two riders per team will compete, with each rider getting one flying lap to set their time after a warm-up lap. The team that was 10th fastest after the second qualifying will go first, while the fastest team from the qualifying will ride last in the Top 10 Trial.

The lap times of the two drivers from each team are then combined to complete the final starting grid for the eight-hour race on Sunday. The 5-4-3-2-1 qualifying points are awarded after the Top 10 stage rather than after the completion of the second qualifying, as is the case at other EWC events.

VIEW FROM THE TRACK WITH KAREL HANIKA
Karl Hanika, the Czech star of the Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team, gives his view on the Top 10 Trial and how to tackle it properly: “It was my first time last year and it’s not easy at all because normally you do qualifying and usually on the second flying lap you can be a bit faster. With the Top 10 Trial it’s all in one lap and you have to do a lot of the out lap to warm up the tyres properly and everything. But it was a great experience, you basically try to put the pressure on and just focus on the lap and do your best and just enjoy it because riding this bike all the time with the qualifying tyres is something special. There are championship points that we want to get and that’s our goal, regardless of whether it’s me doing the time or my teammates.”

PROVISIONAL TOP 10 TRIAL LINE-UP 2024
The following teams, including a record four permanent EWC teams, will compete in the Top Trial from 3:30 p.m.:

Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC official team*
Ducati Team Kagayama
Team HRC with Japan Post
Yoshimura SERT-Motul*
Astemo Honda Dream SI Racing
SDG Team HARC-PRO. Honda
AutoRace Ube Racing Team
BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team*
FCC TSR Honda France*
Honda Dream RT Sakurai Honda
*FIM EWC permanent team