Former 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz recently visited Japan to take part in the official test for the 2014 Coca-Cola Zero Suzuka 8-Hours. Schwantz, who last year finished third at Suzuka riding for Team Kagayama, is part of the Yoshimura Suzuki Shell Advance Legend Racing Team and will ride alongside his 1986 Suzuka 8-Hour partner Satoshi Tsujimoto and Suzuki Moto GP test rider Nobuatsu Aoki.

The Texan also visited Suzuki headquarters in Hamamatsu prior to the test and was met by Representative Director and Executive Vice President, Mr. Yasuhito Harayama and Suzuki MotoGP R&D staff at Suzuki Plaza adjoining the main office, where Schwantz talked about his enthusiasm for the upcoming Suzuka 8-Hour event at the end of this month.

Said Schwantz: “In the Suzuka 8-Hour race in 1986, I finished third with Tsujimoto. I remember that he and I managed fairly similar lap-times, and as we were both fast, we were good enough to win. But so many things happen in a long race like Suzuka and it didn’t quite happen. Now it is good to be back together again after 28 years.

“I always think, whenever I race, my aim is to win. After practice and testing I’ll have a better idea about the race. You always know there will be changing conditions during the race, which is why we will be keeping an open-mind. But we are still hoping for the best and aiming for the win.

“The preparations that I’ve made for this race are the same as last year; motocross and mountain bike riding. Last year I did three or four 600 races in Texas, but for this year I did an AMA Superbike test in Austin.

“Fitness is the most important thing to maintain a good pace in a long race. You need to ride more consistently from start to finish and maintain optimum strength and stamina. Although diet is important, I do now tend to eat what I want to, when I want to.

“At present I don’t have any strategy for the race. First I have to develop a plan for my 24 to 25 laps. The team strategy will be sorted after testing, when we have more information about the machine, such as fuel consumption and tyre wear.

“The key points for success at Suzuka are to be fast, consistent and to make no mistakes, and myself, Nobu and Satoshi will aim to do those things.

“As a team, the pit stops are the easiest places to lose time and I know that Team Kagayama is superior in its pit stop strategy and performance.

“I expect a good test on the track next week and of course the objective of any race is to win!,” he added prior to the Suzuka test.

The Suzuki MotoGP Test Team continued development of its 2015 MotoGP machine at the Circuit Of The Americas in Texas, USA mid-April with test riders Randy De Puniet and Nobuatsu Aoki making further steps forward in readiness for Suzuki's return to the MotoGP world stage in 2015.   

Both riders were joined for the test by Suzuki's 1993 World 500cc Grand Prix Champion Kevin Schwantz and includes interviews with all, along with on-track action.

To watch the video: CLICK HERE

Suzuki MotoGP test rider Nobuatsu Aoki will join 1993 World 500cc Champion Kevin Schwantz and former All Japan Superbike Champion Satoshi Tsujimoto in the Yoshimura Suzuki Legend Team at the Suzuka 8-Hour World Endurance Championship second round in July.   

In celebration of the company’s 60th Anniversary, Yoshimura will also run a second team managed by Yohei Kato - Yoshimura Suzuki Shell ADVANCE - comprising Japan’s Takuya Tsuda and Australian Josh Waters.

Said Yoshimura President and Legend Team Manager Fujio Yoshimura: “I've had many concerns about making the best choice to appoint a third rider for the #12 Legend of Yoshimura Suzuki Shell ADVANCE team for the Suzuka 8-Hour Race. The main concern was the physical condition of both Schwantz and Tsujimoto in the gruelling heat during the race. They are still fit and motivated, but completing eight hours is really tough. Also, even though they have brilliant racing histories and experience, it is not so easy to advance to the Top-10 Trial, so my choice was to pick Nobuatsu Aoki as the third rider.

“He has been racing with Team Yoshimura at the Suzuka 8-Hour for the last six years and there has been nothing to complain about with his performance or reliability in the team. He knows our GSX-R, Bridgestone tyres and the Suzuka Circuit very well, and both Schwantz and Tsujimoto have great respect for him because of his capability and also in helping develop a winning machine!

“It is a great honour to have riders like Schwantz, Tsujimoto and Aoki for Yoshimura's 60th Anniversary race, and it is going to be one of the most memorable events for us.”

Aoki said: “Both Kevin Schwantz and Satoshi Tsujimoto have been my heroes since I was a teenager, and the Team Manager Fujio Yoshimura has been a big name in racing. I am proud to be one of the riders in the Legend Team to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Yoshimura company.

“My duty is leading the team to the victory with my experience, and I will do my best. It will be the seventh time that I have raced the Suzuka 8-Hour in the Yoshimura team and I am honoured that I am also the rider with largest number of Yoshimura appearances in its history.”

Schwantz said: “It is great to have Nobu on the team and I look forward to riding with him. I had to ride against him last year; and now we get to ride with him this year!”

Tsujimoto added: “I am relieved to hear Nobu will be our team mate. Since the Legend team was made, I have been thinking he would be the best rider to race with. He is a reliable rider and I have seen him on the Suzuka 8-Hour podium four times for the Yoshimura team, so he is a suitable rider. I am sure Fujio will be leading us in the best way and Kevin, Nobu and I will show the best performance.”

The Suzuka 8-Hour race takes place at Suzuka Circuit in Japan on July 27th.

Austin, TX – April 3, 2014 – One of the most notable names in motorcycle racing, 1993 World Champion Kevin Schwantz will once again be wearing RS Taichi leather suits and protective gear.  Schwantz wore RS Taichi gear during several of his memorable seasons in the 500cc class, including time spent in Pepsi and Lucky Strike livery.  His partnership and success with Taichi apparel all started with his victory at the 1988 Daytona 200.  Schwantz took to the track in RS Taichi leathers again for the first time on Monday at the Circuit of The Americas media day, as newly appointed motorcycle ambassador for the circuit.

It has been announced that later this year, Schwantz will pair with his original 1986 Suzuka 8 Hours teammate, Satoshi Tsujimoto, to contest the prestigious race on a special Yoshimura Suzuki "Legends Team".  The Texan has also been known to pop up at the occasional club race, and instructs at his Schwantz School.  So even at age 50, Schwantz genuinely puts his protective gear through its paces.

Kevin Schwantz commented, "I am really excited to be riding the Suzuka 8Hour again in 2014 with my 1986 teammate Satoshi Tsujimoto on a Yoshimura prepared Suzuki.  To wear RS Taichi leathers, whose leathers I wore from 1988-1992, for the 8Hour race this year will be great as their hands-on attention, service and support, in Japan is what you have to have for an event like the 8Hour race!"

Hiroshi Matsubara, president of RS Taichi Inc. commented, “We are so glad to have Kevin in RS Taichi racing suits and protective gear again. I worked together with Kevin back in the day and it has been a great memory. It is a great honor to work with Kevin again and can’t wait for the Suzuka 8 Hours to come.” 

Audrey Menarik, owner of Moto Liberty, the U.S. importer for RS Taichi commented, "I've worked hard for the past 6 years to bring RS Taichi back to the level of brand recognition they deserve.  When I heard Kevin was returning to Taichi, I was elated.  There could not be a better ambassador for the American market than Kevin Schwantz.".  In addition to a very long history of involvement with motorcycle racing in the U.S., Moto Liberty also serves as one of the largest motorcycle gear retail stores in the region, and services the growing RS Taichi U.S. dealer network.

About RS Taichi:
RS Taichi has been producing high quality riding apparel for over 30 years.  Founded by former professional motocross racer Taichi Yoshimura, the company is based in Osaka Japan.  RS Taichi offers a complete line of street and track related products, from basic, everyday riding necessities to the very pinnacle of professional level racing equipment.  For the 2014 season, they are the racing leathers provider of choice for such notable American racers as three time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes, Dane Westby, Chris Ulrich, Jake Holden, Michael Barnes, and many others in the world and national championship ranks.

For more information on RS Taichi visit www.rs-taichi.com

For more information on RS Taichi's activities in the U.S., visit www.rstaichiusa.com or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RSTaichiUSAOfficial

Photo courtesy of David Swarts / roadracingworld.com