Yamaha Motor has officially announced its participation in the 2025 FIM World Endurance Championship Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race, marking the return of its factory team after a six-year absence. The announcement was made on March 20, 2025, during the Yamaha Motorsports Media Conference held in Tokyo.
This year's Suzuka 8 Hours, set to take place at the renowned Suzuka Circuit from August 1 to 3, will see the revival of the YAMAHA RACING TEAM, whose entry vehicle is the much-anticipated 'YZF-R1'. The team will be managed by Kazuo Yoshikawa and will feature Kohta Nozane, a veteran rider with four Suzuka 8 Hours wins to his name, as the representative rider for Japan. The other two riders will be announced later and will be selected from Yamaha's roster of competitors in MotoGP and Superbike World Championship.
The return of Yamaha’s factory team comes as part of a larger initiative celebrating the company’s 70th anniversary, as Yamaha Motor was founded on July 1, 1955. Additionally, 2025 marks the 70 years since Yamaha began its racing activities, which started with the 3rd Mt. Fuji Ascent Race on July 10, 1955. Yamaha aims to inspire excitement and determination through its participation in the highly anticipated Japanese race, showcasing its competitive spirit on an international stage.
During the press conference, key figures from Yamaha attended, including Yuto Taketani, General Manager of Motorcycle Development Division, and Satoshi Kono, MS Strategy Department Manager, who emphasized the significance of returning to production-level competition. Yamaha’s aspiration is not only to race but also to provide exhilarating experiences to fans around the globe through their ambitious challenge for victory.
This year, the YZF-R1’s design incorporates a stunning white and red color scheme, which harkens back to Yamaha's traditional racing colors first introduced in the 1964 Road Race World Championship. The motorcycle's design is also inspired by the limited edition YZF-R7 that participated in the Suzuka 8 Hours in 1999, a vehicle famed for its exclusivity, with only 500 units produced worldwide.
The reintroduction of the YAMAHA RACING TEAM brings with it a sense of nostalgia, as the name harkens back to the factory team that competed during the latter part of the 1990s. Their logo has also been refreshed while maintaining elements from the original version. In a nod to history, the uniforms worn by riders and team staff, alongside the design of the team garage, will reflect the total aesthetics of the 1999 Yamaha designs.
Kohta Nozane, who participated in the conference, expressed his excitement about being part of this revitalized team and shared his determination. He remarked, 'To be honest, I thought, is it okay for me to do it? But as a representative of Japan, when I heard that, I felt tightened, and now I am standing here with the feeling that I want to take back what I couldn't do in 2019.' His comments captured the essence of the team's spirit and the high expectations placed on them during this comeback.
As the countdown to the Suzuka 8 Hours begins, Yamaha is poised to rekindle its legacy in the world of endurance racing, leveraging its storied history, innovation, and passionate team. The 2025 event is not just about competition; it signifies a proud heritage that blends Yamaha’s past successes with the future potential as they gear up for a thrilling championship, aiming to deliver both performance and unforgettable moments for racing enthusiasts.
The coming months will see further developments as Yamaha finalizes its rider lineup and continues to ramp up preparations for the race. Fans worldwide eagerly await to witness how the YAMAHA RACING TEAM will perform as they set their sights on both victory and celebrating a monumental anniversary. Will 2025 be the year Yamaha returns to form in the endurance racing spotlight? Only time will tell, but excitement in the air is palpable.
