Jack Miller will reunite with Locatelli and Nagasuka for Yamaha’s 2026 Suzuka 8 Hour assault, as they take on a powerhouse HRC line-up featuring Rea, Zarco and Takahashi
Yamaha has confirmed Miller and WorldSBK rider Andrea Locatelli will again join Suzuka specialist Katsuyuki Nakasuga in the Yamaha Factory Racing Team for the 47th FIM Endurance World Championship Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours, to be held at Suzuka Circuit on July 3-5.
The same trio raced together last year when Yamaha revived its factory effort as part of the company’s 70th anniversary celebrations, finishing second after completing 217 laps, the same total as the winning bike. Yamaha says the decision to return in 2026 was made immediately after that result, with the team undertaking a detailed review of the YZF-R1 package and broader performance data in a bid to turn second place into victory.
The factory squad will again run Yamaha’s traditional #21 and will target what would be the marque’s ninth Suzuka 8 Hours win, and its first since 2018.
With the team already having established a strong working relationship and familiarity with the factory R1, Yamaha elected to stick with the same line-up for another crack at the event. Nakasuga will lead the early testing program at the Suzuka Test Session on May 12-13, focusing on base set-up work for the YZF-R1, while Miller and Locatelli will join the team for the final pre-event test because of their regular-season racing commitments.
Miller made it clear unfinished business is a big part of the motivation for returning.
“I’m absolutely stoked to be lining up for the Suzuka 8 Hours again this year. Last year was a bit of a tough one, having that off in the Top 10 Trial and then finishing second in the race was pretty frustrating, to be honest. But seeing the massive turnout from the Yamaha fans and staff, and getting to ride with Nakasuga-san and Loca, plus the team putting in the hard work, it actually turned out to be a real blast. For 2026, the goal is simple. We want to go one better and take pole, take the win, and get ourselves onto that top step for Nakasuga-san’s final year before he hangs up the leathers! With the home crowd, the fans from all over the world, and the whole Yamaha family behind us, we’re going to give it everything we’ve got to make this the best Suzuka 8 Hours yet.”
Locatelli is equally eager to make amends after last year’s near miss.
“I got some great news from Japan this year! I’m super thankful to compete in the Suzuka 8 Hours again with the factory team. Getting to ride the factory R1 and join incredible teammates like Jack and Nakasuga-san is so good for my growth as a rider. This year, our target is to get the win we missed last year. Jack and I were picked to join Nakasuga because we both have 8 Hours experience. We’ll be going against some tough teams, but we’re definitely not losing out to anyone! We’ll do our best to get a great result for all the Yamaha fans!”
Any Yamaha win bid will have to overcome a formidable Honda HRC entry, with the defending powerhouse chasing a fifth straight Suzuka 8 Hours victory.
Honda has named Takumi Takahashi, Johann Zarco and Jonathan Rea in its 2026 factory line-up. Takahashi returns after securing his fourth consecutive Suzuka 8 Hours win in 2025, extending his record to seven victories overall. Zarco, now a two-time Suzuka winner, will aim for a third straight triumph, while Rea is back in the event for the first time since 2022.
That gives the race an even more stacked look, with MotoGP names Miller and Zarco, WorldSBK regulars Locatelli and Rea, and Suzuka master Nakasuga all in the mix for one of motorcycle racing’s great prizes.
For Miller, though, the mission is simple: come back stronger, finish one place higher, and help send Nakasuga out on top in what is set to be the Japanese veteran’s final year before retirement.
