Carlos Checa and HRC winner
The front brakes of his HRC Dream Racing Honda were throwing sparks for the last hour of the race, but Carlos Checa rode to a win at the Suzuka 8 Hours on Sunday with teammate Ryuichi Kiyonari watching nervously.
Checa and Kiyonari led most of the 214 laps, despite a thunderstorm, a stop-and-go penalty, and the loss of their front brakes for the last 25 laps.
"I had no front brake during my last stint," Checa said after the win. "I only had engine brake and rear brake so I was really nervous."
In second were Daisaku Sakai and Atsushi Watanabe on a Yoshimura Suzuki, more than a minute behind the leaders.
The win was Checa’s first, Kiyonari’s second, and Honda’s 22nd.
