Rea first Brit to win Suzuka 8-hour

Monday, 30 July 2012 12:04

Jonathan Rea became the first British rider to win the prestigious Suzuka 8-hour endurance race in Japan at the weekend.

The Castletown resident, riding for the FCC TSR Honda outfit with Kousuke Akiyoshi, secured a convincing four-lap victory ahead of the TOHO Racing Honda team.

Tweeting the next day Rea, who normally rides for Honda's factory team in the World Superbike championship, said, "Amazing day yesterday! So happy to win the Suzuka 8hr Race with all my TSR Team. There is no 'I' in team and everyone contributed to the win".

Speaking to MCN from Japan, Rea said: "Right now I’ve got a million emotions going through my head.

"First of all I’m so happy to finish the race because it so tough and secondly winning the 8-hour means I’ve fulfilled a dream.

"This moment will last forever."

Rea first Brit to win Suzuka 8-hour

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