Honda WorldSBK rider Xavi Vierge won’t participate on this weekend’s Suzuka 8 Hours.
The Spanish rider was drafted in late to Honda’s Suzuka crew for the 1–3 August occasion after Iker Lecuona broke his wrist on the Hungarian World Superbike spherical final weekend.
Vierge rode on the last pre-event take a look at for Honda on Tuesday, but it surely has been introduced as we speak (Wednesday 31 July) that he’ll not participate within the race for “procedural causes”.
“Very unhappy to announce that I will be unable to participate on the 8 hours of Suzuka due [to] procedural causes,” Xavi Vierge wrote in an Instagram publish.
Takumi Takahashi and Johann Zarco, who received the Suzuka 8 Hours race collectively in 2024, will now contest the race as a pair, as confirmed by Honda.
“The Honda HRC crew has confirmed a two-rider lineup for the forty sixth version of the FIM Endurance World Championship “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Highway Race,” says an announcement from Honda.
“Xavi Vierge won’t be collaborating for procedural causes.
“Japanese rider Takumi Takahashi and Frenchman Johann Zarco will signify the manufacturing facility Honda HRC crew.”
Spanish Motorsport.com experiences that the precise purpose for Vierge’s withdrawal from the Suzuka 8 Hours is an absence of visa, Japanese authorities having determined to not grant him a piece visa. Vierge travelled to Japan and took half within the take a look at on a vacationer visa.
Vierge had additionally been reported to be into account by Honda to switch Somkiat Chantra on the LCR Honda crew for the Austrian and Hungarian MotoGP races after the summer time break.
Lecuona was reportedly set to take that fill-in place after Takaaki Nakagami was injured on the Czech Grand Prix, however his wrist damage was ill-timed on this respect, too.