Kawasaki took the win at this weekend’s Suzuka 8 Hours, after being forced to appeal after Yamaha were declared the winners – despite Jonathan Rea, Leon Haslam and Toprak Razgatlioglu finishing 18.720 seconds ahead.
World Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea was holding onto a commanding lead during the final leg of the race in Japan – but with just two minutes left he took a tumble after hitting an oil spill from another bike. The race was subsequently red-flagged, and Kawasaki were expected be announced as the winners.
But the team’s failed to make it back to the paddock within the stipulated five-minute window, which led to the Yamaha’s Alex Lowes, Michael van der Mark and Katsuyuki Nakasuga being declared winners. Understandably, Kawasaki weren’t happy – and the team launched an appeal.
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After much confusion, Rea and Kawasaki team-mates Leon Haslam and Toprak Razgatlioglu were declared winners – as the official results showed Rea’s team a whole 18.720 seconds ahead of the Yamaha trio.
