Makoto Tamada literally disappeared from this year’s international racing scene after subbing for Roland Resch in the WSBK Portimao round for Reitwagen BMW Team andwhen his Italian ghost team Pro Ride, due to sponsor difficulties and funding didn’t show up for a single race this season.
The former MotoGP and Superbike winner has decided to return to racing in his native Japan and will take part in the Suzuka 8 Hours that starts July 25th.
Tamada will be riding a Honda CBR 1000RR with Bridgestone tires for the Keihin Kohara Team and is teamed up with Shinichi Itoh.
Tamada and Itoh will be going against riders of the caliber of Jonathan Rea, who is getting his second opportunity to race at the iconic event, former MotoGP rider and Tech 3’s Moto2 Yuki Takahashi (for F.
C.
C.
TSR) and former WSBK rider and now BSB rider Ryuichi Kiyonari (for HARC-PRO).