After winning the event for the first time in 1993 with Scott Russell and Aaron Slight, KRT took victory again in 2019 with a star-ജstudded line-up, led by six-time WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea.

Unable to successfully defend their crown in 2022, Kawasaki were still contenders through✃out as they finished second to Team HRC.

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E✱xpected to be one of the favourites for victory again in 2023, Kawasaki have instead shifted their ‘100%’ fo𝄹cus into WorldSBK after choosing not to apply for entry. 

A surprising decision given it’s a home race for a⛦ll the 🐽Japanese manufacturers, and one that subsequently means more than any other, Kawasaki’s decision not to race came down to the time and effort that’s needed when racing at the Suzuka 8 hours

A statement from KRT said: "Competing at the Suzuka 8hr requires time and commitment from a vast number of people. It might look similar ღto Superbike racing – and we even use Superbike riders like Johnny and A🍎lex - but this race is like no other and requires its own testing and preparation programme on top of what we already do in WorldSBK. 

"Just about everything is different and everyone needs to ☂take time to adapt to different technical and performance paramet🍌ers for this one race. 

"To compete atꦬ the highest level and have success snatched from yওour hands is not easy to adjust to so we will not appear on the grid this year. 

"Our 2023 focus at KRT is now 1✤00% WorldSBK . We wish all competitors ꦑand teams involved in the 2023 race an exciting and safe event."

Both Rea and Alex Lowes have enjoyed plenty of success at the Suzuka 8 hours, but with Kawasaki in the midst of a very challenging 2023 WorldSBK campaign, shifting their focus towards delivering a bike good enough to fight the likes of Duca🔜ti and Yamaha has become too important.

Rea is yet to win a race while also accumulating his lowest podium 𒉰total through the opening 12 races since joining 😼Kawasaki in 2015.