The Autorace Ube Racing team has revealed that they are the champions of the Man Isle of Man TT and have been confirmed to complete the lineup for the 2025 Suzuka 8 Hours race. Todd joined the team along with Spanish superbike rider Iboropes, stepping in for Hannes Sousmer, who was sidelined due to a recent injury sustained in an IDM Superbike crash.
The duo took part in the 2025 Suzuka 8 Hours Test Day on Wednesday, with Todd ultimately pairing up with Lopez. Todd, a three-time Man TT winner who recently secured a victory in this year’s Superbike Race, will compete alongside ex-Motogp racers Loris Buzz and Naomi Chiuramoto on the BMW M1000RR.
The team issued a statement saying, “The No. 76 Autorace Ube Racing Team, set to participate in the FIM EWC 46th Coca-Cola Suzuki 8-hour endurance race, will update its rider lineup starting with Friday’s official session on August 1st. Due to Hannes Sousmer’s absence, we invited riders Iboropes from Portugal and Davey Todd from the UK. They tested with the team on July 30th, and following the sessions, Davey Todd will race with us beginning Friday’s qualifying rounds. We are facing a challenging situation but remain united to fight for a podium finish at the Suzuki eight-hour race. Thank you for your support.”
After Wednesday’s Test Day, the No. 76 Autorace UBE Racing team ranked ninth overall, posting their best lap time of 2 minutes 7.158 seconds. Leading the pack was the No. 30 Honda HRC team, consisting of Johann Zarco, Xavi Vierge, and Takahashi, with a best lap of 2 minutes 5.645 seconds, closely followed by the Yamaha No. 21 factory team of Jacques Miller, Andrea Rocatelli, and Nakanan Shou.
Fan Take: This lineup change shines a spotlight on the resilience and adaptability critical in endurance racing. For racing enthusiasts, seeing Todd join forces with experienced riders at Autorace Ube adds excitement and raises expectations for an intense, competitive Suzuka 8 Hours that could shake up the sport’s status quo.
