#705 Matsumoto Clinic Garage Speed Dominates!

"Open Mote Endurance" is now in its second year as a machine with less than 250cc and 2 cylinders. 77 machines arrived on the grid, with the top 39 in the qualifying race forming the first group, and the rest forming the second group. The clean start was made at the scheduled time of 10:00 with a Le Mans-style start.

【#21 SP3 & Amphini & Madoka Design】, who started from pole position, took the holeshot and showed a great dash from 4th on the grid. Following them are 【#1 Bulldocka Tagos & Haruman】, 【#705 Matsumoto Clinic Garage Speed】, 【#23 Motoclutch & WAKO'S】, 【#78 NAPA & Utashiro + One Make】, 【#20 Success & KTS Shonan】, and 【#16 Team K's】.

The team that returned in first place on the opening lap was [#23 Moto Clutch & WAKO'S], followed by [#705 Matsumoto Clinic Garage Speed], [#78 NAPA & Utashiro + One Make], and [#21 SP3 & Anfini & Madoka Design]. On the second lap, [#78 NAPA & Utashiro + One Make] rose to the top. [#705 Matsumoto Clinic Garage Speed] marked this perfectly, and these two teams pulled the race. In the early stages of the race, [#705 Matsumoto Clinic Garage Speed], [#78 NAPA & Utashiro + One Make], [#21 SP3 & Anfini & Madoka Design], and [#23 Moto Clutch & WAKO'S] formed the top group. The starting rider for [#78 NAPA & Utashiro + One Make] was Yu Yamashita, and the starting rider for [#705 Matsumoto Clinic Garage Speed] was Takehiko Kurokawa, both of whom have a history of success in the All Japan Road Race Championship. In particular, Kurokawa is still competing in the All Japan ST600 class, and even secured pole position at last year's Twin Ring Motegi round. Masakiyo Kanai, the starting rider for [#21 SP3 & Anfini & Madoka Design], is also a former All Japan rider, but this was his first road race in 13 years. In the midst of this, the efforts of Mitsuyoshi Machida, the rider for [#23 Moto Clutch & WAKO'S], shone.

However, in the 7th lap, Kurokawa took the lead and picked up the pace. The only one who could keep up with him was Yamashita. Kurokawa marked the fastest lap of the race with 2 minutes and 21.465 seconds in the 15th lap, and it seemed like he was going to establish a solo lead. However, he collided with a backmarker and Yamashita took the lead. After that, when Yamashita entered the pit first, Kurokawa once again took the lead. Behind him, #42 Team GTMM & Kawasaki Mercury was making a comeback.

It was expected to be a battle between Kurokawa and Yamashita, who have overwhelming speed, but other teams also consistently circled with fast lap times, not allowing them to run away.

As the race passed the halfway point, [#78 NAPA & Utashiro + One Make] crashed at the S-curve, dropping down in position and falling out of the top contenders. Leaving [#78 NAPA & Utashiro + One Make] behind, [#705 Matsumoto Clinic Garage Speed], [#21 SP3 & Anfini & Madoka Design], [#42 Team GTMM & Kawasaki Mercury], and [#23 Moto Clutch & WAKO'S] took the top four spots, with positions changing during pit stops.

At the point when there was only 1 hour left, these 4 teams, [#37 TEAM Ikeda Taxi & TC Bad Boys + M's], were tied for the top spot with 132 laps, but [#705 Matsumoto Clinic Garage Speed], who brought in Kurokawa as their final driver, quickly pulled away from the rest and dominated the race. They completed 155 laps and won the "Open Mote Endurance". "We didn't have any specific strategy. I thought fuel consumption would be tough, so I shifted up early at 11,500 rpm. But it was also a big help that everyone was able to improve their best lap times during the race. It's my first time winning at the "Mote Endurance", so I'm just happy," said Kurokawa.

2nd place was taken by [#21 SP3 & Amfini & Madoka Design], 3rd place was taken by [#42 Team GTMM & Kawasaki Mercury], and they made it to the podium. In 4th place was [#45 RacingGarage STR], who moved up in position towards the end of the race, followed by [#37 TEAM Ikeda Taxi & TC Bad Boy + M's] and [#23 Moto Clutch & WAKO'S].