Albert Arenas went from Moto2 to the FIM Endurance World Championship podium when he finished third in the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race for Yoshimura SERT Motul. Riding alongside Suzuki-powered team-mates Cocoro Atsumi and Dan Linfoot, this is what the 27-year-old from Spain had to say.
A podium in your first Suzuka 8 Hours for what was your EWC debut of course. How incredible does that feel?
“Incredible, especially considering how it all happened. On Monday, I couldn't board the plane due to a visa issue, and we had testing sessions on Wednesday that I couldn't attend. However, I gave my word, and we did everything possible to get here. My mentality changed with the change of plans. They told me they needed me, so I did everything I could to be here. My focus was to help the team as much as possible. I did a total of 35 laps during testing, and the sensations were good from the start. With the team, I felt at home, they are very professional, we got along well, and I was super-proud to share the bike with Cocoro and Dan. They did an incredible job, and I was able to do my best to help them, which was the goal, and I think we achieved it. Mission accomplished. It was also their first podium, very special, and I am very proud of everyone, happy to have lived this experience. Different vacations, but super-happy to have made the decision to take on this challenge in this way.”
The team adopted a different strategy which meant you didn’t get as much riding time as your team-mates. Did that work out okay, were there any problems?
“We had a very long meeting on Saturday night, an hour and a half of planning; the strategy was clear. They did an incredible job, but during the race, we had a small problem with a fuel tank cap that forced us to do a ride-through, which tightened the fight for the podium. Cocoro did an incredible final stint. We pushed him to the maximum from the inside, and I am very proud of him and everyone. Achieving the podium in this way, in the last minute, was so exciting and a very beautiful experience.”
As a Suzuka 8 Hours rookie, how tough was the event for you, how difficult was it to adapt to endurance racing?
“It's an incredible race, and until you try it, it's impossible to explain. These riders are true warriors. I had never ridden a speed bike for an hour straight, let alone a Superbike like this one. The most I had done was an hour of motocross, but our races last 40 minutes. The goal for Wednesday was to do a stint simulation, but it wasn't possible. I had to prepare to the maximum and asked my team-mates how they did it, and when they all told me they could do it, I convinced myself that I could too. I had to deal with some problems with the camel bag; I couldn't drink water during my stint, the camel bag nozzle got stuck in my mouth, I had trouble breathing, it was a mess. The team has an incredible support staff with a physio, and everything is organised amazingly, which allowed me to perform at my best and contribute my value to the team and help them in the race.”
How much experience of endurance competition did you have prior to coming to Suzuka?
“If I think about what I did in the past I remind myself of some motocross endurance of two or three hours with two riders. I also did a 12-hour race when I was 10 years old but in karting so this was the maximum endurance I had done.”
Would you consider returning to the EWC for more appearances in the Suzuka 8 Hours?
“I love this event and Japan, the culture. One of my best friends in the paddock is Japanese, so I feel at home when I come here. Who knows if I’ll be back someday? Now I want to enjoy the moment and head into the second part of the Moto2 championship recharged. I'm really looking forward to meeting my team, telling them about the experience. I also learned a lot. Now, when the Moto2 race comes, the 38 minutes will be different. We always complain about the high track temperatures, and here it was 63 degrees centigrade. I think it was good training, a great way to spend the break. Grateful to my team for letting me come and supporting me to do this race, and I think of them a lot. I believe they followed me from home, and I can't wait to talk to them, explain the sensations, and enjoy the moment. I hope they are happy in Spain too. A podium in Suzuka is special. Grateful for this experience and looking forward to taking a break before returning to competition.”
The all-action 2024 EWC season concludes at Circuit Paul Ricard in France from 12-15 September with the famous Bol d’Or 24-hour race.