Kevin Schwantz On Podium At Suzuka 8 Hour

At an age where a lot of racers would be sitting back basking in the light reflecting off their trophy case, 49-year-old Kevin Schwantz took a little vacation to Japan and climbed the podium at the Suzuka 8 Hour endurance race.

The 1993 World Champ teamed up with Noriyuki Haga and Yukio Kayagama to finish third on the Team Kayagama Suzuki, behind Yoshimura Suzuki-mounted Josh Brookes, Nobu Aoki and Taka Tsuda, and winners Leon Haslam, Michael Van der Mark, and Takumi Takahashi on the Mushahi RT Harc Pro Honda.

Schwantz’s decision to race at Suzuka was in part due to the track having only one turn that stressed his surgically reconstructed wrist. He knew heat and humidity would be a factor, too, so he trained for the race by riding his mountain bike in the Texas heat for two hours a day. Still, 49 is 49, and Schwantz rode just one stint during the race while his teammates rode two each.

Schwantz rode Sunday’s race wearing a helmet honoring his old rival Wayne Rainey, and after the race organizers thanked him for boosting attendance.