Team Suzuki’s Josh Waters yesterday travelled to Japan in preparation for this year’s Suzuka 8 Hours, in which he’ll ride with Yoshimura Suzuki late this month.

The event marks the third major international event in 2011 for the 24-year-old from Mildura, having competed in two World Superbike rounds at Phillip Island and Miller with the Yoshimura team.

Again competing for the Yoshimura Suzuki team on their GSX-R1000, Waters will complete no less than six days of solid testing in the Japanese heat, in preparation for the notoriously tough Suzuka conditions.

“I’m really looking forward to getting to Japan and spending more time with the Yoshimura Suzuki team,” Waters said.

“I know the heat is going to be a big challenge, especially leading up to the 8 hour.

“I’ve been training hard, so I’m confident fitness wont be a problem for me.”

Having won the Australian Superbike Championship in 2009 in his rookie season, Waters’ year in 2010 suffered a major hiccup when he crashed hard whilst testing in the USA.

Now, with the biggest international race in his career looming, Waters is amongst some high profile teammates in Yukio Kagayama and Nobuatsu Aoki.

Both Japanese riders have won the event (Aoki 2009, Kagayama 2007) however Waters is more than excited by the challenge.

“Getting the opportunity to race such a prestigious race along side two of the best riders in the business is a huge compliment for me,” he added.

“I really appreciate all the support Suzuki and Fujio [Yoshimura] have given me. I’ll be doing everything I can to repay them for the faith they’ve put in me in giving me this great opportunity.”

The 2011 Suzuka 8 Hour, will mark the 34th running of the event since its inception in 1978.