Scott Smart enters Sunday’s Suzuka 8-Hour Endurance race on a high after claiming his best finish of the season in the British Superbike Championship.

The Maidstone rider clinched eighth in race two at Oulton Park at the weekend and immediately headed out to Japan for the prestigious endurance race.

Smart teams up with Australian Damian Cudlin and German racer Rico Penzkofer on a Yamaha YZF-R1 08 for the Phase One Endurance team.

The trio will be up against some of the world’s top riders at the Honda-owned 5.8km circuit and Smart is realistic about their chances.

He said: “The prize fund is mega, with £50,000 going to the winner, but we won’t win as we’re up against factory teams from Suzuki and Honda but it’s going to be a great experience.

“It’s one of those races you want to do before you give up and it will be good to get a decent result.

“I’ve got a couple of good team-mates and I’m really excited about it. It’s a really long track and all week we’re going to be up against it.”

Racing starts at 10.30am on Sunday and finishes in the dark at 6pm.