THE TT Legends Endurance World Championship team is heading to Japan for the Suzuka eight hour race this weekend.
17-times TT winner John McGuinness, two-times TT winner Cameron Donald and TT podium man Keith Amor will all be racing.
Cameron Donald is riding in place of two-times TT winner Steve Plater who is injured.
Only five other permanent EWC teams will take part in the notoriously difficult race, with 46 specialist Japanese teams making up the rest of the field.
It will be the first time that any of the Honda TT Legends riders have taken part in the Suzuka 8-hour.
John McGuinness, who won the Superbike and Senior races at this year's TT and is the outright lap record holder on the Mountain Course, said: "I'm really excited but I am also really nervous about the whole job.
"I've raced all over the world but I've never raced in Japan so it’s completely new territory for me.
"By all accounts Suzuka is an amazing race and it's great to get the chance to take part.
"We're up against some of the most experienced teams in endurance, but I'm really pumped up for it. I've heard horror stories about the heat and the humidity but you can't worry about it until you get there.
"It's a suck it and see situation but I'm sure it will be a brilliant experience whatever the outcome."
Keith Amor said: "I am really honoured to get the chance to race in such a classic event – that is a massive thing in itself.
"Having said that, if I'm being completely honest I am incredibly nervous.
"I know that a lot of riders struggle with the heat and the conditions, even riders that are used to doing it, so I am apprehensive, scared, excited – everything rolled into one.
"We are not going into this race with any big expectations, I think we just have to enjoy the experience and the overall event and see what happens."
Cameron Donald said: "The Suzuka 8-hour is a something I have dreamed of doing since I was a kid so to get the chance to take part with the Honda TT Legends is incredible.
"It's going to be a big challenge to go up against the regular teams from Japan as well as the other EWC teams, but I am just so excited about the opportunity. I can't wait to get out there and see what we can do."
Team manager Neil Tuxworth added: "Without a doubt this is going to be the most difficult EWC event of the year.
"None of the riders have ridden the circuit before and we will be up against specialist Japanese teams and riders who have raced here many times before.
"In fact, the majority of teams taking part are Japanese and some of those have factory support.
"It is also very humid and we don't have any data to work with. Having said all that, we are very positive and we are really looking forward to the experience. We have no great expectations.
"Our objective is to finish inside the top 10, which will be very hard and if we can do that we'll be happy."
The 8-hour race will take place on Sunday (July 31) starting at 10.30am Japan Standard Time (02.30am British Summer Time).
