The SRC Kawasaki clinches the victory at the Bol d’Or just infront of the SERT and Monster Energy Yamaha YART An intense dual between the SRC Kawasaki and the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team took place for the majority of the race. The official Kawasaki Team won with the tinniest of margins, 1’41″ in front of the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team after 781 laps in very challenging and treacherous conditions due to changing conditions. The Kawasaki equipped by Pirelli, victor of the 2011 edition clinches its first victory since 1997 with Julien de Costa, Gregory Leblanc and Olivier Four. A second place for the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team could seem like a mixed result. However riding for 19 hours with only two riders is somewhat an amazing performance. Anthony Delhalle and Fabien Forêt crossed the line without their team-mate, Vincent Philippe, injured with a fractured collarbone after 5 hours into the race on a wet track. A great result also for the Monster Energy Yamaha YART. After a hot fight, Igor Jerman, Steve Martin and Gwen Giabbani took all the risks to grab hold of the third position from another R1 fitted with Michelin tyres, the Yamaha France GMT 94 Michelin Yamalube. A disappointing first round for David Checa, Kenny Foray and Matthieu Lagrive. “We had a great race but we didn’t find the level of competitiveness with our motorcycle.” explains Christophe Guyot, team manager of the official French Yamaha. The Yamalube Folch Endurance on Pirelli make the top five with Dani Ribalta, Anthony dos Santos and Arturo Tizon ahead of the astonishing Kawasaki 3D Endurance, winner of the Supertock class after a tense battle with the BMW of the Kraftwerk Penz13.com. The Superstock podium is completed by the Suzuki Strateam 67. The Yamaha DG Sport Herock is fourth, the Suzuki Atomic MotoSport finish fifth. Showers spoiled the 24 hours race. The Honda TT Legends, well placed during the first part of the race crossed the line in ninth spot (6th in EWC) after an impressive crash. The race was short run for the BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent. Fourth during a difficult free practice even though they destroyed both machines in crashes. They started the race in third position but had to abandon very early on due to another crash of Damian Cudlin. The next round of the FIM Endurance World Championship will be held in Qatar for the 8 hours of Doha. Riders quoted : Julien da Costa, SRC Kawasaki rider, praises the Suzuki Team. “The all amazed us clocking up the fast laps. They never gave up.” Gilles Stafler, SRC Kawasaki team manager. “This victory was totally unexpected. We hope that it allow us to race the whole championship.” Gregory Leblanc, SRC Kawasaki rider “My role was to ensure good times on a dry track. When the rain came back, we sent out our ‘wet condition’ specialist, Olivier Four.” Anthony Delhalle, Suzuki Endurance Racing Team rider “When I heard that Vincent was injured, I concentrated on my relays without thinking that there was another 22 hours to go between the two of us.” Vincent Philippe, the injured Suzuki Endurance Racing Team rider “It is just amazing what Anthony Delhalle et Fabien Forêt did. They have such an impressive physical condition.” Fabien Forêt, Suzuki Endurance Racing Team rider “For 24 hours I didn’t think about the FIM Superport World Championship but considering the difficult conditions, I always kept a security margin.” Dominique Meliand, Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, team manager “We are all fighters. I am disappointed for Vincent who was unable to battle but I want to thank my two warriors who gave it their all, as well as Dunlop that really helped us.” More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki: Team Kawasaki SRC wins 76th Bol d’Or World Endurance race Newsflash, 15 April 2012 After 22 hours of strenuous racing, the French Team Kawasaki SRC has won the prestigious Bol d’Or World Endurance race in Magny-Cours. The factory Suzuki team was beaten after an intense battle. Under difficult race conditions and with really cold temperatures, the Kawasaki SRC riders raced their way to victory in the 76th Bol d’Or World Endurance Race. Riders Julien Da Costa, Grégory Leblanc and Olivier Four rode the wheels of off their Ninja ZX-10R to clinch the first Kawasaki victory since the Bol d’Or race takes place in Magny-Cours, which is 12 years now. Team manager Gilles Stafler talks proudly about this important result for Kawasaki and the blisteringly quick Ninja ZX-10R. ‘We fought with an incredible pace during most of the race, despite the really poor conditions. I would like to thank all the team for this fantastic result, not only the riders, because today it’s the victory of the whole team. Of course Julien Da Costa, Grégory Leblanc and Olivier Four have done an incredible job. It was a really tough race and we were ready for the difficult conditions, but I think that the biggest contributor to our success has been that we didn’t make any mystake during the race.’ Julien Da Costa: ‘It’s my second victory here at the Bol d’Or, but maybe the most difficult one. I’m really tired now, but it’s a really good feeling to share this victory with the team.’ Grégory Leblanc: ‘It’s a really great moment in my career. Last year we were on the second spot of the podium and to be on the top stage today is a really sweet feeling. I’m sure we will be having a big party tonight to celebrate this victory!’ Olivier Four: ‘Under dry conditions I was lacking a little bit of race, but when I saw that the weather conditions turned to be very tricky I understood that it would be a perfect race for me. I’m really pleased to share my third victory in the Bol d’Or race with the Kawasaki SRC team.’ After today’s victory, Team Kawasaki SRC team is leading the World Endurance Championship standings. More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Suzuki Endurance Racing Team has finished second at the Bol d’Or 24 Hour race in France with a depleted two-man squad of Fabien Foret and Anthony Delhalle after team kingpin Vincent Philippe crashed early on a broke his collarbone. In one of the closest and most-exciting finishes ever, just 1:41. 055 minutes separated SERT and winners SRC Kawasaki’s Julien da Costa, Gregory Leblanc and Olivier Four after 24 hours of racing and 781 laps of the 76th Anniversary event at the Nevers Circuit at Magny Cours in France. The GSX-R1000-mounted 11-times World Endurance Champions lost Philippe just four hours into the race – and a valuable six minutes in an unscheduled Pit Stop – when he slipped off when it started to rain. Despite his injury, the Frenchman remounted quickly, pulling straight into the SERT garage for repairs, a tyre change to “Cut Slicks” and unplanned hand-over to Delhalle, but the incident cost the team greatly and put them back to fifth position in the running. During a race that saw contrasting weather conditions, necessitating several different tyre changes between Wets, Full Slicks and Cut Slicks, the team had led from the start over the French SRC Kawasaki team; a battle that went right down to the wire: And, as rain started to fall in the closing hour, tyre choice and pit stops became a deciding factor. At that time, SRC Kawasaki led SERT by just 60 seconds and final rider out, Foret, pitted and switched to ‘Wets.’ But then the conditions changed again and Foret overran a corner as the circuit conditions dried out, losing more valuable time. The Frenchman then made another unscheduled pit stop to change to “Cut Slicks” and hand-over to Delhalle in the hope of making back the time on the leaders. After crossing the line, Delhalle said: “It was really difficult, but after Vincent’s unfortunate crash at the beginning of the race, Fabien and me pushed really hard for the win as we wanted the victory. But we are happy for the Championship with the points from today, so a good start for the season.” Bol d’Or Results: 1 SRC Kawasaki (Kawasaki) 781 laps, 2 SERT (Suzuki GSX-R1000) + 1:41.055, 3 Monster Yamaha YART + 5 laps, 4 Yamaha GMT 94 (Yamaha) + 55.264, 5 Yamalube Folch Endurance (Yamaha) + 16 laps, 6 Honda TT Legends (Honda) + 34 laps, 7 Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers (BMW) + 45 laps, 8 Team Dunlop Motor (Suzuki GSX-R1000) + 51 laps, 9 Team R2CL (Suzuki GSX-R1000) + 54 laps, 10 SH Technologie SCR (BMW) + 59 laps. More, from a press release issued by Honda: Results 24 Hours of Bol D’Or, France WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CLASS RESULTS POS / TEAM / RIDERS / MOTORCYCLE / LAPS / TIME 1 / SRC KAWASAKI / DACOSTA – LEBLANC – FOUR / KAWASAKI / 781 / 24:00:23.531 2 / S.E.R.T. / PHILIPPE – DELHALLE – FORET / SUZUKI / 781 / 24:02:04.586 3 / MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA / JERMAN – MARTIN – GIABBANI / YAMAHA / 776 / 24:00:23.775 4 / YAMAHA – GMT 94 – MICHELIN / CHECA – FORAY – LAGRIVE / YAMAHA / 776 / 24:01:19.039 5 / YAMALUBE FOLCH ENDURANCE / RIBALTA BOSCH – DOS SANTOS – TIZON / YAMAHA / 765 / 24:00:31.983 6 / HONDA TT LEGENDS / DONALD – MCGUINNESS – ANDREWS / HONDA / 747 / 24:01:59.143 7 / TEAM 18 SAPEURS POMPIERS / POMPIERS MOLINIER – PRULHIERE – BRIERE / BMW / 736 / 24:00:31.459 8 / DUNLOP MOTORS EVENTS / CHARPIN – MACCIO – WOLF / SUZUKI / 730 / 24:00:28.431 9 / TEAM R2CL / CAPELA – DUMAIN – CHERON / SUZUKI / 727 / 24:01:23.776 10 / SH TECHNOLOGIE – SCRUBS / POUHAIR – TERAMOTO – DEMAREY / BMW / 722 / 24:01:29.039 11 / NATIONAL MOTOS / MONGE – BOCQUET – MASSON / HONDA / 704 / 24:00:32.759 12 / SPACE MOTO / NOUVELLON – DENEQUE – GALLERAND / SUZUKI / 700 / 24:02:23.188 13 / LEMAN RACING / VILLARROYA – MONNOT – VINET / BMW / 675 / 24:01:39.332 14 / MAX ET YANN RACING TEAM / THEPAUT – CURY – LANIEL / SUZUKI / 668 / 24:00:27.251 15 / FLEMBBO DIJAMANT SERBIA / SERBIA BOSIO – CERSOSIMO – DEHAYE / KAWASAKI / 648 / 24:02:20.427 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CLASS POSITIONS TO DATE 1 Team SRC Kawasaki 40, 2 Suzuki Endurance Racing Team 33, 3 Monster Energy Yamaha YART 28, 4 Yamaha France GMT 94 Michelin Yamalube 24, 5 Yamalube Folch Endurance 21, 6 Honda TT Legends 19, 7 Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers 17, 8 Team Dunlop Motors Events 15, 9 Team R2CL 13, 10 SH Technologie Scrubs 11, 11 National Motos 10, 12 Space Moto 9, 13 Leman Racing 8, 14 Max et Yann Racing Team 7, 15 Team Flembbo Djimiant Serbia 6. SUPERSTOCK CLASS RESULTS POS / TEAM / RIDERS / MOTORCYCLE / LAPS / TIME 1 / _3D ENDURANCE MOTO CENTER / DEBISE – DELEGUE – HOLUB / KAWASAKI / 750 / 24:01:41.594 2 / Penz13-Kraftwerk-Herpigny / BUISSON – FASTRE – VALLCANERAS / BMW / 749 / 24:01:40.197 3 / STARTEAM 67 / LUCAS – HARDT – DIGUET / SUZUKI / 748 / 24:01:28.775 4 / DGSPORT HEROCK / VAN KEYMEULEN – CUDLIN – VIZZIELLO / YAMAHA / 741 / 24:02:01.334 5 / ATOMIC MOTOSPORT / MUTEAU – JOND / SUZUKI / 737 / 24:01:16.362 6 / RACING TEAM SARAZIN / GEROUAH – KOKES – BERNON / LE ROY KAWASAKI / 735 / 24:01:59.649 7 / LOUIT MOTO 33 / BAZ – GUARNONI – CHEVAUX / KAWASAKI / 732 / 24:00:51.884 8 / MOTO AIN RACING TEAM / HAQUIN – MIZERA – VARESCO / YAMAHA / 718 / 24:00:24.025 9 / MCS RACING – IPONE / DEVOYON – BELLUCI – SASETA / SUZUKI / 711 / 24:01:45.283 10 / APRILIA LE MANS 2 ROUES / BOUE – PARISSE – LE ROYER / APRILIA / 690 / 24:00:43.260 11 / VILTAÏS RACING DIVISION / BARDET – BESNARD – BERTHOME / YAMAHA / 690 / 24:01:19.352 12 / MOTORS EVENTS AMT / SAVARY – DIETRICH – MOREIRA / SUZUKI / 683 / 24:01:35.466 13 / BI-MECA RACING TEAM / FEUILLEE – PONS – BERGERON / KAWASAKI / 672 / 24:00:50.725 14 / _24 RACING + LESMOTARDS. / DELAGE – ROMANENS – BRUNO / BMW / 670 / 24:01:06.147 15 / MOTOS ACTIVES SPORT 14 / PIGEON – PIGEON – ROCHE / SUZUKI / 666 / 24:01:51.184 SUPERSTOCK CLASS POSITIONS TO DATE. 1 3D Endurance Moto Center 40, 2 Kraftwerk Penz13.com RT 33, 3 MCP Starteam 67 28, 4 DG Sport Herock 24, 5 Atomic MotoSport 21, 6 Racing Team Sarazin 19, 7 Louit Moto 33 17, 8 Moto Ain Racing Team 15, 9 MCS Racing Ipone 13, 10 Aprilia Le Mans 2 Roues 11, 11 Viltaïs Racing Division 10, 12 Team Motors Events AMT Assurances 9, 13 Bi Meca Racing Team 8, 14 34 Racing Les Motards.com 7, 15 Moto Actives Sport 14 6. NEXT EVENT: ROUND 02 10 JUNE DOHA 8h, DOHA More, from a press release issued by John McGuinness’ publicist: Ninth place for McGuinness in opening World Endurance round John McGuinness and his Honda TT Legends team were left to reflect on what might have been at the opening round of the 2012 World Endurance Championship as they finished in 9th place. Competing at the French Magny Cours circuit, John and team-mates Cameron Donald and Simon Andrews were looking good for a top six finish in the 24 Hour race but a crash in the final third dropped them down the order and they had to settle for the aforementioned 9th place, the 6th highest EWC bike. Riding with Donald, Andrews and Gary Johnson, John posted a time of 1m43.213s during his final 30-minute qualifying session, which saw overcast conditions at the French circuit. It was Andrews who posted the fastest lap for the team but, being the fourth rider, his times didn’t count towards the final qualifying time. So, when the combined fastest laps of John, Donald and Johnson were added, the team started the race from 11th on the grid although Andrews replaced Johnson for the punishing race. A superb start by the team saw them jump up to 5th place and they stayed in this position until an unscheduled stop by Andrews saw him pit to have a quickshifter problem resolved. Although the team dropped back to sixth they were soon back out on track but on Sunday morning, the rain returned and Donald was caught out, crashing out at 150mph. He managed to push the damaged Honda back to the pits and 20 minutes later, they were back in the race, eventaully ending the gruelling 24 hours in 9th place for 19 valuable points. Speaking afterwards, John said; “After spending so long in the top six, we’re all slightly disappointed to have ended up in 9th but it’s a punishing event and anything can happen to anyone at anytime, it was just our turn to suffer misfortune this time around. We had a few problems during practice and so were a little disappointed to have only qualified in 11th place but the start position wasn’t that crucial when you think the race is 24 hours long and we all put in some good stints in the early stages to get ourselves inside the top six.” “We were able to consolidate our position despite the harsh weather conditions, which saw rain and extremely cold temperatures make riding the bike tough going. This type of racing can bite you at anytime though and it was Cameron’s bad luck to be out on the bike when the rain fell and down he went. Luckily he was ok and he put in a great effort to bring the bike back to the pits and although we dropped back a few places, the boys in the pits did a superb job getting us back out on track and we were able to bag ourselves some vaulable points.” John’s next outing will be at Oulton Park on May 5-7 where he’ll be back on the Padgetts Honda for the Metzeler National Superstock 1000cc Championship.