From a press release issued by FGSPORTGROUP:

Imola 200 Mile – Race Analysis

Sunday’s 200 Miglia di Imola race – the San Marino round of the world endurance championship – was an excellent illustration of the highs and lows that accompany any form of motorcycle racing.

The Chinese Zongshen team experienced both elation and disappointment. Their No.1 bike, ridden by Warwick Nowland and Stephane Mertens, won the race by over a minute with Nowland also putting in the fastest lap of the race.

Meanwhile, the Zongshen No.2 bike, ridden by Jerman, Bonhuil and Bontempi, seemed to be in a comfortable second place until three laps from the end of the race when the bike’s clutch failed, forcing the team to retire.

The Zongshen No.2 bike’s failure played in to the hands of the other teams which had been pushing to catch it. Suzuki GB Phase One were happy to settle for their eventual second place. Brit James Ellison and Frenchman Olivier Four have formed a rider partnership capable of consistent lap times which are the envy of other teams.

Yamaha Austria were ecstatic with third place. This was the Superbike specification Yamaha R1’s first race after a winter of development, and proof that the bike could run with the best. With more racing miles under its wheels the R1 can only improve.

The Police Nationale squad arrived at Imola with only one bike ready to race and very little testing time behind them. Finishing the race in fourth place shows that their move from Kawasaki to Suzuki has paid off, and that challenging for the championship is now a real possibility.

Bolliger Team put in their usual solid performance to finish fifth, showing that team work can be moreimportant than simple lap times. Ducati DRE’s No. 5 bike finished lower in the field than expected (owing to clutch problems) but the Ducati DRE 101 bike’s seventh place shows the potential for endurance success in the new Ducati 999.

Yamaha GMT94 will be disappointed with sixth place, but the resilient and ultra-professional French team now know what they have to achieve before the next race at Assen in three weeks time. From that race Williams Costes will join again the team.

Next Endurance World Championship round will be held in Assen on May 25th .