High pressure for 24 Hours of Le Mans A decisive round for the 2011 world title Le Mans has recently been hosting two intensive testing days that promise some hectic racing for the 24 Hours, this coming 24th and 25th September. All the favourite teams are coming at Le Mans with different targets. Amongst the official teams, the BMW Motorrad France 99, the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team and the Yamaha Racing Team France GMT 94 Ipone are all seeking the 2011 Qtel FIM Endurance World title. Some others like the Monster Yamaha YART, Honda TT Legends and the team SRC Kawasaki would satisfy themselves with a victory at one of the most prestigious race of the season. Some other performing teams can also claim a podium slot, like the Bolliger Team Switzerland, National Motos or YMES Folch Endurance, amongst others. After a great performance at the 8 Hours of Suzuka, the BMW Motorrad France 99 (Michelin) comes at Le Mans as a championship leader with a six points lead over the 2010 Qtel FIM Endurance world champion, the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team. On the official BMW, Sébastien Gimbert, Erwan Nigon and Damian Cudlin seem to have the situation in hands, but won’t be able to afford any mistake against the team driven by Dominique Méliand, a great specialist of the 24 hours races, and against riders like Vincent Philippe, Freddy Foray, Daisaku Sakai and Anthony Delhalle. The Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (Dunlop) will select their three permanent riders within a few days. With their seventh place at Suzuka, the Yamaha Racing France GMT 94 Ipone (Michelin) is back in the title chase with David Checa, Kenny Foray and Matthieu Lagrive. They currently sit 22 points behind the official BMW, but 35 points are offered to the 24 Hours of Le Mans winners. One of the most ferocious competitors for the provisional leading trio is the Team SRC Kawasaki (Pirelli). 2010 Le Mans winner and second at the Bol d’Or, opening round of this current season, the official Kawasaki is more prepared than ever as they engaged Guillaume Dietrich to pair with their usual riders, Julien da Costa, Gregory Leblanc and Olivier Four. The Monster YART Yamaha (Michelin) will try their best to retaliate from a difficult season so far. Igor Jerman, Steve Martin and Gwen Giabbani will have the support of British Superbike rider Loris Baz, a welcome recruitment as Gwen Giabbani is suffering from a dislocated shoulder after a crash earlier this week. There are also some great challenges for the Superstock FIM World Cup. The Team Motor Events Bodyguard AMT is currently leading the class but the BMW of Van Zon Boening Motorsportschool Penz13 RT is in ambush. For Le Mans class victory, we’ll have to count with the Suzuki of AM Moto Racing Compétition and the one from Junior Team Suzuki LMS, who’ll want to break away with the back luck they had at Bol d’Or earlier this season. The first free practice sessions are scheduled on the Bugatti race track Thursday, the 22nd of September, at 12:30.