Le Mans nightmare for Kawasaki SRC

As four time former winners, luck was not with the Kawasaki Motors France supported team despite a fantastic pole position

It seems that the 37th Le Mans 24 Hours event was not going to be Kawasaki SRC’s race.

As four time former winners, luck was not with the Kawasaki Motors France supported team despite a fantastic pole position and a perfect start of the race. Unfortunately, things started to turn bad as dusk made way to night.

Leading the race since the end of the first hour, Gregory Leblanc, Matthieu Lagrive and Fabien Foret were forced to change their tactics after Fabien had a small crash just before 11.00 pm.

The Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja spent 10 minutes in the garage before re-joining the race dropping to 16th position.

But fate dealt a further blow to the Kawasaki SRC squad. Back in tenth position in the standings just before mid-race, Matthieu Lagrive crashed at the Esses Bleus corner and had to stop once again to repair the number eleven machine. After another ten minute pit stop, the lime green bike was back on track returning to the fight.

But on Sunday early morning, Matthieu Lagrive was back again in the SRC garage forced to stop due to a quick change rear wheel system failure. That was just too much for Gilles Stafler the team manager, who decided to retire from a race where his bike didn’t have a realistic chance of a podium finish.

Gilles Stafler commented : “For sure it ‘s a big frustration but that’s the way it goes in Endurance. Each race is different from the previous one. I decided to stop the bike because we were too far behind our third stop to expect a podium place. I’m really sorry for Kawasaki and all my staff. We made a perfect job during practice and the first part of the race but in Endurance you can never know what you could expect from the race. We will be back and stronger in April and for sure get the victory that we deserved. »

Grégory Leblanc added : « Gilles took the right decision. We were not going to podium at this race. For sure it’s a big disappointment for me and I will not be the first rider ever to score fifth victories in a row. That’s endurance. I ‘m so sorry for the team because the mechanics did their best after the crashes to fix things as fast as possible. I’m sure we will win again here. We will be back !”

Fabien Foret explained : “I feel very sorry about my mistake. I was on my exit lap after a pit stop and I didn’t understand what exactly happened. Maybe I touched a white line while breaking and I lost the front. Last year we shared a victory for my first race with the Kawasaki SRC team but this year was not ours . That’s it !”

Matthieu Lagrive concluded : “That’s a shame because we were on a good pace and we really have the package to win this race. But as everybody already said, that’s endurance ! Like Fabien I’m still wondering what exactly happen when I crashed. I lost the front at the exit of the corner and from my point of view it’s not normal. Anyway, that’s racing and some time it’s not the most competitive squad who’s get the victory”.

More, from a press release issued by Birchall Brothers Racing:

BEN AND TOM BIRCHALL END CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A WIN

Mansfield sidecar racers Ben and Tom Birchall wrapped up their 2014 world championship challenge with a win in the final round of the FIM F1 Sidecar World championship at Le Mans in France on Saturday to seal the runner up spot in this year’s world series.

Ben and Tom completed their qualifying with ease setting pole position for Saturday’s final campaign and as the lights went out the Mitchells of Mansfield supported team shot away to get the hole shot into the first corner with Reeves and Cluze right behind in their tyre tracks. But as they approached the first chicane Reeves made a move to overtake which left Ben and Tom fighting off the challenge of Paivarinta and Karttiala who were also in the mix. But the Birchalls had the measure of the Fins and powered the LCR Suzuki away to battle for the lead with Reeves. On numerous occasions the Birchalls were forced wide to the extent that their pace was compromised but they fought back each time until once again they were pushed so wide they had to run down the escape road to avoid a crash. They rejoined the race down in third place some five seconds behind Paivarinta and in their efforts to catch the two outfits ahead broke the lap record on two occasions.

After passing the Fin it was not long before they caught and passed Reeves and this time they pulled away to establish a hefty lead going on to cross the finish line some 10 seconds ahead of Paivarinta.

Ben said: “It has been a difficult year for both Tom and me and also our sponsors, friends and family but once I overcame my injury we were back on top form. Taking the win and also the lap record here at Le Mans is a special achievement for us especially as it is the last round of the championship. After being pushed off the track, to come back strong and win the race is a good end to our season. We will come back strong next year and our priority is to bring the world title back to Mansfield.”

Because they were unable to race at Croatia the Birchalls championship lead was wiped out and they were left with a 50 point deficit. The surgeon did an incredible job to save Ben’s hand and although he was still riding severely injured and undergoing several operations between races he rode through the pain to bring the deficit down to just 16 points – another race and the championship could have been theirs.

The race from Le Mans will be shown on Motors TV on Thursday at 11pm.

More, from a press release issued by FFX Yamaha:

FFX YAMAHA CELEBRATE STRONGEST ROUND OF THE SEASON AT ASSEN

The FFX Yamaha team celebrated their biggest point’s haul of their debut MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship campaign at Assen with Filip Backlund scoring a top ten finish in the second race.

Backlund continued his learning curve in the Superbike class, qualifying 21st on the grid, but as conditions changed just before the start of the opening race, the Swedish contender showed his determination by carving through the field. Backlund was fighting for a podium finish until he crashed out of fourth place on the twelfth lap.

In race two Backlund had secured a second row grid start in fourth place after showing impressive pace in the opening contest to battle to ninth place, scoring the team their best ever finish in MCE BSB.

Backlund said: “Our second race weekend for me on the FFX Yamaha is done and we go away from Assen with more information and knowledge then before. Race one was wet and I had never ridden the FFX Yamaha in the rain before so I didn’t know what to expect, but with the changes we made the bike felt really good and I could push it more all the time. We were up in the front group and fighting for a podium finish so it was sad that we crashed out with only six laps to go.

“It was disappointing but we have learnt a lot and can take what we learnt there for the future. In race two it changed to dry conditions and from a second row start I dropped a little into the first corner but could work hard and fight for a top ten finish.

“I know it’s a hard championship and the riders are some of the greatest but I want to win so I will be honest and say that I’m not happy that we aren’t on the podium yet but it will come. In the wet I know I’m quick, we just need to find that extra in the dry so we can be consistent to run up in the front. I want to thank everyone for their support and also big thanks to the team who worked so hard all weekend long to get everything sorted, especially after the crash in race one.”