Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Dutchmen Bosch I Colet I Schildermans had also been involved in that battle, but a crash threw them back to 20th. The Phase One Endurance Team with Edwards I Pullan I Duffus was solidly locked in sixth position. After night had fallen over the Belgian Ardens, things got a bit less he<;tic with a couple- of the top runners facing slight mechanical difficulties that spread them out somewhat. The official Honda was the first to drop back when Vieira lost some time in the pits with a troublesome chain tensioner and difficulty changing the brake pads, Some time later, Suzuki was in trouble due to a handlebar having come loose, A minor intervention in the pit let the Kawasaki team take a somewhat comfortable lead, gaining one lap over the Suzuki and , Honda, Another three laps behind, Nicotte and Simeon were battling it out for fourth - and first privateer. Phase One Endurance was by then having a ball with the Honda of Amalric/Bertinl Guinand, The RC45 of Guyot/Cazadel Haquin was one of the first top runners to retire - an overheated engine meant the end for them, Around 1:45 a.m., the leading Kawasaki team ran into trouble for the first time. An unplanned pit stop by Morrison allowed the Honda to take the lead. When the green bike came onto the track again it was only about 30 seconds behind. It wasn't long before the Kawasaki would lead again, because only a few minutes after the Kawasaki rejoined the race, the Honda came in for an unplanned pit stop. Unfortunately, the brake pads would not come off the bike and the entire calipers had to be changed - an operation which took about five minutes. By 8 a~m., the first positions seemed secured - due partially to the fact that some rain had started to fall and that nobody seemed to be keen on taking und!1e risks. Bontempi maintained a one-lap lead over the Suzuki despite the fast and furious pace set by Polen, while Vieira and his Honda teammates were an additional two laps down. The Honda team of Simeon looked set to finish fourth. After Rachel Nicotte had retired due to an oil leak, they were six laps behind Vieira, but as many laps in front of Edwards I Pullanl Duffus. Unfortunately, things went very wrong at the back of the circuit around 9:45 on Sunday morning, In one of the fastest comers of the circuit - just before the riders brake to dive into the "bus stop" chicane - a marshal who was crossing the track in order to clear some debris from the surface was hit by Phas'e One's Pullan. Both men were killed instantly. The race was halted and the pace car was sent out for half an hour. Four hours before the end, the Kawasaki team seemed to be able to stretch out their lead a bit more. At one moment, they even had a two-lap lead OV.er Polen's Suzuki, while Vieira and his team had now settled into third. Fourth was Simeon, with a Ii-lap lead over Amalric I BertinI Guinand. Nothing would change in the last hour. At 3:50 on Sunday afternoon, Bontempi took the factory Kawasaki across the finish line in first place. "Not one problem," the Italian said. "During the pit stops, we only had to change rider . and tires and we had to fill the bike up. I only had two scary moments, In the beginning of the race, a rider went down just in front of me, and I was very lucky to stay on both wheels. And this morning, during the shower, some water dripped into my helmet via the (Left) Honda's Vieira, Levleille end Costes qualified on pole but finished third In the race after encountering difficulty with their brakes. (Below) Fighting for the honor of top privateer are the team of Amalric, Bertin and Gulnand and the Gulgnabodet team of Mattioli Simeon and Guigou. Guignabodet finlshe~ttourth. (Bottom) Honda's Christian Leviellle celebrates on the rostrum. visor, Fortunately, I was able to complete my tum." Polen was quite pleased with his first finish in a 24-hour race. "The bike was quite good," the Texan said. "And actually, I was a lot faster than everybody out there. I hope this will show people that when I am on a good bike that I can stilI go fast. And it might help to get some assistance for my future performances. The hardest was this morning at about 8 o'clock, when I had to do a double relay because I was some three or four seconds faster than the Kawasaki. This was the only way to get closer to them." (Suz); 24. Debande/Timemrmans/Marchal (Kaw); 25. Louts

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