Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1465013
Yoshimura SERT Motul Takes Le Mans 24 Hour T he Yoshimura SERT Motul team has their title defense out to a great start in the FIM Endurance World Championship. The crew's victory at the Le Mans 24-Hour, April 16-17, marked back-to-back wins at the famous venue for the team. Riders Gregg Black, Sylvain Guintoli and Xavier Simeon piloted their Suzuki GSX- R1000 to a relatively drama-less victory, the only scare coming when they ran out of fuel during a lengthy safety-car period late on Saturday afternoon. "It was fantastic, it was really, really tiring with a lot of pace from the competitors so we had to keep pushing all the way," said Guintoli. "It was 24 hours full speed with a very small margin to try to control the race, but we go home with the big trophy. Endurance is a team sport and without everybody in the team on the technical side, my team- mates, you can't achieve anything so I feel very lucky to be part of this team. We've done well and I hope it carries on." The Yamaha Official Team EWC (YART) started the event on the pole, with rider Karel Hanika setting a new lap record. But the team ran into trouble when the YZF-R1 wouldn't fire at the start. Together with teammates Nic- colo Canepa and Marvin Fritz, the trio charged through the field to salvage a heroic second-place fin- ish, despite being hindered by the starting issue throughout the race. F.C.C. TSR Honda France, with Mike Di Meglio, Josh Hook and Gino Rea, ran out front for a spell, but the team's efforts were soon IN THE WIND P44 EWC Le Mans 24 Hours 1. Yoshimura SERT Motul (Suz) 2. YART–Yamaha Official Team EWC (Yam) 3. F.C.C. TSR Honda France (Hon) hindered by a few costly pit stops, first with a gear shifter issue, then with a broken silencer. A ride- through penalty caused a further delay for the Honda team, as well as a fall from Rea early on Sunday morning. The crew nearly fell out of podium contention, but regained third place by the checkered flag. Third place went briefly to independent team Viltais Racing Igol, who found themselves sit- ting in a comfortable fourth place until a heart-breaking technical failure ended their bid. Next up for the FIM Endurance World Championship is another 24-hour race, this time in Belgium where the championship will mark its historic return to the Spa-Fran- corchamps circuit, June 2-5. CN The Yoshimura SERT Motul Suzuki team has their title defense off to a good start in the FIM Endurance World Championship after a win at the opening round. PHOTOS: FIM