Sport
Suzuki Endurance Racing Team undisputed winner at Bol d’Or
Suzuki Endurance Racing Team undisputed winner at Bol d’Or
| CHAMPIONS ALL: French riders of the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT), centre, second row, Philippe Vincent (L), Freddy Foray (C), Anthony Delhalle (R), who won the 75th Bol d’Or 24 hour motorbike race celebrate on the podium with riders of the Team SRC Kawasaki (L) who finished second and riders of BMW Motorrad France (R) who came third at the Magny-Cours racetrack, central France. (AFP |
The Suzuki Endurance Racing Team took the victory with a six laps margin, at the end of a race started and led until the end on a infernal pace by the top teams. This is the fourth consecutive win for the SERT at the Bol d’Or, which immediately takes an advantage in the QTel FIM Endurance World Championship with the 35 points for the win.On the official Suzuki, Vincent Philippe (who equaled the record of wins with seven victories at the Bol d’Or), Anthony Delhalle and Freddie Foray took the lead as from the start. Only the Team SRC Kawasaki could fight for the lead in the beginning of the race. The team of Gilles Stafler and his three riders, Julien da Costa, Gregory Leblanc and Olivier Four, took the brand-new ZX-10R to the end.Until the last minute, the third degree of the podium was the target of a hard-fought duel between the BMW Motorrad France 99 and the Bolliger Team Switzerland Kawasaki. The factory BMW, focusing on the relays of its two fastest riders, Sébastien Gimbert and Erwan Nigon, ended winning this fight. It is the first podium for the S1000RR in the QTel FIM Endurance World Championship. Entered last year, it was only noted in qualifying practice or in the beginning of the races. The BMW Motorrad France 99 made it real, despite problems of brakes and fuel tank – which obliged to shorter relays – and a last minute change of the technical crew. Reformed around Steven Casaer, it showed all its efficiency. The Bolliger Team Switzerland Kawasaki, private team runner-up in the 2010 Qtel IM Endurance World Championship, proved once again that it will have to be taken into account in 2011, with Horst Saiger, Roman Stamm and Jérôme Tangre.The podium of this 75th Bol d’Or is thus composed of three different manufacturers, Suzuki, Kawasaki and BMW, and three tyre manufacturers, Dunlop, Pirelli and Michelin.Behind this group of four, another fight opposed two Hondas. The factory machine of the Honda TT Legends, with Steve Plater, John McGuinness and Keith Amor, ended winning against the private team of the Paris dealer National Motos with Emeric Jonchière, Lucas de Carolis and Etienne Masson.