Tag Archives: Endurance Road Racing

Hickman joins BMW FIM EWC Team for Le Mans 24 Hour

Hickman gets last minute call up for Le Mans

The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team will receive support from a big name in the BMW Motorrad Motorsport family at the “24 Heures Motos” in Le Mans (FRA). Peter Hickman (GBR) will be the fourth rider for the #37 BMW S 1000 RR in Le Mans. He joins the team and its three regular riders Kenny Foray (FRA), Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR) and Markus Reiterberger (GER) at short notice.

I’m really excited to be part of the official BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team this weekend in Le Mans”, said Hickman. “The team is fighting for the world championship and I am privileged to have been asked to contribute to the team. I have raced at three Le Mans 24-hour races before and have also raced at Slovakia, Suzuka and Qatar. So I’m not new to endurance and have always enjoyed the experience. I can’t wait to get out on the bike!”

Hickman and BMW Motorrad Motorsport have enjoyed success together for many years. The 33-year-old has won four races at the Isle of Man TT on the BMW S 1000 RR and has also won the Macau Grand Prix on three occasions.

The Englishman has also enjoyed success on the racetrack with his regular team, Smiths Racing. In the British Superbike Championship (BSB), he has secured one of the six coveted places in the “Showdown” for the title in each of the past three years. He also rode for the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team at Donington Park (GBR) in the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) in 2019.

Marc Bongers – BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director

After the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team’s successful start to its debut season, we have had to wait a very long time to finally go racing again. However, we have used the break to continue to develop the endurance version of our RR. The tests in July at Le Mans were very positive. We are well-equipped and can hardly wait to take on the challenge that is the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Anything can happen in endurance racing, so it is difficult to make any predictions before the race. However, we have done our homework and are looking to build on what we achieved at Le Castellet and Sepang.”

BMW Motorrad Motorsport. FIM Endurance World Championship FIM EWC.

The 2020 24 Heures Motos will be flagged off at 12pm this Saturday on the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans. Despite the absence of spectators, the teams are all set to race what is the third round of a 2019-2020 FIM Endurance World Championship thrown into utter disarray by the global health crisis. The race will be held closed doors for the first time since 1978, with all participants and organizing staff following strict hygiene precautions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The stakes will be even higher at the 2020 24 Heures Motos following the cancellation of the Bol d’Or and the Suzuka 8 Hours. The season finale will now play out in Portugal on 26 September at the 12 Heures d’Estoril for both the world championship title and the Superstock World Cup.

At the 24 Heures Motos, a maximum of 65 points are available for the win, with bonus points for pole position and for being in the lead 8 hours and 12 hours into the race.

At the 12 Heures d’Estoril, which as the championship final will now benefit from the bonus of 150 per cent of the points at the finish line, another 67.5 points will be available in total: the points for the win, for pole position and for the leader 8 hours into the race.

SERT GSX-R1000 riders Etienne Masson, Gregg Black and Xavier Simeon currently lead the series – recently revised from five to four rounds after the cancellation of the Suzuka 8 Hour Race in Japan.

There are a mere 15 points separating the top two teams in the provisional rankings, Suzuki Endurance Racing Team and BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team. The next two teams, Wójcik Racing Team and YART Yamaha, are 31 and 36 points respectively behind the leader. VRD Igol Pierret Experiences, who are 48 points behind, also have strong ambitions, as do some of the factory teams who were unlucky in the early part of the season. Webike SRC Kawasaki France Trickstar are 49 points from the leader and F.C.C. TSR Honda France with Aussie Josh Hook are 54 points behind, while Team ERC Endurance have to make up a 67-point gap to take their Ducati Panigale to the top of the standings.

FCC TSR Honda Sepang
F.C.C. TSR Honda riders are Mike di Meglio, Freddy Foray and Australian Josh Hook.

Thanks to their victory last time out, Mandy Kainz’s Yamaha team return to France for the latest round of the 2020 EWC championship lying fourth in the overall classification, just behind fellow Yamaha squad, Wojcik Racing. The team will be aiming to take more points at this weekend’s event; the YART Yamaha team has had previous success at the 2.6-mile French circuit, standing on the top step in 2009 and has claimed a further four podium finishes.

Sepang Hour YART Trophy
YART Yamaha won the Sepang 8 Hour

The team will field their highly experienced line-up with the first Italian FIM EWC Champion and 2017 Le Mans 24 hour winner, Niccoló Canepa, partnered with 2016 IDM Superbike Champion and previous Endurance race-winner Marvin Fritz, and former Red Bull Rookies and European Moto3 champion, Karel Hanika, who will make his first proper start with the YART Yamaha YZF-R1 at the renowned 24-hour event.

Mandy Kainz – Team Manager – YART

For us it is going to be quite a strange race, racing in front of empty grandstands for 24 hours, but it is what it is and we’re more than ready despite not having as much pre-event testing as normal. The biggest challenge will be for our riders because, in such a long Endurance race, you’re always chasing motivation to continue, and a lot of that comes from the fans. Still, our riders are very professional and will be able to give it their all. For Le Mans, we aim to return to the championship and pick up good points to put us in the title fight at the finale in Estoril. It is a must to finish the 24-hour event if we want to be within a chance of the title in this strange year. I know we can do a good job because we have an amazing package; the bike, the Bridgestone tyres and our riders are all very strong, so I know we can do a good race.”

The Wojcik Racing Team come into Le Mans looking to fight back from a non-finish in Sepang. The team will once again run British Superbike rider, Gino Rea, Frenchman Axel Maurin, Australian Broc Parkes and Polish rider Maceli Bezulski. The polish-based Yamaha team are determined to fight for the podium to keep themselves within a title chance come the season finale in Portugal.

ARRC Sepang Test SBK Parkes
Broc Parkes

The Moto Ain Yamaha World Cup Supported Team’s trio of riders, Roby Rolfo, Robin Mulhauser and Hugo Clere will be looking to protect their lead in the Independent team and FIM World Cup standings. They currently lead the independent championship by 14 points over Wojcik Racing Team, in a Yamaha top-five lockout.

Completed in 1966, the famous 4.185km Bugatti circuit located in north-western France has seen various changes to the course. The current layout has been in use since 2008 and provides spectacular racing. Its high and low-speed corners mixed with heavy braking zones, fast changes of direction and unpredictable weather are what makes Le Mans and the 24 Heures Motos one of the most challenging and rewarding events on the calendar.


Source: MCNews.com.au

Bol d’Or 2020 cancelled | Estoril to stage FIM EWC finale

FIM EWC finale to be held at Estoril

Without the possibility of hosting spectators, the Bol d’Or 2020 will not take place. The local authority, Prefecture of Var has just withdrawn permission to welcome public to the race, scheduled for September 19-20. A new event, the 12 Hours of Estoril in Portugal, will take place on September 27 in its place.

The Bol d’Or2020, the proposed finale of the current FIM EWC season, was supposed to host Endurance fans at Le Castellet in the south of France on 19-20 September.

Following the strengthening of restrictions to stop Covid-19 in France, the local authority, Prefecture of Var, has withdrawn the authorisation to welcome spectators to the event. This decision has forced Editions Larivière, the race organiser, to cancel the Bol d’Or 2020.

The 2019-2020 FIM EWC Finale will instead take place in Portugal on the Estoril circuit on 27 September.

A 12-hour race is scheduled on this international circuit near Lisbon. It will close a sporting season particularly disrupted by the global health crisis. As the FIM EWC season final event, this 12-hour race will benefit from the bonus of 150% of the points in both EWC and Superstock categories, as well as intermediate points in the standings after eight hours of racing. The 4.182km Estoril circuit has hosted MotoGP and FIM Superbike World Championship events previously. Before this final event in Portugal, FIM EWC teams will race at Le Mans for the 24 Hours Motos on 29-30 August.

François Ribeiro – Head of Eurosport Events

“We support the decision of Editions Larivière to cancel the Bol d’Or 2020 within the context of stricter restrictions related to the health situation in France. We will return to this great event in September 2021. In order to protect the interests of the championship and teams, we have made every effort to replace this final race. We are pleased to announce and offer a new battle between teams at the Estoril circuit to close the 2019-2020 season.”


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Source: MCNews.com.au

2020 Suzuka 8 Hour officially cancelled

Suzuka 8 Hour is off

As a result of stronger restrictions on entry in Japan, international teams and riders will not be able to travel to Suzuka. In agreement with FIM and Eurosport Events, the promoter of FIM Endurance World Championship, the Suzuka 8 Hours organiser Mobilityland has decided to cancel the 2020 edition.

Rescheduled to 1 November due to the global health crisis, the 43rd edition of the Suzuka 8Hours will not take place in 2020. It is the first-ever cancellation since the creation of the race in 1978.

KRT Team manager – Guim Roda

We had an indication that the cancellation was going to happen and the news has become official today. KHI had big expectations running in the 2020 Suzuka 8 hours, to give the fans an extraordinary show again. With the responsibility to defend the win we achieved last year we planned an incredible project with Rea and Lowes, and with the support of Xavi Fores to attack the 8 Hours as strongly as possible. Everything was already planned, but unfortunately the outside realities and safety requirements around Covid-19 ended all our plans. We understand the wider situation. The direction of the Japanese Government, which is the same as many around the world, makes it difficult to organize the event with so many foreigners attending the 8 Hours race. This is the case for many teams, but especially the factory ones that build their projects in coordination with WorldSBK riders and staff. We hope everything goes back to a more normal situation soon and the Suzuka 8 Hours comes back even stronger. We in KRT are ready to attend KHI’s request to defend the title in future if needed.”

The Covid-19 pandemic remains a source of concern in Japan, and the government has decided not to lift its entry ban on international arrivals, even for business travellers. International riders and permanent teams have always been an integral part of the action at the Suzuka 8 Hours, which has become the grand finale of the FIM Endurance World Championship. In their absence, the grand finale would be a domestic race. As a result, Mobilityland has decided to cancel the 2020 edition.

Kaoru Tanaka – Director of Mobilityland Corporation

We had been preparing for the “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race to be held on November 1st together with all of the fans and stakeholders involved in this race event but, with anguish, we find no alternative but to make the decision to cancel it in consideration of the continued spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Japan and overseas and the fact that there is no prospect of deregulation of immigration restrictions on visitors from abroad at this stage in Japan. Once again, we extend our apologies and regrets to all the fans who were looking forward to attending the Suzuka 8 Hours, which had been postponed from the originally scheduled date in July to November. We also extend our sincere regrets to all of the other stakeholders involved in this race event and we ask for everyone’s kind understanding and cooperation going forward. In closing, let us say that we are determined to make preparations so that the 2021 Suzuka 8 Hours event will be even more enjoyable for the fans than ever before.

François Ribeiro- Head of Eurosport Events

We have been working hard with Mobilityland to reschedule the race from July to November – a first since 1978 – and then to organise entry into Japan for international teams and riders with a special business visa. Our hopes have evaporated with immigration restrictions for foreigners. The cancellation of the 2020 Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours is not a question of spectators’ access. The decision was made not to run this iconic race as a domestic event. The Suzuka 8 Hours, the most prestigious endurance race in the world over the last 40 years, shall not run without top international riders.”

Source: MCNews.com.au

Suzuka 8 Hour pushed back to November 1

FIM Endurance World Championship

The 2020 Suzuka 8 Hours initially scheduled to be held on 19 July 2020 has been pushed back to a new date: Sunday 1 November.

Kaoru Tanaka, President of Mobilityland Corporation

“We had been preparing for the ‘Coca-Cola’ Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race to be held in July, but have decided to postpone it in consideration of the current situation in which there is prohibition of large-scale events that attract large numbers of people and restriction of travel is expected to continue to increase in European countries. We ask for the kind understanding of all the fans who were looking forward to attending the Suzuka 8 Hours for this unavoidable postponement and of all the other stakeholders involved in this race event. We will make due preparations so that we can welcome the start of the event on November 1st together with all the fans and stakeholders involved in this event.”

With border entry restrictions currently in effect in Japan making it impossible for Suzuka to host teams and riders from countries affected by coronavirus, the race has been postponed to later in the year.

Historically held in summer, ever since the first edition in 1978, the Suzuka 8 Hours will take place for the very first time in Autumn in 2020. In close collaboration with race organizer Mobilityland, the iconic Japanese race was promoted to the status of FIM EWC grand finale in 2017.

Jorge Viegas, FIM President

“Who would have ever imagined that the 8 Hours of Suzuka would have to be postponed just a few weeks ago? However, we must keep strong and do whatever is in our power to return to racing, as soon as possible, without taking any unnecessary risks. I am sure that the faithful spectators of Suzuka will enjoy a great show again and that this iconic race will retain its special place in the FIM Endurance World Championship. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the efforts of the Japanese Motorcycling Federation (MFJ), Mobilityland Corporation and of course Eurosport Events!”

As the FIM EWC season final event, the 8-hour race will benefit from the bonus of 150% of the points.

FIM EWC Calendar

FIM EWC Calendar

Updated 2020 FIM EWC Calendar

The FIM, Eurosport Events and the various race organizers have together restructured the ongoing season calendar to ensure the number of races initially scheduled in the championship take place. The 2019-2020 season will therefore continue with the 24 Heures Motos (29 and 30 August 2020) followed by the Bol d’Or (19 and 20 September), and conclude with the FIM EWC grand finale at Suzuka on 1 November. 

François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events

“The global health crisis, the logistical constraints resulting from Japan’s entry restrictions and our priority to protect the health of everyone involved in the FIM EWC, have made it necessary to postpone the Suzuka 8 Hours. Praise is due to Mobilityland for adapting the Suzuka calendar to ensure that this major race in the championship remains Japan’s biggest celebration for motorcycling fans. To help teams with their logistics requirements in the opening phase of the 2020-2021 FIM EWC season, we will push back the date of the 8 Hours of Sepang to January if necessary, just ahead of the customary SBK/GP pre- tests on the circuit.”

FIM EWC Suzuka Hour FCC TSR Honda France

FIM EWC Suzuka Hour FCC TSR Honda France

FCC TSR Honda France at the 2019 Suzuka 8 Hour
Source: MCNews.com.au

YART to lead Yamaha’s Suzuka 8 Hour assault with Canepa, Fritz and Nozane

YART to spearhead Yamaha’s Suzuka 8 Hour effort

The Yamalube Yamaha EWC Official Team by YART will race the 43rd edition of the Suzuka 8 Hour with a revised rider line up and a brand-new livery, as they step up to lead Yamaha’s assault on the prestigious Japanese endurance race. 

YART Suzuka Pre

YART Suzuka Pre

Yamalube Yamaha EWC Official Team by YART

With the Yamaha Factory Racing Team absent from this year’s event, having secured a fifth successive podium finish 12 months ago, the YART Yamaha rider line up has been strengthened by the addition of Kohta Nozane, with the Japanese Superbike frontrunner drafted in to race the #7 Yamaha R1 alongside YART Yamaha regulars, Niccolò Canepa and Marvin Fritz.

YART Suzuka Pre

YART Suzuka Pre

Yamalube Yamaha EWC Official Team by YART

In recent years the Yamalube Yamaha EWC Official Team by YART has been one of the teams to carry the flag for the Endurance World Championship regulars, taking the fight to the factory teams that join the championship only for the Suzuka event, traditionally the final race on the EWC calendar.

YART Suzuka Pre

YART Suzuka Pre

Yamalube Yamaha EWC Official Team by YART

In 2019 the YART Yamaha trio of Canepa, Fritz and Broc Parkes battled at the front throughout the race, despite having to start on the spare bike following a crash in warm-up, and eventually finished in a creditable sixth place. This year the team return to Suzuka with their sights set firmly on the podium.

The 43rd edition of the Suzuka 8 Hours is currently scheduled to take place on Sunday 19th July, but the date may yet change as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Mandy Kainz – Team Manager
Yamalube Yamaha EWC Official Team by YART

“Suzuka is an important race for us. Normally it’s the final race of the season, although that’s not the case this year, but as a long time Yamaha team it’s also something of a home race for us. Racing alongside our colleagues at YMC and in front of the passionate Japanese fans is always a very special feeling. For the past few years we’ve been the back up to the Yamaha Factory Racing Team at Suzuka, but with them absent this year it places more responsibility on our shoulders. I am confident that we can step up and repay the faith shown in us by Yamaha. Kohta Nozane is one of the most exciting young talents racing in the Japanese Superbike Championship so I’m happy to welcome him into the team to race alongside Niccolò and Marvin. We know Nozane-san well, he knows the bike and the team, and we also know that at Suzuka he will be very strong. In the past we’ve been one of the teams capable of fighting it out at the front with the factory squads but this year, with such a strong rider line up aboard our Yamaha R1, already a proven package, I think it’s possible to challenge for the podium. That will be our goal.”

YART Suzuka Pre

YART Suzuka Pre

Yamalube Yamaha EWC Official Team by YART
Source: MCNews.com.au

FIM EWC 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans postponed until September

24 HEURES MOTOS POSTPONED TO 5 AND 6 SEPTEMBER 2020

As a result of continued coronavirus-related health concerns and the French health minister’s ban on gatherings of more than 1,000 people, the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), Eurosport Events, promoter of the FIM Endurance World Championship and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, organizer of the 24 Heures Motos, have decided to postpone the 43rd edition of the 24 Heures Motos, initially scheduled to be held on 18 and 19 April 2020.

ACO and Eurosport Events have already fixed the new dates, 5 and 6 September 2020, for the race which will as an exception close the 2019-2020 FIM EWC season.

The FIM, Eurosport Events and ACO’s priority is to ensure the safety of spectators, teams, riders and all the people involved in organizing the event.

These measures are being adopted in response to an unprecedented situation and the organizers are confident on the understanding of those concerned despite of the inconvenience caused.

The “Pre-Mans” tests scheduled to be held on 31 March and 1 April have therefore also been cancelled.

All current tickets will be valid for the new dates (5 and 6 September). No exchange required.

Source: MCNews.com.au

FIM EWC standings shake-up after Sepang 8 Hour

FIM EWC standings shake-up after Sepang 8 Hour

The 8 Hours of Sepang winner YART Yamaha and BMW Motorrad World Endurance made a handsome profit in Malaysia, but Suzuki Endurance Racing Team held on to top spot in the 2019-2020 FIM EWC standings.

Sepang Hour ParcFerme
Sepang 8 Hour

YART Yamaha’s victory following Niccolò Canepa’s outstanding solo performance in the saddle of the Austrian squad’s R1 was the highlight of the first edition of the 8 Hours of Sepang. Mandy Kainz’s team pocketed the 30 points on offer for the win in Malaysia, rocketing from 11th to 4th place in the 2019-2020 FIM EWC provisional standings.

Sepang Hour YART Trophy
Niccolò Canepa won the race for YART Yamaha

BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team continued their flawless ascent following their debut outing at the Bol d’Or in September. The Belgian factory-backed team once again finished on the third step of the podium with riders Ilya Mykhalchyk and Markus Reiterberger, moving up in the process to the number two spot in the championship standings 15 points behind the leader, Suzuki Endurance Racing Team.

Sepang Hour EWC Markus Reiterberger
Markus Reiterberger

Suzuki Endurance Racing Team still lead championship

The Suzuki factory team finished 5th at the 8 Hours of Sepang, but remain at the top of the provisional standings after two races. Webike SRC Kawasaki France took a similarly cautious approach to the tricky track conditions at Sepang and finished 6th. The 2018-2019 FIM EWC title winner collected precious points, but will now have to target the win at the 24 Heures Motos to defend their title.

Bol dOr SERT Vincent Philippe
SERT at the Bol d’Or

3ART Moto Team 95, once again among the Top 10 race finishers, are in 5th place in the championship standings ahead of another Yamaha-mounted team, VRD Igol Pierret Experiences. The latter would have made it into the Top 10 at Sepang if they had not suffered a crash towards the end of the race.

Successful maiden outing for Ducati

The FIM EWC’s newly Ducati-backed squad Team ERC Endurance had a successful maiden outing at Sepang. The German team running a Panigale V4R finished the race in 10th place, scoring their first championship points into the bargain.

Sepang Hour Ducati Jezek
Ducati in the World Endurance mix

F.C.C. TSR Honda France got off to a great start at the 8 Hours of Sepang. Third on the starting grid, the team took and kept the lead even after a crash caused by a collision with the Yamaha Sepang Racing bike. However, the Japanese team lost any chance of a win after a second crash at the tail end of the race. The 2017-2018 FIM EWC winners are 12th in the provisional standings, 54 points from the leader.

FCC TSR Honda Sepang
F.C.C. TSR Honda riders are Mike di Meglio, Freddy Foray and Australian Josh Hook.

Crashes also put paid to the hopes of some other teams. Maco Racing Team finished outside the points after a crash that cost them their 18th place. Tati Team Beaujolais Racing also lost ground because of a late-stage crash, but scored one championship point.

After a flamboyant duel for 2nd place early in the race, Tecmas BMW GMC and Suzuki JEG Kagayama fell victim to technical issues: engine failure for BMW Tecmas and a hard-to-spot faulty fuse for Suzuki JEG. A mechanical issue also forced Wójcik Racing Team to throw in the towel at Sepang. The Polish team retain 3rd place in the provisional standings thanks to their superb performance at the Bol d’Or, the season’s opening round.

Moto Ain lead Superstock standings

Yamaha also took the Superstock win at Sepang. Moto Ain (Yamaha) reign supreme in the FIM Endurance World Cup after a second win in this category. Moreover, the team managed by Pierre Chapuis finished at the foot of the podium ahead of several factory teams. Moto Ain also claimed the top spot among the independent teams ahead of Wójcik Racing Team.

Moto Ain already have a 35-point lead over BMRT 3D Maxxess Nevers in the FIM World Cup standings. The Kawasaki-mounted team lost out on a Superstock podium finish at Sepang due to a crash towards the end of the race. The German BMW-mounted team GERT56 by GS Yuasa made it into the Top 3 in the provisional standings by dint of wresting a 2nd-place finish at Sepang from Tone RT Syncedge 4413 BMW. Team 33 Coyote Louit Moto, No Limits Motor Team and Rac 41 also ran a fine race in Malaysia.

Source: MCNews.com.au

YART Yamaha win inaugural 8 Hours of Sepang

YART Yamaha took the win ahead of Honda Asia Dream Racing with Showa and BMW Motorrad World Endurance in Malaysia at the very first edition of the 8 Hours of Sepang, which proved to be a nerve-racking race due to very bad weather.

After a delayed start followed by track action being suspended due to heavy rain, the first edition of the 8 Hours of Sepang made good on its promise of being an action-packed new FIM Endurance World Championship race. Duels at the front, lead swaps, drama and crashes kept the tension high all through the race on the Malaysian circuit.

Sepang Hour YART
Niccolò Canepa – YART Yamaha

YART Yamaha won the day despite an electronics scare in the early stages of the race by steering clear of trouble with Niccolò Canepa as the only Yamaha #7 rider in the saddle throughout the race. The strategy of having a sole fast rider with experience of tricky track conditions in the saddle bore fruit. Broc Parkes and Karel Hanika were however co-credited with the win.

Niccolò Canepa – YART Yamaha

“I’m incredibly happy with win here in Sepang, as it started as a difficult week, especially with the injury to Marvin. Luckily Karel was able to step in as a replacement at the last minute. I was feeling good at the start of the race but, after only a couple of laps, the bike switched off and when it came back on it was with no traction control or any electronics. That made things very difficult, but I managed to come back from P20 to P1 at the end of my first stint, which I was supper happy about. When the safety car came out, I switched the bike off and on and everything started to work as it should once again. At both pit stops Mandy asked me if I wanted to continue and both times I said yes, although I did take a bit of persuading at the first stop. I pushed hard throughout the race and, at the end, we took the win. Yes, we were a bit fortunate with the crash, but that’s part of the game in endurance racing, as we’ve found out to our cost in other races. So, I’m super, super happy and I’d like to say a big thank you to my team and especially my team-mates, as we race and win together. The win means we’re back in the championship and now we need to focus on repeating this success at the next race, the 24 hours of Le Mans.”

Sepang Hour YART Trophy
Niccolò Canepa won the race for YART Yamaha

Mandy Kainz – YART Team Manager

“Obviously we are happy with our first win of the season, especially after what had initially been a difficult week for us here in Malaysia and one overshadowed by Marvin’s injury. The team and the riders didn’t let these difficulties defeat them, but instead worked hard to ensure we were well prepared for what turned out to be a very difficult race. It was shorter than expected because of the weather, but no less exhausting for that. We had a problem with the bike in the early stages of the race, but Niccolò did an incredible job to fight his way through to the front in difficult conditions and without any electronic rider aids. At the first pit stop it was tight at the front of the race, so we decided to keep Niccolò on the bike, rather than lose time while Karel got used to the conditions. We made the same decision at the final pit stop, opting to stick with Niccolò rather than putting Broc on the bike for the final 30 minutes on a damp but drying track. It was the correct decision and it paid dividends for us in the end. So, thanks to the team and the riders for a fantastic job; this win puts us back in the game as far as the championship is concerned. Finally, I wish Marvin a speedy recovery and I look forward to seeing him back on the bike, and hopefully on the podium, in Le Mans.”

YART Yamaha finished ahead of Honda Asia Dream Racing with Showa, who ran a consistent race in the leading pack with Malaysian rider Zaqhwan Zaidi, Thai rider Somkiat Chantra and Indonesian Andi Farid Izdihar. The Japanese team’s cosmopolitan line-up had already done brilliantly in the Top 10 Trial, wresting second place on the starting grid and backing that up with second place in the race. 

Sepang Hour Honda Asia Dream Racing
Honda Asia Dream Racing with Showa

BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team claimed their second podium at the 8 Hours of Sepang with riders Ilya Mykhalchyk and Markus Reiterberger after their Bol d’Or podium finish. Kenny Foray sustained an injury in practice and was unable to compete in the race.

Sepang Hour BMW Endurance Pits
BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team

Marc Bongers – BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director

“The second podium in our second race in the FIM EWC – this is a fantastic result for our new BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team. We couldn’t have necessarily expected this as newcomers in this highly competitive World Championship. The team and our riders Ilya and Markus weren’t distracted by the adverse conditions. They did yet another fantastic, flawless job on the track and in the pit. On this occasion, I also want to send a get well soon message to Kenny, who surely will be back with us soon. Of course, we would have liked to get more riding in to gain more experience in race conditions with our RR, but it wasn’t possible in this weather. Now we will keep focussing on preparing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Congratulations go to our BMW customer teams as well, who also got strong results with their RR.”

Sepang Hour BMW
BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team

The factory-backed BMW team moves up to second place in the FIM EWC provisional standings with a 15-point gap to Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, who maintain the lead obtained after their Bol d’Or win.

Damien Saulnier – SERT Team Manager

“When you are not on the top step of the podium you always wish you had a better place, but for this race with tricky conditions, our goal was a Top-5 and the job has been done. I am satisfied with the work we’ve done during the week while being aware that there is still some more work to do. The team keeps on growing up and everyone works hard. We are also very pleased with Yoshimura’s engineers support. I would also like to thank the organiser for this amazing event. Bringing 38 European teams to Malaysia was not an easy task! And last but not least, I would like to say a word for Vincent Philippe, who didn’t race today because of the circumstances. He is a very professional man and I had great confidence in him. I am filled with emotion, but also proud to have been able to work with this remarkable rider.”

Superstock winner just short of the podium

Moto Ain steamed steadily ahead throughout the action-packed race to a fourth-place overall finish and another win in the Superstock class. The French Yamaha-mounted team consolidated their lead in the Endurance World Cup with riders Roberto Rolfo, Robin Mulhauser and Hugo Clère, finishing ahead of both Suzuki Endurance Racing Team and Webike SRC Kawasaki France, who struggled in the challenging track conditions.

Sepang Hour Pit Entry
Two riders enter the pits while two continue on – Sepang 8 Hour

Moto Ain’s runner-up in the Superstock class was German team GERT56 by GS Yuasa (BMW). Lucy Glöckner, Stefan Kerschbaumer and Pepijn Bijsterbosch finished 14th overall after holding off Japanese team Tone RT Syncedge 4413 BMW until the end. After being delayed by a crash in the early stages, Tomoya Hoshino, Kokoro Atsumi and Takeshi Ishizuka climbed back up to finish their first race outside Japan on the third step of the podium.

Favourites have nerve-racking race

Yamaha Sepang Racing, who dominated qualifying and the early stages of the race, and their chief rival F.C.C. TSR Honda France broke away from the other front-runners to embark on a duel for the lead.

Sepang Hour Yamaha Sepang Racing FCC TSR
Sepang 8 Hour

A collision involving Mike di Meglio (F.C.C. TSR Honda France) and Michael van der Mark (Yamaha Sepang Racing) knocked both machines to the ground.

After a pit stop, Michael van der Mark returned to the track beyond 40th place. By dint of piling up fastest race laps (including a 2:17.817 by Franco Morbidelli), Yamaha Sepang Racing finished 7th ahead of BMW Sepang Racing, 3ART Moto Team 95 (Yamaha) and Team ERC Endurance, who got their Ducati Panigale into the Top 10.

Michael van der Mark – Yamaha Sepang Racing

“It was a weird 8 Hours of Sepang, but when we did finally get to race the conditions were good. I had a good feeling with the bike and a strong pace from the start, so when I got passed for the lead I decided to sit in behind and follow rather than take any risks. My plan was to retake the lead when we hit traffic. I’m not sure what Di Meglio’s plan was with the pass at the final corner, but it didn’t work, and it ended for me with a massive highside that let me badly winded. The team did an amazing job to get the bike back on track and I was quick to rediscover my rhythm so, apart from the position, I enjoyed the race. When Franco took over the bike for the last stint, we could see he had really good pace, but we were still surprised to finish as high as seventh. Massive thanks to the team, who worked so hard for us this weekend, and also to Franco and Hafizh, who I really enjoyed racing with.”

Sepang Hour Yamaha Sepang Racing FCC TSR
Sepang 8 Hour

F.C.C. TSR Honda France returned to the lead after the collision, but lost their chance of a win after Mike di Meglio crashed out with one hour left in the race.

Sepang Hour FCC TSR
Sepang 8 Hour

Other teams also had a very tough time of it. Suzuki JEG Kagayama were well placed among the top three but lost a lot of ground due to a mechanical issue. A mechanical problem also led to the downfall of Tecmas BMW GMC, who had performed spectacularly in the early part of the race with rider Camille Hédelin clearly at ease on a wet track.



Next FIM EWC race: the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans on 18 and 19 April 2020.

Source: MCNews.com.au

Morbidelli puts Yamaha on pole for Sepang 8 Hour

Sepang 8 Hours Qualifying Results

Yamaha Sepang Racing took pole position in the top 10 Trial overnight, placing ahead of Honda Asia Dream Racing with Showa and F.C.C. TSR Honda France on the starting grid.


Sepang 8 Hour Top Ten Video Highlights


The Top 10 Trial started with Somkiat Chantra setting a blistering pace. The Thai rider posted a fantastic 2:05.440s lap for Honda Asia Dream Racing, sending the Japanese team rocketing from 9th to 1st place. Yamaha Sepang Racing’s Franco Morbidelli was the sole rider to finally knock the Japanese Honda off its perch and claim pole position with a 2:04.647.

Honda Asia Dream Racing with Showa beat F.C.C. TSR Honda France to second place on the grid after Josh Hook posted a 2:05.484.

Sepang Hour Josh Hook
Josh Hook

Jérémy Guarnoni’s lap – a 2:05.826 – enabled Webike SRC Kawasaki France to jump two places and start from 4th on Saturday ahead of BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, YART Yamaha, Team ERC Endurance, BMW Sepang Racing and VRD Igol Pierret Experiences.

Sepang Hour Webike SRC Erwan Nigon Jeremy Guarnoni David Checa
Webike SRC Kawasaki France

Markus Reiterberger – P5

“Thursday was a good day. We’ve made more progress with the bike, especially regarding the chassis and the electronics. This for sure will help us on the race distance of eight hours. Unfortunately, Kenny got injured on Wednesday, and Ilya and me now have to ride as a two-rider line-up. I want to wish Kenny a speedy recovery! Ilya and me shared duties and I think that we did a good job. It was exciting to compete in the Top 10 Trial. I’ve participated in many Superpoles but never in a format like this. It’s great and I really like it. Unfortunately I made a small mistake which cost some time, but fifth on the grid is not bad and now we will see what we can achieve in the race. I think that we are a strong team and well prepared.”

Sepang Hour EWC Markus Reiterberger
Markus Reiterberger

Wójcik Racing Team were the big loser of the Top 10 Trial. Gino Rea had a minor crash during his timed lap. The Yamaha-mounted Polish team, who were 8th after qualifying, will start from 10th place on the grid, just ahead of Suzuki Endurance Racing Team and the first Superstock teams.

Sepang Hour Broc Parkes
Broc Parkes on the YART Yamaha

Australians Ben Burke and Paul Byrne are racing the event alongside Yoshiyuki Sugai on an Aprilia RSV4 RF and qualified 46th. 

After Friday’s all-day FIA WTCR/Oscaro races, the FIM EWC players will be back on the track on Saturday 14 December for the warm up with the race then scheduled to start at 1300 before finishing underfloodlights as the sun currently sets around 1900 in Malaysia. 

Sepang 8 Hours Endurance Race – Top 10 Trial
  1. Yamaha Sepang Racing – Franco Morbidelli 2m04.647s
  2. Honda Asia Dream Racing Showa – Somkiat Chantra 2m05.440s
  3. F.C.C. TSR Honda France- Josh Hook 2m05.484s
  4. Webike SRC Kawasaki France – Jeremy Guarnoni 2m05.826s
  5. BMW World Endurance Team – Markus Reiterberger 2m06.306s
  6. YART Yamaha – Niccolo Canepa 2m06.431s
  7. Team ERC Endurance Ducati – Randy De Puniet 2m06.519s
  8. BMW Sepang Racing – Azlan Kamaruzaman 2m06.986s
  9. VRD Igol Pierret Yamaha – Xaiver Simeon 2m07.227s
  10. Wojcik Racing Yamaha – Gino Rea No Time
Sepang Hour Pole Morbidelli VanDerMark Syahrin
Franco Morbidelli put Yamaha Sepang Racing on pole for team-mates Michael Van der Mark and Hafizh Syahrin

Source: MCNews.com.au

Syahrin leads Sepang 8 Hour practice on drying track

Mixed conditions test riders at Sepang

Following the private test dominated by F.C.C. TSR Honda France earlier in the week, Yamaha Sepang Racing got the upper hand in free practice on Wednesday afternoon on their home territory in Sepang.

On a track drying out after a storm, Hafizh Syahrin, the MotoGP rider and a star in Malaysia, clocked the fastest lap of the session, a 2:18.637, in the saddle of the Yamaha 21 with the Sepang International Circuit livery that he is riding with teammates Franco Morbidelli and Michael van der Mark.

Yamaha Sepang Racing were faster than Webike SRC Kawasaki France, who are beginning to find their feet on the 5.543-km circuit. The Kawasaki team – the 2018-2019 FIM EWC title holders – were ahead of F.C.C. TSR Honda France, who looked very comfortable on the track on this initial day of tests at the 8 Hours of Sepang. Jérémy Guarnoni, Erwan Nigon, and David Checa make up Webike SRC Kawasaki France. F.C.C. TSR Honda riders are Mike di Meglio, Freddy Foray and Australian Josh Hook. 

FCC TSR Honda Sepang
F.C.C. TSR Honda riders are Mike di Meglio, Freddy Foray and Australian Josh Hook.

The top Superstock team, Tone RT Syncedge 4413 BMW, were in 4th place in free practice. The Japanese team (the Superstock class winner at the 2019 Suzuka 8 Hours) proved faster than Team 33 Coyote Louit Moto and Moto Ain in the category.

YART Yamaha claimed 5th place ahead of Tecmas BMW GMC and BMW Sepang Racing. YART consists of German rider Marvin Fritz, Italian Niccolò Canepa and Australian Broc Parkes.Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman and Adam Norrodin will be at the start of the 8 Hours of Sepang.  Two Malaysian stars team up with Julien da Costa at BMW Sepang Racing Team.

Thursday – will be crucial in terms of preparing for the 8 Hours of Sepang, with the two qualifying sessions followed by the Top 10 Trial at the end of the day to reassign the top 10 spots on the grid. The fastest rider of each of the 10 best teams in qualifying will throw his hat back into the ring in the course of a flying lap.

Sepang 8 Hours Endurance Race – FP1
Drying Track
  1. Yamaha Racing Sepang 2m18.637s
  2. Webike SRC Kawasaki France 2m18.770s
  3. F.C.C. TSR Honda France 2m19.187s
  4. Tone RT SyncEdge 4413 BMW 2m19.641s
  5. YART Yamaha 2m20.277s
  6. TecMas BMW GMC 2m20.362s
  7. BMW Sepang Racing 2m20.545s
  8. Team 33 Coyote Louit Moto Kawasaki 2m21.113s
  9. Wojcik Racing Team Yamaha 2m21.748s
  10. Moto Ain Yamaha 2m21.786s
  11. VRD Igol Pierret Experiences Yamaha 2m22.784s
  12. BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team 2m22.813s
  13. 3ART-Moto Team 95 Yamaha 2m23.251s
  14. No Limits Motor Team Suzuki 2m23.850s
  15. Team ERC Endurance Ducati 2m23.682s

Source: MCNews.com.au