Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, will start the Suzuki 8 Hours, grand final of the FIM EWC. This honor echoes the invitation extended to Susumu Yamashita, President of Mobilityland, at the start of the 24 Heures Motos last April.
The starting flag for the 2016-2017 FIM EWC Grand Finale, the 40th anniversary of Suzuka 8 Hours, will be entrusted to Pierre Fillon, President of the ACO. This invitation is a new strong symbol of the historical and sporting links which link Mobilityland, organizer of the Suzuka 8 Hours, and the ACO, organizer of the 24 Heures Motos.
Invited last April to Le Mans, Susumu Yamashita, President of Mobilityland, gave the start of the 40th edition of the 24 Heures Motos. Mobilityland returns this honor to Pierre Fillon. The ACO President will launch the FIM EWC grand final on Sunday July 30 in Suzuka.
Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest
« It is a great honor for me to start the Suzuka 8 Hours, the flagship motorcycle endurance event in Japan and the final of the 2016/17 FIM Endurance World Championship. In April at Le Mans, Yamashita San accepted our invitation to be the starter of the 24 Heures Motos. In this year of celebration of the 40th editions of our two events, major competitions of the FIM EWC, this reciprocal invitation is a strong sign sent to the world of motorcycle endurance to seal a long friendship and look towards the future together."
Susumu Yamashita, President of Mobilityland
« Last April, I went to Le Mans to present the Suzuka City Prize on behalf of the mayor of Suzuka. I had the honor of being given the green flag to start this legendary race that is the 24 Heures Motos. It was a great opportunity to let the whole world know that Le Mans and Suzuka are celebrating the 40th this yeare anniversary of their events. In return, Mr. Fillon, president of the ACO, cordially accepted our invitation to lower the green flag on the Suzuka 8 Hours. This will be a strong message to display our deep friendship and the strength of our partnership. »
François Ribeiro, Director of Operations Eurosport Events
“Mobilityland and the ACO are two pillars of the EWC. Over the last 40 years, these two organizers have built the best of the Endurance legend. France and Japan are two great nations in motorcycle endurance, and these two major events work together with Eurosport Events to bring endurance to a very high level. A strong message was given at Le Mans by entrusting the green flag of the 24 Heures Motos to President Yamashita. It will be a symbol to see President Fillon unleash the machines at the start of the EWC grand final in Suzuka. »
