EWC 24 Heures Motos 2021: Suzuki and Yamaha exchange the lead

After a first relay spent to make up for the few seconds lost at the time of departure, the YART – Yamaha made its first refueling in the wheel of the #1 Suzuki, before exiting the pit lane with exactly the same gap of around two seconds.

 

 

In this little game, however, it was the #4 Kawasaki of Tati Team Beringer Racing, author of a very good start to the race with Alan Techer, who did well in the pit stops by very temporarily seizing the lead with a advantage of 4 seconds by benefiting from an early refueling of one turn.

Things returned to normal under the push of Xavier Siméon and Marvin Fritz who pulled off a good fight among the laggards throughout their relay.

 

During the second stint, we noted the problems encountered by the #6 ERC Endurance Ducati which spent a long time in its box, and those of the #11 Webike SRC Kawasaki France Trickstar Kawasaki which would gradually get worse.

 

The second refueling would allow the Yamaha to take the lead for a handful of seconds, thus perpetuating a great duel between these two machines slightly above the rest.

 

 

The third stint saw the #4 Kawasaki's chances disappear, as did the brakes of its #11 cousin.

 

 

Kawasaki out at least for the moment, we found the Honda #5 in third position behind the two leaders then the Yamaha #96 of Moto Ain despite a minor fall by Randy de Puniet.

 

 

In the lead, now alone on the same lap, the Suzuki #1 and the Yamaha #7 are still wheel to wheel, Karel Hanika having decided to leave it to Gregg Black to open the road.

 

 

There are more than 20 hours of racing left...