EWC 24H Spa-Francorchamps: Huge battle at the start of the race!

Let's go for the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps! Second round of the World Endurance Championship FIM EWC, the Ardennes slide promises a great spectacle. Last year, it was BMW who won through their factory team, but in 2023, the YART-Yamaha looks sharper than ever. Dominant in qualifying, the Canepa/Fritz/Hanika trio is fast, but above all, reliable. Be careful not to forget the reigning world champions from FCC TSR Honda France, winners at the 24 Heures motos in April. Anyway, here we go!

 

Small problem for Marvin Fritz initially, while Greg Black (Suzuki #12 Yoshimura SERT Motul), used to starts, gets the best of all his opponents. The BMW M1000RR #37 BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team de Markus Reiterberger follows closely, while the Honda CBR1000RR-R #1 remains at a distance from 3^e place. The YART is 6^e at the end of the first round, what a disappointment for the Austrian team!

A big battle opposed the Yamaha #77 Wójcik Racing Team EWC and Ducati #6 ERC Endurance Ducati, with even a small errorIsaac Viñales riding the Japanese. First fall some time later: the Kawasaki ZX-10R #91 Energy Endurance 91 de Luca De Vleeschauwer no longer appears in the ranking. At idle, you can see the bike falling apart. 

In front, the BMW #37 is pressing, but Gregg Black defends well. The Honda #1 takes the opportunity to gain ground, and it is now a three-way battle that awaits the spectators! We feel the fast motorcycles, and the incisive riders, on the attack. It almost feels like we're attending a Grand Prix.

 

Honda is now chasing Suzuki on the hills of Spa-Francorchamps! Indeed, Josh Hook, winner at the 24 Hours, is on fire, while the Yamaha #7 returned to the tailpipes of the leading group, even overtaking on the BMW # 37. The latter, equipped with Pirelli, can no longer keep up with the pace. The track is abrasive, and this difference can only be explained by a difference in the tires. The first three machines (Suzuki-Honda-Yamaha), mounted on Bridgestone, are held within a pocket handkerchief almost four seconds in front of the German.

Big battle between Josh Hook et Marvin Fritz, while little by little, Greg Black asserts itself in the lead without escaping. Moreover, Yamaha #7 delivered the blow on the 12th lap. The YART returned to its initial position after a lackluster start, as is often the case. Black, on the suction, takes back his property in less time than it takes to say it. What images! The three teams in the lead pass each other and put on a grandiose show before the pit stops.

While in the Superstock category, we see the BMW #9 Tecmas-MRP BMW Racing Team in slow motion, the one who was on pole and victorious at the 24 Heures Motos! Archi-favorite in the class, she has to return to her box prematurely.

 

Safety car! the fall of the pilot of the Yamaha #99 KM99 at the top of the Eau-Rouge steeple causes the safety car to come out shortly before race time. There Yamaha YZF-R1 #7 from YART-Yamaha leads by nothing compared to the Honda CBR1000RR-R #1 FCC TSR Honda France. The Suzuki GSX-R 1000 #12 Yoshimura SERT Motul remains in ambush at Spa-Francorchamps. In the Superstock category, the Honda #41 Chromeburner RAC41 Honda is ahead but we have to wait for the first burst of stops to get an idea of ​​the ranking.

We also announce the first abandonment for the Kawasaki #91 after a problem with the frame following the fall. The 24 Hours stops after a few laps; terrible.

Here is the ranking after 45 minutes of racing: