EWC 8H Spa – Free Practice: Yart Yamaha takes the lead

The EWC paddock arrives in the Belgian Ardennes to contest the second round of its 2024 season on the famous Spa-Francorchamps track. This Friday, those entered for this 8-hour long event will begin the serious things with the free practice sessions, which will precede the Qualifications which will be held in the middle of the afternoon. At the end of Friday morning, it was the Yamaha n°1 which took the lead.

Free Trials: 

EWC:

The number 1 Yart Yamaha started its Belgian weekend in the best possible way, by taking the best time in free practice. It was Marvin Fritz who allowed his team to propel themselves to the top of the standings, by completing an attempt in 2:18.551 on the handlebars of his YZF-R1.

This mark eclipsed the Austrian team's previous benchmark lap on the 6,985 kilometer Belgian track, which until then was 2:18.845. It was set by the Czech, Karel Hanika, in 2022.

A time which relegates the closest pursuers of the Yart to more than six tenths. We then find the No. 5 Honda in second place, with a time slightly above minute 19. Only the crew of the No. 37 also managed to complete a lap in the same second as Marvin Fritz. . Thus the local, Markus Reiterberger, completed the top-3 in 2:19.643 aboard his BMW M1000RR.

“It was a good free practice session, Fritz said as he got off his machine. Yesterday we already prepared the bike well, but today we can still make some adjustments. We feel good and it's very positive because these eight hours of racing will be difficult. I was able to set a good lap time this morning now and in the process set a new lap record. We are quite happy and we will now prepare as best we can for qualifying. »

The victorious team during the inaugural round of the championship at Le Mans, Yoshimura SERT Motul, crossed the checkered flag in fourth place, while the Honda of Viltaïs Racing completed the top-5, ahead of the Belgian team KM99.

Superstock:

As for the second category entered in these 8 hours of Spa, it was the Japanese team, Team Etoile, equipped with a BMW, which set the pace this Friday morning with a time of 2:22.080. The No. 25 was in ninth place in the general classification.

The Tecmas MRP BMW Racing Team finished second (2:22.676), ahead of TRT27 AZ Moto (2:22.833).

EWC 8H Spa – Free Practice Ranking

Ranking : FIM EWC