EWC, Bol d'Or, 18th hour (9 a.m.): YART and FCC TSR Honda France in full battle

After the race was neutralized during the night, the Bol d'Or had a new start at 6 a.m. this Sunday morning. FCC TSR Honda France took the lead ahead of Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, YART Yamaha, Webike SRC Kawasaki France, Wójcik Racing Team and Tecmas BMW GMC. The best Superstock, Moto Ain, resumed the race in 7th position.

The Bol d'Or was suspended after three hours of racing due to very bad weather conditions and the machines being parked on the pitlane. The teams were authorized on Saturday evening to bring their motorcycles into the pits. The machines came out again on Sunday morning shortly before 6 a.m. for a new start behind the safety cars in the order of Saturday's classification at 18 p.m. before the race was suspended.

In accordance with the FIM EWC regulations, the first points were awarded to the first ten crews classified in Formula EWC and Superstock 8 hours after the start. This classification is the one retained on Saturday when the race was suspended. The FCC TSR Honda France therefore receives 10 points at the top of the EWC ranking as well as Moto Ain, leader of this intermediate ranking in Superstock.

Concerning the second distribution of intermediate points which were to be awarded at 7 a.m. after 16 p.m. of the race, the FIM jury of the race decided to postpone their distribution on the classification to 10:30 a.m. which will mark half-time of this second unprecedented part of the race at the Bol d'Or.

Advantage to Baz and di Meglio

The fight quickly pitted Loris Baz on Yamaha against Mike di Meglio on Honda, Christoffer Bergman on Yamaha, Gregg Black on Suzuki, Jérémy Guarnoni on Kawasaki and Kenny Foray on BMW.

The choice of tires was delicate and in this area the Yamaha of TART and the Honda FCC TSR Honda France seemed to do the best with their Bridgestones. These two machines were 2'30 ahead of Bergman's Yamaha after 1h54 of morning racing. In third position, the Polish team Wojcik Racing Team (with Gino Rea, Christoffer Bergman and Axel Maurin) had a very good race in third position, with 37 seconds ahead of the SERT Suzuki.

At 8:40 a.m., Loris Baz was 15 seconds ahead of Marc di Meglio. We remind you that YART has a full crew of Loris Baz, Marvin Fritz and Niccolò Canepa, while FCC TSR Honda France counts on Josh Hook, Freddy Foray and Mike Di Meglio. In Superstock, Moto Ain had a superb race with Roberto Rolfo, Robin Mulhauser and Hugo Clère.

For fourth place, the fight was very intense between Webike SRC Kawasaki France with Jérémy Guarnoni, Erwan Nigon and David Checa) and Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (Vincent Philippe, Étienne Masson and Gregg Black).

In the lead, Loris Baz had the best lap time in 1'57.032. Mike di Meglio lost a little ground in second position, 25 seconds behind.

At 8:48 a.m., Loris Baz returned to refuel and it was he who set off again for a second consecutive stint on the Austrian Yamaha.

Ranking at the eighteenth hour:

The Yamaha Moto Ain, in the lead in Superstock (above)

Videos: thanks to Long live endurance

Photos © David Reygondeau for Eurosport Events, teams, manufacturers and partners