– The four titles FIM EWC endurance races will be played out during the legendary 24-hour Bol d'Or race at the Paul Ricard circuit.
– Six points gap between Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team and Yoshimura SERT Motul
– National Motos Honda FMA set to reclaim Superstock crown denied in 2023
– The event in the south of France will mark Niccolò Canepa's last race before he retires
– David Checa, double winner of the Bol d'Or, replaces the injured Grégory Leblanc.
The best endurance riders will throw themselves into the quest for glory at the Bol d’Or, the decisive and final round of the FIM Endurance World Championship and FIM Endurance World Cup. After action-packed races at Le Mans, Spa and Suzuka, the 2024 EWC season, the 10th promoted by Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, is set for a thrilling finale at Circuit Paul Ricard from 12-15 September, when all four FIM titles will be on the line.
Only six points separate the top two in the FIM Endurance World Championship, the Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team, the defending champion team, and the Yoshimura SERT Motul, who finished first in last season's Bol d'Or, making the Bol d'Or, broadcast live on television and online around the world, the highlight of the season.
With 65 points at stake, BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, third, and Tati Team Beringer Racing, fourth, will also be in contention for the title in the south of France next week, although both teams will have to score points in the Bol d'Or and hope that luck is not on the side of YART and SERT. BMW are 44 points behind YART and Tati are 55 points behind.
If the official Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC team wins by winning a second consecutive FIM EWC title, Nicolò Canepa will make a proper farewell. Double world champion to retire after Bol d'Or, and the 36-year-old Italian is determined to end his competitive career by winning titles.
"I never imagined I would be so successful and get so much pleasure from this sport", said Nicolò Canepa. “I gave my all in the race, but I got back much more than I expected. I won two titles in EWC and one in Superstock. I hope we can win three in EWC after the Bol d'Or.”
The race for the Superstock-based FIM Endurance World Cup is also far from settled. National Motorcycles Honda FMA may hold a sizeable 53-point advantage in the Dunlop-equipped class, but with the Superstock teams counting their best three out of four scores, 3ART Best of Bike, Chromeburner-RAC 41-Honda, the newcomer 2024 Team Star et Aviobike by M2 Revo can all emerge victorious from the event. National Motos Honda FMA were on course to win the title last year until a mechanical failure occurred with just over 20 minutes remaining in the race. This year, the Bol d'Or is the perfect opportunity for the EWC team to get their revenge.
In the FIM Endurance World Championship for Manufacturers, Yamaha leads Honda by five points, while Honda has a 34-point lead over Yamaha in the FIM Endurance World Cup for Manufacturers.
At 5,673 kilometres, the Circuit Paul Ricard is the third longest circuit on the EWC calendar. With a combination of slow, medium and fast corners, the layout includes the 1,8 kilometre Mistral Straight. A place to overtake and be overtaken, the Mistral requires bikes to ride for 20 seconds at over 300 km/h and places an emphasis on reliability and mechanical likeability. Changeable weather conditions and wind can also play a role during the event.
Thursday 12 September:
14:10 a.m.-16:10 p.m.: Free practice
17:20 p.m.-17:40 p.m.: First qualification (blue drivers)
17:50 p.m.-18:10 p.m.: First qualification (yellow drivers)
18:20 p.m.-18:40 p.m.: First qualification (red riders)
18:50 p.m.-19:10 p.m.: First qualification (green runners)
20:40 p.m.-21:40 a.m.: Night testing
Friday 13 September:
11:00-11:20: Second qualification (blue runners)
11:30-11:50: Second qualification (yellow riders)
12:00-12:20: Second qualification (red runners)
12:30-12:50: Second qualification (green runners)
18:15 p.m.-19:20 p.m.: Pit Walk
Saturday 14 September:
15:00 p.m.: Start of the 87th Bol d'Or
Sunday 15 September:
15:00 p.m.: Arrival of the 87th Bol d'Or
EWC Bol d'Or titles Paul Ricard
