The accident between Morgan Berchet and Xavier Simeon marked the last event of the Endurance championship which took place for 12 hours in Estoril. An otherwise thrilling competition whose outcome only took shape in view of the finish while the rest of the podium only solidified under the checkered flag. However, the Tati Team Beringer Racing Kawasaki rider and the Yoshimura SERT Motul team rider saw this final from afar. However, what could have been annoying in other competitions came closer in EWC. The proof with the presentation of a symbolic trophy during which the two protagonists found each other…
Indeed, when the violent clash took place, the first thought of Morgan Berchet was to go and inquire about the health of the person who had just hit him, and who seemed stunned on the side of the track, Xavier Simeon. A gesture of solidarity which escaped no one and which was highlighted at the finish with the presentation of the Anthony Delhalle EWC Spirit Trophy to Morgan Berchet…A distinction that Xavier Simeon himself presented to the Frenchman.
Riding the Tati Team Beringer Racing Kawasaki in 4th position, Morgan Berchet was approaching a delayed pilot. The official Suzuki was 5th and making a comeback following a crash a few hours earlier. Surprised braking behind Tati Team Beringer Racing and a slower machine, Xavier Simeon could not avoid the rear wheel of Morgan Berchet.
Morgan Berchet rewarded
In this spectacular double fall for both pilots, Xavier Simeon was particularly stunned. Despite the sporting challenge for the Tati Team Beringer Racing and the missed maneuver of the Suzuki driver, Morgan Berchet immediately ran to support Xavier Simeon at the edge of the track.
This gesture of solidarity between pilots was rewarded by Xavier Simeon himself. He presented the Anthony Delhalle EWC Spirit Trophy to Morgan Berchet on the podium of the 12 Hours of Estoril. We will recall that the Anthony Delhalle E.W.C. Spirit Trophy is awarded by a jury at each event of the FIM EWC championship to bring to life the character and sporting spirit of Anthony Delhalle, rider of the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, who died in March 2017.
To remember this beautiful Portuguese race, here is the souvenir video…
