The Honda France team has written great pages in the World Endurance Championship, with Marc Fontan et Hervé Moineau titled in 1980, then in 1894, 1985 and 1986 with Gérard Coudray et Patrick Igoa (Patrick alone titled driver in 86), then in 89-90 with Alex Vieira, then in 1998 with Doug Polen et Christian Lavieille. Meanwhile, in 1995 Stephane Mertens et Jean-Michel Mattioli had become Champions also on a Honda, but prepared and entered by Guignabodet.
In 2001, Albert Aerts, Laurent Naveau et Heinz Platacis repeated the feat of winning the world title on a private Honda VTR RC51, in the Belgian colors of WIM Motors Racing 9.
At the start of 2018, in full preparation for the 24 Heures Motos, FCC TSR Honda France has just completed a test session on the Okayama circuit. The Japanese team took the opportunity to unveil the new livery of the Honda CBR 1000 RR 2018 (see photo illustrating this article). Great host of the 2017 Bol d'Or in the fight for victory before a fall a few hours from the finish, the FCC TSR Honda France is preparing a strong comeback for the 24 Heures Motos.
6th at the finish of the Bol d'Or, first round of the 2017-2018 FIM EWC championship, the Japanese team has just completed a new test session in Japan. Freddy Foray was responsible for validating the settings of the No. 5 Honda and the choice of Bridgestone tires. The next tests are scheduled in France at the beginning of March on the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans with the entire trio of FCC TSR Honda France drivers, Josh Hook, Freddy Foray et Alan Techer.
At Yamaha, the GMT94 retains the three drivers who won the title in 2016/2017, with David Checa, Mike di Meglio et Niccolò Canepa. The YART Yamaha Official EWC Team lines up Takuya Fujita, Broc Parkes et Marvin Fritz.
At Moto Ain, Pierre Chapuis, the team manager has just revealed the arrival of Roberto Rolfo, after announcing the return ofAlexis Masbou and the commitment of Christopher Bergman.
Runner-up in the 250 cc GP world champion in 3, the Italian rider won three victories in 2003 but also one in Moto250 at Sepang in 2 on a Suter Italtrans.
Moved to the FIM Superbike World Championship, then to the Supersport World Championship. Roberto Rolfo took his last victory at Phillip Island last year ahead of Lucas Mahias. He finished twelfth in the general classification.
Photos © TSR/Technical Sports Racing and Moto Ain CRT
