The road to the 2021 FIM EWC World Champion title is wide open after the first two events of the season. On September 18 and 19 at Le Castellet, the Bol d'Or, with its 24 hours of racing and its 65 points up for grabs, will once again shake up the provisional world rankings. The 50 points up for grabs in the final at Most in October further increase the suspense in the fight for the 2021 title.
Particularly efficient a few days ago during private tests on the Paul Ricard circuit, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team and Yoshimura SERT Motul are the big favorites for victory at the Bol d'Or. These official BMW and Suzuki teams dominated the debates and erased the previous track records in Endurance. Despite Yoshimura SERT Motul's victory at the 24 Heures Motos and a 3rd place for the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, racing incidents and crashes at the 12 Hours of Estoril last July slowed down their progress in the provisional ranking. They are respectively 3rd and 4th in the world.
Webike SRC Kawasaki France Trickstar, current leader of the FIM EWC at mid-season, arrives with a short lead (5 points) over the winner of the 12 Hours of Estoril, FCC TSR Honda France.
Neck to neck competition
The French Kawasaki team like the Japanese Honda team will therefore have to resist the rise of the BMW and the Suzuki but also of two other official teams, the YART – Yamaha Official EWC Team and ERC Endurance-Ducati.
Experienced and efficient, the YART – Yamaha Official EWC Team will be the most dangerous. Mandy Kainz's team took pole position at both Le Mans and Estoril but had some bad luck in the race. Yamaha #7, 3rd best performance in private tests at the beginning of September, is therefore also one of the favorites for victory at the Bol d'Or.
ERC Endurance-Ducati continues the development of its Panigale V4R and progresses with each race. The Ducati team has just recomposed its crew due to Louis Rossi's injury. He is replaced by Lorenzo Zanetti, Ducati development rider who knows the Panigale perfectly.
The growing ambitions of private teams
Leader in the ranking of independent teams, VRD Igol Experiences continues to progress. At the 12 Hours of Estoril in July, this French private team gave up 3rd place a few minutes from the finish under attacks from the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team. 5th in the world rankings, VRD Igol Experiences will once again come up against the official teams.
Another private team in sight, the Tati Team Beringer Racing, whose Kawasaki is particularly efficient on the track. 4th on the starting grid at Le Mans, 5th on the grid at Estoril, Tati Team Beringer Racing once again stood out during private tests at Le Castellet. He just lacks racing success. He had to retire after crashes at Le Mans and a spectacular collision at Estoril.
Among the private teams, we will also be watching Moto Ain who is continuing his apprenticeship in the EWC category, the solid Bolliger Team Switzerland team and the Wójcik Racing Team.
Animation guaranteed in Superstock
The fight also promises to be spectacular in the Superstock category. National Motos and BMRT 3D Maxxess Nevers are neck and neck in the lead but they are pushing behind. Team 18 Sapeurs-Pompiers CMS Motostore and Team 33 Louit April Moto showed themselves to be the most incisive in private tests. Also worth watching are No Limits Motor Team and Pitlane Endurance who are in the Top5 of the provisional FIM Superstock World Cup rankings.
First timed free practice sessions on the Paul Ricard circuit on Thursday September 16 in the morning.
The Bol d'Or will be experienced live on the international Eurosport network accessible on five continents. Fans will be able to follow the race live from the start procedure to the podium ceremony.
The race will also be live in full via the Eurosport digital platform with English and French commentary.
Beyond the international Eurosport network, the race will be available on several channels and digital platforms around the world.
In France, the Chaîne l'Équipe will be live on Saturday from 14:58 p.m. and will focus on the decisive hours of this Bol d'Or on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 16 p.m.
Also follow the Bol d’Or on the FIM EWC platforms and social networks with the live timing, and on the website fimewc.com as well as with dedicated content on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and live racing facts on Twitter.
More information on the Bol d’Or 2021
