FIM EWC Bol d’Or 2023 H+16: Suzuki puts up resistance

At the Bol d'Or, as in the other endurance races of the FIM EWC championship, night spares no one. However, the ordeal continues, whatever the cost. Relive with us the last hours and the different adventures that marked this 86th edition. To understand what happened before this article was published, click here to find previous time points. 

The FIM EWC championship relaunched by the Bol d’Or

It's the twist of the night. There Honda #1 FCC TSR Honda France is no longer in the running, due to major damage to the engine: blocked crankshaft. It's over for the Franco-Japanese team.

But it is not the only machine to have suffered the difficulties inherent to the Bol d'Or head-on. There BMW #37 BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, 3rd for a long time and well into his race, also made a pass through the box. Fortunately, she was able to get out but not without losing precious time. She is now in fifth position, 11 laps behind the Suzuki #12.

Yes, because the Suzuki GSX-R #12 had a magnificent race. Despite a small fall Greg Black shortly before 22 p.m., the three Frenchmen set an impressive pace, and are now three laps ahead of their closest pursuers with 19 pit stops each. There Yamaha #7 YART-Yamaha must hope for a slowdown for the leading team to hope to win.

Other teams suffered the harsh law of endurance, but they were already no longer at the forefront. We are talking, for example, about the Kawasaki ZX-10R #11 Kawasaki WeBike Trickstar, who lost a little more than two minutes due to a stubborn accelerator cable, but also, the Honda CBR 1000RR-R #333 Honda Viltaïs Racing, who had inherited 3rd position after the abandonment of the sister bike. Again, a good two minutes wasted. Terrible weekend for the winged brand. She still occupies the same place on the track, but this time, eight laps behind.

Less suspense in Superstock

The Superstock category is always exciting, but it must be recognized that it is quite largely dominated by Honda #55 National Motorcycles for quite a while. It has no problems, and holds its place as a machine with a legendary number. Behind, one lap away, the Kawasaki #33 BRMT 3D MAXXESS Nevers who only asks for damage to her rival of the day. Then, in third place, another Honda, #41 of the team Chromeburner-RAC41 Honda.

In reality, it was the retirements that marked this category, much more than the action on the track and the gain of positions. There Honda #113, Honda #121, Yamaha #119, Kawasaki #97, and even, both Experimental Yamaha #43 et Ducati #3 are all out of the race. Not counting the few falls, like that of the Yamaha #22 Team 202 below.

But like the abandonment of Honda #1 taught us, nothing is over yet; everything can change in half a second. We stay on the lookout before our next point at 11 a.m.

Ranking of the Bol d'Or FIM EWC 2023 at 7:30 a.m., sixteen hours and thirty minutes after the start of the race: 

Classification credit: FIM EWC/itslive

Cover picture : FIM EWC