FIM EWC Bol d'Or 2023 H+4: Honda and Suzuki bicker, Yamaha referee

Let's go for this 86th edition of the Bol d'Or, the last round of the FIM EWC championship! After a magnificent pole position for the BMW M 1000 RR #37 BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, the teams are now setting off for 24 hours at very high intensity on the legendary Paul Ricard circuit. The first hour of the race was particularly eventful: between the choice of daring tires, a heavy fall and mechanical damage among the favorites, we didn't have time to breathe. Click here to find the summary of this first hour. 

 

A big battle looms at the Bol d’Or FIM EWC

 

We parted on a safety car, caused due to the big drop in Javi Fores on Ducati Panigale V4R #6 ERC Endurance Ducati. On relaunch, Greg Black (Suzuki GSX-R #12 Yoshimura SERT Motul) takes the best of her opponents, but the latter must stop. There Yamaha YZF-R1 #7 YART Yamaha, who had made the right tire choice before the start – namely, slicks, had to refuel at the worst time, in the middle of the safety car procedure.

 

 

Thereby, Marvin Fritz had to wait for one of the two vehicles to pass before catching the train; all the advantage of this wise decision is lost. But the Honda CBR 1000RR-R #1 FCC TSR Honda France, current leader of the FIM EWC championship, second to the erasure of the safety car, must also stop. There Yamaha #7 therefore takes back its property with, already, a certain advantage in terms of consumption. At Suzuki, we are fighting with Sylvain Guintoli, for his last race within the “Sartho-Japanese” team:

 

 

Meanwhile, the ordeal continues for the Yamaha #77 Wojcik Racing Team EWC. After experiencing a first mechanical problem after only 30 minutes of racing, she was again stopped at the side of the track. The catastrophic weekend continues, and abandonment seems close. There Honda #1 takes the reins, and we can even see a regrouping at the front of the race. Alan Techer, on the handlebars, is resplendent. He is the fastest man on the track. The first five are within one minute after two hours of testing, but the gap increases given the pace of the Frenchman. Unfortunately, we later learned of the official abandonment of the Ducati #6, the one that caused the intervention of the safety cars earlier.

 

 

As the hours pass, the race calms down. There Honda #1 assumes its status ; she keeps it Suzuki #12 remotely, as well as Yamaha #7. However, the Suzuki put up resistance, and in any case, Honda was unable to open up a significant gap. Some are not so lucky, like Yamaha #43 Team FMR34 Lycée des métiers Pierre Mendès France, seen stopped at the edge of the track. Slowly, the sun sets on Paul Ricard. The action has only just begun.

 

 

Because shortly before 19 p.m., the Suzuki #12, desperately in search of a good result at the Bol d'Or, overtakes, on the track, the Honda #1. Gregg Black, on his handlebars, is giving his all to keep his world title hopes alive. Mike Di Meglio, 125cc world champion, does not give up on his winged machine. Magnificent images, but which, alas, do not last; the Suz' must refuel for the fifth time. There BMW # 37 is not far, of course, but still a minute away.

 

 

Mass blow for Tecmas – MRP BMW

 

The Superstock category is just as exciting as usual. During the first hour of racing, the BMW #9 Tecmas – MRP BMW Racing Team had suffered enormous damage. The German, arch-favorite and starting from pole position, had to be pushed by her driver Kenny Foray for more than a quarter of an hour in the safety lanes before finally being able to be examined by the mechanics. But at precisely 16:21 p.m., the race was abandoned, the engine broken. A massive blow to the entire team, to whom the title was promised given the exceptional season achieved so far. Endurance is merciless.

La Honda CBR 1000RR-R #55 National Motos returned to the race after a timid start. Its pilot Valentin Suchet grabs hold of the Yamaha #18 Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motorstore for the head of the category, but obviously, nothing is decided yet. Especially since the Kawasaki #33 BRMT MAXXESS Nevers is always well placed.

The second class is not spared from the adventures. We see a huge collision between two machines; the pilot of the Honda #44 Honda No Limits Lorenzo Gabellini is mowed down by the pilot Kyosuke Okuda on BMW #85 TONE RT SYNCEDGE 4413 BMW. Furious, the Italian ironically applauds his counterpart's maneuver, even though he is not exempt from all criticism of the action. The Honda appears too damaged to leave.

 

 

While the Honda #55 National Motos seems to be taking a serious option, the Kawasaki #24 BRMT 3D MAXXESS Nevers experiences a fall at the hands of Loris cresson ! It's hard to take, but it doesn't seem too bad.

 

 

Standings for the Bol d’Or FIM EWC 2023 at 19 p.m., four hours after the start of the race: 

 

 

Classification credit: FIM EWC/itslive

Cover picture : FIM EWC