It’s the end of this fantastic FIM EWC season! This year, endurance had many surprises and twists in store for us, ultimately leading to a world title for the YART-Yamaha team. So, let's briefly return to the final results of this championship, officially announced following the end of the Bol d'Or 2023 that you were able to experience in full with us.
YART-Yamaha champion at the end of the effort
The year was far from easy for YART, the famous Austrian team supported by the Yamaha factory. There YZF-R1 #7 de Niccolò Canepa, Marvin Fritz et Karel Hanika only won one race, but oh so important; the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Second at Le Mans, it was forced to retire during the Suzuka 8 Hours and came second at Le Castellet. However, with the bonuses linked to the length of the Bol d'Or, everything remained possible.
The race was going wonderfully for the Yamaha #7, although it could not catch the Suzuki #12 on track. Once the engine Honda CBR 1000RR-R #1 FCC TSR Honda France broken, the title was promised to them unless there was serious damage. And it didn't go far! In the morning, the water temperature was overheating, but fixing it would have taken too long. Thus, Yamaha gave up on the victory at the Bol and preferred to bring the beast in at regular intervals to put water in the radiator. This effort resulted in a fourth place, certainly, but synonymous with the world title with 181 points! Fourteen years later, what a reward. A well-deserved coronation and hailed by the entire grid.
Suzuki at the party, Honda dejected
The SERT upgraded to a radiator of legendary achievement. Photo: FIM EWC
Behind, no one expected such an outcome. Yoshimura SERT Motul, with her Suzuki GSX-R #12, needed a miracle to lift the trophy at the end of the year; basically, winning the Bol d'Or and all the other competitors giving up. If the Bol was indeed won by Damien Saulnier's team (despite two falls!), the Yamaha #7 in fourth place deprived any hope of a coronation for Sylvain Guintoli's last outing with the team.
However, thanks to the retirement of the #1 Honda, it was able to regain second place in the standings, just ahead of the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team and BMW M1000 RR #37. She did not win a race this season, but finished a valiant third in the championship. Another effort to be commended.
On the other hand, the big loser of this Bol d'Or is none other than the FCC TSR Honda France. After a victory at the 24 Heures Motos, and some good results (including a fairly impressive rescue at Suzuka), she entered this last round at the top of the standings, ready to win her second consecutive title! But fate decided otherwise. Halfway through the race, the CBR engine failed on the track: crankshaft blocked.. Arriving first in points, she finished fourth, the worst position to avoid using a more vulgar expression.
Honda Viltaïs Racing and CBR 1000RR-R #333, second in the Bol d'Or, is placed in fifth position, followed by the Kawasaki ZX-10R #11 Kawasaki WeBike Trickstar, still not up to expectations.
Regarding the manufacturer's trophy, Honda is celebrated due to the victory of the Japanese factory #33 at the Suzuka 8 Hours, and not entered elsewhere.
The FCC TSR Honda France has lost everything. Photo: FIM EWC
Here is the final ranking for the 2023 FIM EWC World Endurance Championship:
The Endurance World Cup eludes three teams
Although the category E.W.C. is undoubtedly the most exciting, the Superstock was no less interesting. This " World Cup ", the name given to the championship, escaped three teams in less than 24 hours of racing at Paul Ricard!
First, it is the BMW #9 Tecmas-MRP BMW Racing Team who was supposed to take her home. An arch-favorite, she had almost no competition until she broke her engine at the very start of the Bol d'Or! Amazing. The cards were reshuffled.
Then Honda CBR 1000RR-R #55 National Motos led by the legendary French team took the lead. For 23 hours of racing, or almost, she reigned supreme over the 86th edition of the Bol d'Or, even suffering two minor falls. Yes, but there you go. Engine outages prevented Sébastien Suchet from fully accelerating 30 minutes from the end of the race! Once back in the pits, the outcome did not take long to come; it was over. She lost the Bol d'Or and the world title. Stéphane Haddadj, interviewed at the time of the hard blow, could not hold back his tears. A very moving moment.
In fact, the Kawasaki ZX-10R #33 Team 33 Louit April Motos inherited the victory in the Superstock category, and the Honda #41 Chromeburner RAC-41, from the championship! Well, that's what we believed until yesterday. During the day, officials announced the disqualification of Honda #41 for non-compliant fuel tank volume. Kawasaki #33 is crowned world champion, what an outcome. Follows National Motos with the legendary #55, and the Yamaha #36 3ART Best of Bike. At the level of manufacturers, it is the firm with tuning forks which collects the laurels.
Team Louit, the surprise champions. Photo: FIM EWC
Find the rankings for the 2023 Superstock Endurance World Cup:
On this note, we will see you again next year, and hope that you enjoyed following this world championship with us! Don't hesitate to tell us what you thought of this season in the comments.
Ranking credits: FIM EWC
Cover photo: FIM EWC
