The 8 Hours of Suzuka were particularly eventful, particularly for the favorites of the EWC World Endurance Championship. As a reminder, the calendar only has four races, and only one remains to be contested and not the least: it is the legendary Bol d'Or, the oldest 24-hour endurance race in France, which will take place on September 16 and 17 at Paul Ricard. So, who lost big at Suzuka, and above all, who got into accounting difficulties? Answer in this article!
FCC TSR Honda France saves the furniture
When Mike Di Meglio lost the front of his #1000 Honda CBR1RR-R SP Fireblade shortly after the start of the 8 Hours of Suzuka, few imagined a positive weekend. Indeed, everything started badly, with a speed lower than that of the competitors, and a fall during the final qualifying session, the famous Top 10 Shootouts. Especially since over a relatively short distance (it was the only race lasting less than 24 hours on the entire championnat), difficult to go back in the absence of Superstock.
And yet. The Franco-Japanese structure finished 3rd following the downgrading of the Honda #104 TOHO Racing, which allows him to regain the lead in the world championship against the YART-Yamaha for 13 points. The Austrian team briefly went ahead due to qualifying bonuses. The blue, white and red Honda, reigning champion, could well repeat in the event of a good result at Le Castellet.
BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team is 3rd overall, “only” 38 points. Even if it is difficult to imagine the German winning at Le Castellet, hope persists.
YART, big loser among the enemy
Definitely the biggest defeat. The worst part is that it is not even linked to a pilot error. While it was the only machine capable of containing the rhythm of the Honda #33 Team HRC with Japan Post victorious, the YZF-R1 #7 Yamalube YART-Yamaha suffered a major mechanical problem early in the race, forcing him to lose precious minutes in the pits.
Unlike the Honda #1, she could not come back up. Yamaha loses big at Suzuka, very big, even if the points awarded to Bol d'Or are much more important due to the length of the race and the various bonuses (qualifications, position at a given time). With 13 points behind, nothing is lost, but it is less well underway, especially since problems still persist; the dynamic is no longer with them, and departures are still just as laborious. Victory at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is far away.
Suzuki Yoshimura SERT Motul, an EWC year to forget?
Terrible was the fate of the #1000 Suzuki GSXR-12R at Suzuka. Second without ever being able to get back on the leading Honda, Etienne Masson, Sylvain Guintoli et Greg Black were content with this position, until the latter made a mistake less than an hour from the finish. A small fall, but which caused the bike to plummet in the rankings. The crew matters 77 points against 138 for the FCC TSR Honda France. Despite the large number of points awaiting the teams at the Bol d'Or, to win overall, Yoshimura SERT Motul must win and everyone else must give up ! Only a miracle of this kind can make up for a season within, where bad luck is mixed with human errors.
Here is the ranking of the FIM EWC World Endurance Championship after the 8 Hours of Suzuka:
The Superstock has not moved
At Suzuka, no Superstock! Thus, the classification of the “FIM Endurance World Cup”, since that is its name, has not been altered. There Honda #41 Chromeburner RAC41 Honda is still in the lead with 85 units, ahead of Honda #44 No Limits. Another winged machine follows, the Honda #55 National Motorcycles, a historic stable to say the least.
Generally speaking, Honda is in control of this World Cup from start to finish, but is also leading the two manufacturers' championships. This was further confirmed with the victory of the factory Honda at Suzuka, which is added to that of the FCC TSR Honda France during the 24 Heures Motos, another classic of the genre.
Here is the ranking for the FIM Endurance World Cup, reserved for Superstock:
What have you thought of this season so far? And above all, who do you see lifting the Grail at the end of the Bol d'Or? Tell us in the comments!
Ranking credits: fimewc.fr
Cover photo: FIM EWC