Yoshimura SERT Motul is the new World Endurance Championship (EWC) world champion after winning the Bol d’Or. This victory marks the return of the Japanese team to the top of the podium after three years, with the Paul Ricard circuit being the stage for the Japanese party.

The trio of Gregg Black, Etienne Masson and Dan Linfoot demonstrated exceptional performance throughout the 24-hour race. The team finished with a seven-lap advantage over the Yamaha KM99, ridden by Randy de Puniet, Jeremy Guarnoni and Florian Marino. Even more impressive was the 17 lap gap to their closest rivals in the championship, the YART team.

Yoshimura SERT Motul’s victory at the 2024 Bol d’Or not only marks his return to the championship title, but also highlights the importance of preparation and strategy in one of the most challenging competitions in world motorcycling. The team demonstrated exemplary tactical skill, taking advantage of their opponents’ difficulties and maintaining a consistent performance throughout the demanding 24-hour race.

The race was marked by the many difficulties presented by the competition, with the Yamaha Austria Racing Team (YART), the championship leader at the start of the race, facing significant mechanical problems, including a damaged tire that forced Karel Hanika to stop at Turn 1.

The Honda Viltais #333 was not without problems, with an engine failure in the final stages of the race, forcing it to withdraw from the fight for the first places, and Hannes Soomer, from BMW Motorrad and who started from pole position, saw his hopes victory faded after an accident at 2:34 am local time.

In the Superstock class

In the Superstock class, Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers took victory, beating teams Rac41 and TRT27. National Motos Honda secured the category title with a notable performance from Guillaume Raymond, Sebastien Suchet and Valentin Suchet.

O conteúdo Yoshimura SERT Motul wins Bol d’Or 2024 and becomes world champion aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

18-year-old German rider Lennox Lehmann secured pole position for the Yamaha R7 European Cup SuperFinale at the iconic Circuit Paul Ricard during the final round of the Endurance World Championship (EWC) Bol d’Or. The front row was completed by Italian Devis Bergamini and Lehmann’s compatriot, Felix Kauertz.

Lehmann, a former WorldSSP300 rider, set the pace in the first qualifying session with a fastest lap of 2:21.648s, 0.767s ahead of Italy’s David Conte and Spain’s Eric Molina, a race winner at last year’s SuperFinale.

Despite windy conditions at the circuit, lap times dropped further in the second session as riders adapted to the challenging conditions. Lehmann once again dominated, improving to 2:20.585s and securing pole position.

Devis Bergamini, a former FIM R3 bLU cRU World Cup participant, made a significant improvement of almost 2.5 seconds from his first session, setting a time of 2:20.69s to secure second place on the grid. Felix Kauertz, meanwhile, secured third place, with just 0.386s separating the top three.

The 2024 Yamaha R7 European Cup SuperFinale kicked off with 28 riders from 11 countries, who had the opportunity to meet Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official team riders Niccolò Canepa, Marvin Fritz, Karel Hanika, and Robin Mulhauser. Competitors received valuable tips on how to tackle the demanding Le Castellet circuit and were able to watch a pit stop demonstration, as well as a visit to the YART garage.

During the afternoon, the on-track action began with two 20-minute qualifying sessions, with the combined times from both sessions determining the final grid for the races.

The first nine-lap race of the SuperFinale is scheduled for 1:30 PM local time on Friday, while the second race will take place at 12:10 PM on Saturday.

O conteúdo Lennox Lehmann claims Yamaha R7 European Cup SuperFinale pole at Bol d’Or aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

With Paolo Pavesi heading to MotoGP to become Yamaha’s management director, Andrea Dosoli will be promoted within Yamaha Motor Europe, taking over Pavesi’s current role as division manager at Yamaha Motor Europe Motorsport Division.

This division oversees the Japanese manufacturer’s programs in various championships, including the Superbike, Endurance, and Motocross World Championships. Dosoli will assume his new role on November 1, transitioning from his current position as motorsport R&D manager for Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing.

Dosoli has been linked to Yamaha for over two decades, first joining in 1998 and staying until 2003, where he worked as a team manager in the 125cc, 250cc, and 500cc classes. He returned in 2013 to support the WSBK team, and in 2014 he began working with Yamaha Motor Europe, leading the WSBK project since its return in 2016.

In his new role starting in November, the Italian will be responsible for managing all of Yamaha Motor Europe’s sports activities – WSBK, MXGP, EWC, rallies, the Yamaha Racing Heritage Club, and the bLU cRU programs.

Olivier Prevost, president and CEO of Yamaha Motor Europe, stated in a press release: ‘First and foremost I would like to acknowledge and express my deep appreciation for the tremendous contribution of Paolo Pavesio during his tenure as Director of Marketing and Motorsport at YME. He has been instrumental in restructuring our motorsport operations, which has resulted in Yamaha securing several world titles in WorldSBK, EWC and MXGP. Another significant achievement has been the strengthening of our Motorsport organization, which now enables us to appoint Andrea Dosoli as the next YME Motorsport Division manager. Andrea’s extensive experience in racing with Yamaha and his impressive accomplishments make him the ideal candidate for this role. I am confident that under Andrea’s leadership our YME Motorsport Division will continue to thrive and reach new heights of success. I wish both Paolo and Andrea the very best in their new responsibilities within Yamaha’.

O conteúdo Andrea Dosoli succeeds Paolo Pavesi as motorsport leader at Yamaha Motor Europe aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team heads into the season-ending Bol d’Or with a chance to secure their second consecutive FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) title. With Niccolò Canepa, Karel Hanika, Marvin Fritz, and reserve rider Robin Mulhauser leading the charge, the team is not only focused on defending their crown but also bidding an emotional farewell to Canepa, who will retire after this weekend’s race.

Last year, YART clinched the championship at Bol d’Or after an intense season, and they arrive at Circuit Paul Ricard with a slender six-point lead in the standings. Their 2024 campaign has been nothing short of exceptional, with standout performances, including a third-place finish at Le Mans, a win at the 8 Hours of Spa, and a dream podium in Suzuka. Now, they aim to finish strong and take home the title once again.

A Season to Remember

Defending the title hasn’t been easy, but YART’s consistency and performance have placed them in a prime position. The Austrian squad worked tirelessly during private practice at Le Castellet, honing their setup and tire combinations to tackle the challenging 24-hour endurance race. With 65 points up for grabs in this final round, YART is determined to maintain their lead.

Canepa’s Last Ride

For Niccolò Canepa, this race marks the end of an illustrious career. The Italian rider, who has been instrumental in YART’s success, is retiring after this weekend’s Bol d’Or. Canepa, physically fit and fully recovered from earlier injuries, is motivated to give everything to secure one last championship.

“This will be a very emotional Bol d’Or for me as it will be the last race of my career,” Canepa said. “Our aim is to secure back-to-back titles, and I want to end my career in the best possible way.”

The Path to Victory

With YART leading the overall standings, their approach to this race is simple: win the Bol d’Or and the championship is theirs. The team’s lead may be narrow, but their confidence is high thanks to the excellent performance of their Bridgestone-shod Yamaha R1 throughout the season.

Karel Hanika emphasized the team’s determination: “We are in a strong position, and we want to do everything we can to win it for the second time in a row. The competition will be tough, but we will give it absolutely everything.”

Marvin Fritz added, “Our target is to push to the maximum from the first practice session, focus on our race, and then see where we are in the championship. If we win the race, nothing else matters.”

Challenges and Competitors

The 5.673km Circuit Paul Ricard is known for being unforgiving, with the 1.8km Mistral Straight testing both rider endurance and machine durability. The track’s fast, flowing nature and technical demands make it a true challenge for the teams. However, YART’s preparation has been thorough, with team manager Mandy Kainz confident in their ability to deliver.

“We’ve put ourselves in the best possible position to win the championship,” Kainz said. “It’s up to us to shape our destiny. We aim to win, so we don’t have to worry about anyone else.”

Aiming for a Clean Sweep

YART’s ambitions extend beyond the riders’ title. Yamaha leads the FIM Endurance World Championship for Manufacturers by five points, and a win in the final race would secure this title as well. Additionally, the 3ART Best of Bike team could still claim glory in the superstock-based FIM Endurance World Cup, making this a potential sweep for Yamaha across all categories.

The Final Countdown

The Bol d’Or will kick off with Free Practice on Thursday, followed by qualifying sessions and the traditional 24-hour race starting at 15:00 local time on Saturday. With YART in the driver’s seat, the final race of the 2024 EWC season promises to be an unforgettable conclusion to an epic year. All eyes will be on Canepa and the YART team as they strive to cement their legacy with back-to-back world titles.

O conteúdo YART Yamaha Aims for Glory at Bol d’Or Finale: Can They Secure Back-to-Back Titles? aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Niccolò Canepa’s motorcycling career is coming to a close. The rider announced this Wednesday that he will retire after the Bol d’Or, which will take place from September 12 to 15, concluding the World Endurance Championship (EWC) season.

The 36-year-old Yamalube YART Yamaha rider has competed in various categories throughout his career: he raced in MotoGP in 2009, moved to Moto2 the following year, and more recently, competed in MotoE.

In production-based bikes, he raced in the Supersport and Superbike World Championships, as well as in the European Superstock 600 and Superstock 1000 Cup (where he was the champion in 2007 and runner-up in 2013).

Additionally, Canepa served as a MotoGP test rider and, in 2016, entered the EWC, winning championships in 2016/2017 and 2023. The Italian now has a realistic chance of retiring with his third title, as YART Yamaha heads into the final round leading the standings.

O conteúdo Niccolò Canepa to end his career this month after the Bol d’Or aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Sylvain Guintoli is facing one of the greatest challenges of his personal life. The former MotoGP rider announced this morning that his youngest son has been diagnosed with cancer.

The Frenchman, who competes in the World Endurance Championship and serves as a MotoGP commentator for TNT Sports, is suspending all these activities to focus on supporting his son and family. In his statement, Guintoli said:

– I am devastated to say that our youngest son has been diagnosed with cancer. Our little boy is fighting like a champ’ and our family is united to support him. Unfortunately this means I will miss the last World Endurance Championship race, as well as the next few MotoGP races with TNT Sports. We want to thank the NHS Children Oncology Team, BMW, NorthOne and WBD for their support in these difficult moments.

Motorcycle Sports expresses its full support to Sylvain Guintoli, his son, and his family, wishing for the best possible outcome in this serious health battle.

O conteúdo Dramatic situation hits Sylvain Guintoli’s family as his son fights cancer aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The Team Suzuki CN Challenge competed in this year’s Suzuka 8 Hours with a GSX-R1000R equipped with more sustainable components and technologies, achieving a top-ten finish in eighth place.

The riders were Étienne Masson, Hideyuki Ikugata, and Sodo Hamahara. The fuel used was sustainable, comprising 40% biofuel, and the Motul oil that lubricated the engine was of biological origin. Emissions were controlled by an exhaust system developed and tuned by Suzuki in partnership with Yoshimura, complemented by a catalytic converter.

The fenders were made from natural flax fiber provided by Bcomp, while the fairings utilized recycled carbon materials. For braking, Sunstar Engineering’s brake pads emitted minimal dust, and Bridgestone tyres with an increased proportion of recycled materials were used.

Team Director Shinichi Sahara remarked: ‘At the start of last week I thought it was amazing that we were able to make it to the final without any problems, despite the unusually short preparation time. From then on, the team and riders worked perfectly, and we made it to the final day without any trouble. We not only finished the race as we had aimed, but we also finished in eighth place, so I feel a real sense of accomplishment. This doesn’t mean the project is over, and we still have work to do to gather data, verify sustainable items, and set our next goal’.

At Suzuki’s upper echelons, President Toshihiro Suzuki highlighted the commitment to sustainability: ‘We have been making efforts in re-allocating resources toward promoting the development of sustainability-related technologies. […]. By making development of sustainable fuel and other sustainable items of Yoshimura Japan, who has been working alongside us for a long time, and other partners in such a challenging environment, I believe that it will lead not only to improving Suzuki’s environmental performance technologies, but also to contribute to personnel development and to increase motivation’.

Executive general manager of motorcycle operations Tsuyoshi Tanaka added: ‘I believe this initiative has a very significant meaning to realise carbon neutrality, especially for mid to large displacement motorcycles, for which we believe combustion engines will still be needed. I can say with confidence that endurance racing, which simultaneously demands running performance and endurance, is the optimal place for testing and development of not only fuel but also various sustainable items, and it is an activity that would revitalise the future of the motorcycle industry’.

O conteúdo Suzuki’s sustainable technologies shine at the Suzuka 8 Hours aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Ducati was present unofficially at this year’s Suzuka 8 Hours, with Team Kagayama competing on a Panigale V4, finishing in a solid fourth place. In the future, the Borgo Panigale manufacturer aims to be involved in this iconic race, possibly with MotoGP riders.

Paolo Ciabatti, a Ducati’s manager, was at Suzuka and spoke about this participation in an interview with GPOne.com: ‘The Suzuka 8 Hours has always had great significance for us because, in Japan, it is the number one race, even more important than MotoGP. It is very spectacular and offers a lot of fun for the spectators, but, I would add, there is also inhuman heat. The riders had a lot of difficulties, after the one-hour session, they were exhausted. Physically it is very tough for them, especially in an edition like this where there were no safety cars or major retirements, which gives even more value to our fourth place. As Ducati, we are thinking about the idea of going to the Suzuka 8 Hours to win because it would be a historic result’.

Francesco Bagnaia has already expressed interest in competing at Suzuka, and Ciabatti believes this is a common desire among other VR46 Riders Academy members: ‘I think all the Academy riders, knowing that Valentino [Rossi] competed and won in the 8 Hours – and having read stories about it – would want to do it. We have not made any decisions for the near future yet because we were waiting for this race for more information’.

From Ducati’s side, the manager highlighted that there is now more data about the race: ‘Now we know that the bike holds up well in an eight-hour race and that we need to improve something in the pit stops. I also think that with some MotoGP riders we can do well. [Johann] Zarco did very well in his first time’.

Although no decisions have been made yet, Ciabatti already has some riders in mind for a potential Ducati project at the Suzuka 8 Hours: ‘A strong Japanese rider like [Ryo] Mizuno would be an important part of the team. I would see a good mix with Pecco and maybe another rider. I know that [Fabio] Di Giannantonio would also like to do the 8 Hours. In my opinion, you need fast riders, but they also need to be willing to participate because it is a very demanding race. You have to be very well prepared physically’.

O conteúdo ‘I think we can do well at Suzuka with some MotoGP riders’ – Paolo Ciabatti aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

This past weekend, Ducati participated in the 8 Hours of Suzuka with a non-official team, Team Kagayama. Represented by Paolo Ciabatti from Friday, the Borgo Panigale manufacturer has higher ambitions for the popular World Endurance Championship (EWC) race in the future.

The Italian official stated to Motomatters.com: ‘Obviously, we are also here with Team Kagayama to gain experience for the future because it’s no secret that Ducati riders, also from MotoGP, they would like one day to do the Suzuka 8 Hours’.

Francesco Bagnaia, the current leader of MotoGP, is one of the riders interested in participating in the 8 Hours of Suzuka: ‘I was posting on my Instagram a picture of the riders with me, and Pecco was commenting «Prepare everything well because then I’ll come»’ said Ciabatti.

With that in mind, the Italian official emphasized that, for now, he is satisfied with the current riders: ‘I think it’s best to do it with a current rider lineup, which is very good, and then see what we need to improve for the future’.

O conteúdo Francesco Bagnaia wants to race at the Suzuka 8 Hours… and Ducati wants to bring MotoGP riders in the future aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Team HRC, backed by Japan Post, has clinched a thrilling victory at the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race. This marks the team’s third consecutive win at the prestigious event, solidifying Honda’s dominance in the motorcycle endurance racing world.

Starting from the third position on the grid, the trio of Takumi Takahashi, Teppei Nagoe, and MotoGP star Johann Zarco displayed exceptional teamwork and strategic pit stops to overcome initial challenges. They managed to overtake Yamaha and Suzuki’s top teams to claim the top spot on the podium.

The race was filled with drama, as Team HRC faced a 40-second penalty for a pitstop infringement, putting their victory in jeopardy. However, the team managed to hold on to their lead, crossing the finish line just 7.860 seconds ahead of their closest competitors.

This victory further cements Honda’s legacy in endurance racing and sets the stage for another potential championship title in the FIM Endurance World Championship.

O conteúdo Team HRC helps Johann Zarco to put nightmare season into a break, after securing hat-trick win at Suzuka 8 Hours aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.