Large adjustments will deliver massive motion to the FIM Endurance World Championship as probably the most wide-open seasons in current EWC historical past revs up at Le Mans in France subsequent week (18-21 April).
With a number of groups altering bikes or riders for the reason that thrilling finale to the 2023 EWC title chase, the game of motorbike endurance racing simply acquired much more unpredictable.
Though Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Crew will try to defend its EWC crown with an unchanged line-up of Niccolò Canepa, Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika, a number of rival outfits have all made vital adjustments forward of the forty seventh version of the 24 Heures Motos.
Yoshimura SERT Motul has recruited Dan Linfoot to interchange Sylvain Guintoli, who joins BMW Motorrad World Endurance Crew to take the experience vacated by KM99-bound Jérémy Guarnoni. Former MotoGP star Randy de Puniet additionally switches to KM99 along with his former crew, Kawasaki Webike Trickstar, including Christian Gamarino and Róman Ramos to its assault.
Crew Bolliger Switzerland’s dedication to younger rider improvement continues following the signing of Alex Toledo. Martin Choy and Takeshi Ishizuka are new to Maco Racing’s 2024 problem, whereas Motobox Kremer Racing and Wójcik Racing Crew EWC have opted for all-German and all-Polish race riders with the Poland-based Wójcik organisation swapping Yamaha for Honda energy.
BMRT3D maxxess Nevers steps up from the Superstock-based FIM Endurance World Cup to the top-level Method EWC class and provides Jonathan Hardt to its line-up from 2023.
Whereas there have been myriad rider adjustments in Method EWC, F.C.C. TSR Honda France depends on the identical trio that claimed victory in final season’s 24 Heures Motos, Mike Di Meglio, Josh Hook and Alan Techer. Continuity can be the secret for the highest impartial crew from 2023, Honda Viltaïs Racing, which once more names Florian Alt, Leandro Mercado and Steven Odendaal as its riders. And it heads to the 24 Heures Motos on a excessive after topping the instances in the course of the Pre-Take a look at earlier this month. Beforehand a Kawasaki stalwart, Tati Crew Beringer Racing will probably be Honda-powered in 2024.
Modifications aplenty have been made within the FIM Endurance World Cup, by which all groups depend on tyres from official provider Dunlop. Crew 33 Louit April Moto has made three new rider signings for 2024 however retains Simone Saltarelli, a part of its 2023 title-winning squad. Crew 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore and Chromeburner-RAC41-Honda even have newcomers of their respective ranks.
TRT27 AZ Moto switches from Suzuki to Honda energy and brings Isle of Man TT legend Michael Dunlop again to the EWC. Crew Slider Endurance will even be Honda-equipped in 2024, the bike of selection for the No Limits, Nationwide Motos, Mana-Au Competitors and Wójcik groups.
JMA Racing Motion Bike, Junior Crew Le Mans Sud Suzuki, Crew Gamers, Crew 202 and Uniserv Moto82 Crew proceed their Superstock adventures, as do 3ART Better of Bike, ADSS97, Pit-Lane Endurance and Tecmas MRP BMW Racing Crew, which claimed FIM Endurance World Cup honours at Le Mans final 12 months.
TCP Racing and Crew Racing 85 have everlasting registrations for the primary time, whereas the EWC represents unchartered territory for Crew Étoile from Japan. In the meantime, Crew Aviobike is bringing the Aprilia title again to the EWC in partnership with Nuova M2 and Revo Racing Mission.
STEP-UP SUPERSTARS READY FOR FORMULA EWC ACTIONThree riders with current expertise within the Superstock-based FIM Endurance World Cup will step as much as the headlining Method EWC class in 2024. Christian Gamarino joins Kawasaki Webike Trickstar having helped Crew 33 Louit April Moto win the Endurance World Cup in 2023. Takeshi Ishizuka and his Maco Racing team-mate Martin Choy are additionally shifting up, as are Loris Cresson, Jonathan Hardt and Julien Pilot together with their BMRT3D maxxess Nevers crew. Marco Fetz and Daniel Rubin are each Method EWC newcomers because of Motobox Kremer Racing. Kamil Krzemień, Jurand Kuśmierczyk and Artur Wielebski have all been given an opportunity to progress by Wójcik Racing Crew.
REA RETURNS ONE YEAR AFTER EMOTIONAL PARADE LAPGino Rea obtained a guard of honour from his fellow EWC riders earlier than happening to finish a extremely emotional parade lap when he returned to Le Mans final season for the forty sixth version of the nice race. The earlier August, Rea suffered critical head accidents in a crash throughout observe of the forty third Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race, making his comeback all of the extra outstanding. The actual fact he’ll now be racing once more is testomony to the British rider’s refusal to surrender throughout an arduous restoration.
“I’m extraordinarily excited to be again underneath the wings of Wójcik Racing Crew,” stated the 34-year-old FIM Endurance World Cup contender. “It was within the colors of this crew that I began my profession in EWC. I’m excited to be racing collectively once more whereas the crew witches to Honda bikes. It’s been a loopy 12 months of intense rehab, however I’ll do my greatest to assist the crew develop the bike utilizing my expertise.”
EWC RIDERS SAID WHAT?
Florian Alt (Germany), Honda Viltaïs Racing: “The clear goal from the crew is to realize in each race a podium as a result of we wish to be within the prime three on the finish of the season. At Le Mans we’ve been actually unfortunate with some technical points, which made us fall out of the rostrum. Now we actually, actually wish to struggle laborious for the rostrum in Le Mans. In fact, at Bol d’Or we had the hat-trick, three years in a row, the third place, the victory and the second place final 12 months so now we actually wish to be aggressive at Le Mans.”
Marvin Fritz (Germany), Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Crew: “Le Mans is likely one of the hardest tracks bodily for the physique as a result of you haven’t a lot relaxation, you will have the primary straight and the again straight, however all the opposite elements are actually bodily. Then after all it’s all the time the query concerning the climate. We will have good climate however it may rain and it may be chilly, particularly within the night time. Then there’s the visitors as a result of you will have so many riders within the race and it’s so necessary to get via the visitors as quick as doable at any time of the race, it’s the place you may win or lose probably the most time. Our purpose is to win Le Mans. It’s nonetheless on my record to realize however we’ve the potential to win, the crew, the bike and the Bridgestone tyres are all the time doing a tremendous job for us.”
Sylvain Guintoli (France), BMW Motorrad World Endurance Crew: “It’s tough, there’s quite a bit happening with the facility administration as properly and the engine brake as a result of it’s very a lot a cease and go monitor. The BMW could be very quick, the engine is super-quick so we’re attempting to make it as rider-friendly as doable for twenty-four hours. The Pre-Take a look at was a fantastic alternative for us to dial every part in. The [changing] climate meant it was robust since you’ve acquired to adapt and also you’ve acquired to strive the totally different tyres, the totally different configurations with a totally moist monitor, drying monitor and the slicks as properly with totally different temperatures as a result of the temperature impacts quite a bit the tyre grip and the longevity. Thus far over the historical past of the race no European producer has ever gained so it will be nice to be the primary one with BMW.”
Josh Hook (Australia), F.C.C. TSR Honda France: “There’s a whole lot of laborious braking. What works for us is to arrange a motorbike which is nice within the braking areas so you need to use much less effort in these areas. It will probably allow you to with the power ranges all through the race and never pop you too fast. Our bike tends to work higher within the night time and clearly the physique does too since you sweat quite a bit much less and it’s slightly bit simpler bodily. You’ve simply acquired the issue of attempting to cease your fingers from getting numb since you get midway via a stint and you’ll’t really feel your fingers! Typically the engine works higher within the colder situations, the lap instances have a tendency to return slightly simpler and it’s much less bodily. So long as we keep upright if there are tough situations, make the best calls within the pits when to make use of wets and when to make use of slicks, we will do very properly on this race.”
Grégory Leblanc (France), Kawasaki Webike Trickstar: “The goal is to struggle for the victory as a result of once you experience for a manufacturing unit crew actually you struggle for the victory. I gained Le Mans 5 instances with Kawasaki and I want to win one other time for the document. Within the Pre-Take a look at the monitor situations weren’t good however I’m assured as a result of this monitor isn’t unhealthy for the Pirelli tyres and the Kawasaki bike. Nevertheless, in a 24-hour race we have to be fortunate, we want no crash, no technical issues and if we’ve nothing we will end on the rostrum. Le Mans is all the time particular with the climate as a result of in April we will have 30 levels or the total race in rain however I want for the present and the followers that each one is dry.”
Dan Linfoot (Nice Britain), Yoshimura SERT Motul: “The situations clearly play a component as it may get actually chilly and it’s the primary race after not having ridden a lot for 5 – 6 months. Our crew brings a wealth of expertise on the technical aspect to this race and likewise on the organisational aspect with the planning. All riders are in a fantastic place, the crew has made some steps with the bike and so long as we tick all of the packing containers and are ready we needs to be in a fantastic place for Le Mans.”
Alessandro Delbianco (Italy), Pit-Lane Endurance: “The EWC is my massive dream as a result of I’m very obsessed with endurance racing. The monitor is wonderful however possibly the climate isn’t our good friend in as of late. But it surely’s okay, possibly it’s a really tough for a 24-hour race however we strive. The Bol d’Or within the night time [for my EWC debut] was wonderful and this place [Le Mans] with all of the folks will probably be one other wonderful expertise. For certain we experience for making a podium as a result of we’re a superb crew with excellent riders. We’re all quick riders so why not?”
Michael Dunlop (Northern Eire), TRT27 AZ Moto: “I don’t see a cause why I can’t be quick right here. If we get the bottom good, I needs to be quick as properly. I got here right here with the Honda 11 years in the past and I used to be quick then, I used to be the quickest of the group. It’s a special ball sport [to the Isle of Man TT] and that’s simply the way in which it’s. Individuals suppose you’re racing at night time [at Le Mans] however once you’re right here it’s all lit up. When the place is filled with folks and the lights are on it’s probably not night time. But it surely’s not the night time that’s the issue however the freezing chilly. The final time I used to be right here it was minus three and we needed to cease it for an hour or so earlier than we acquired going once more due to the chilly.”
Théo Vigneron (France), Uniserv Moto82 Crew: “The brand new rule means we could have 4 riders in Superstock and possibly it will likely be simpler for us as a result of, financially, all of us pay and likewise on the monitor. For twenty-four hours it’s fairly laborious. With three riders it’s an actual race however with the brand new guidelines we are attempting 4 riders. I experience as soon as at Le Mans however as a fourth rider, so not working in 2022. It was a fantastic expertise however after competing within the French Endurance Championship final 12 months, this 12 months I needed to return once more within the EWC. It’s a brand new crew for me however it’s a pleasure to be with them and the purpose is to complete the race.”
PROVISIONAL KEY EWC TIMINGS
Wednesday 17 April15h00: Parade from Circuit Bugatti to Place des Jacobins, Le Mans16h00 (approx.): Official crew and rider presentation (Place des Jacobins, Le Mans)
Thursday 18 April:10h00-12h00: Free Practice16h00-16h20: First Qualifying (Blue Riders)16h30-16h50: First Qualifying (Yellow Riders)17h00-17h20: First Qualifying (Pink Riders)17h30-17h50: First Qualifying (Inexperienced Riders)20h30-22h00: Night time Observe
Friday 19 April:10h20-10h40: Second Qualifying (Blue Riders)10h50-11h10: Second Qualifying (Yellow Riders)11h20-11h40: Second Qualifying (Pink Riders)11h50-12h10: Second Qualifying (Inexperienced Riders)12h15-12h25: Pole place photograph sessions12h45: Submit-qualifying press convention (Briefing Room 305)
Saturday 20 April:10h30-11h15: Heat-up15h00: Begin of forty seventh 24 Heures Motos
Sunday 21 April:15h00: End of forty seventh 24 Heures Motos15h10: Podium ceremony15h30: Submit-race press convention (Briefing Room 305)
24 HEURES MOTOS ESSENTIALSWhere: Bugatti CircuitLocation: Car Membership de l’Ouest – Circuit des 24 Heures, 72000 Le Mans, FranceWhen: 18-21 April 2024Track size: 4.185 kilometresRace distance: 24 hours
BEST LAPS:Qualifying: Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Crew (Karel Hanika, 1m34.878s, 2022)Race: BMW Motorrad World Endurance Crew (Illya Mykhalchyk, 1m36.751s, 2023)
IN 100 WORDS:Reasonably than the 13.626-kilometre Circuit de La Sarthe, the standard EWC curtain-raiser takes place on the 4.185-kilometre Bugatti Circuit. The demanding structure comes full with the well-known Le Mans begin/end straight, Dunlop Esses and Ford Chicane, whereas a twisty infield ensures there’s little respite. Riders additionally face the prospect of shorter sunlight hours and colder temperatures in the course of the night time and early morning. Though the inaugural 24 Heures Motos befell in 1978, when Jean-Claude Chemarin and Christian Léon rode a Honda to victory, the ACO staged its first motorcycle race in 1912, lengthy earlier than the Bugatti Circuit’s September 1966 inauguration.
For more information try our devoted Endurance World Championship Information web page Endurance World Championship
or go to the official Endurance World Championship web site fimewc.com
©Phrases/Photographs are from official press launch posted courtesy of Endurance World Championship/a>
