FIM Endurance World Championship

Le Mans, France

April 17, 2015

Overall Combined Qualifying Results (teams ranked by average of riders’ best lap times):

1. SRC Kawasaki (Gregory Leblanc 1:37.541/Matthieu Lagrive 1:37.125/Fabien Foret 1:36.900), Kaw ZX-10R, 1:37.188

2. Monster Energy Yamaha – YART (Max Neukirchner 1:36.969/Ivan Silva 1:38.061/Sheridan Morais 1:36.578), Yam YZF-R1, 1:37.202

3. Honda Racing (Julian Da Costa 1:37.594/Sebastien Gimbert 1:38.141/Freddy Foray 1:37.832), Hon CBR1000RR SP, 1:37.855

4. Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (Vincent Philippe 1:37.897/Anthony Delhalle 1:37.830/Etienne Masson 1:38.117), Suz GSX-R1000, 1:37.948

5. BMW Motorrad France Team Penz13.com (Markus Reiterberger 1:36.896/Gareth Jones 1:38.584/Pedro Valcaneras 1:38.742), BMW S1000RR, 1:38.074

6. GMT94 Yamaha (David Checa 1:38.971/Kenny Foray 1:38.356/Mathieu Gines 1:38.073), Yam YZF-R1, 1:38.466

7. Tati Team Beaujolais Racing (Julien Enjolras 1:38.604/Cedric Tangre 1:38.657/Michael Savary 1:39.465), Kaw ZX-10R, 1:38.908

8. Junior Team Le Mans Sud Suzuki (Baptiste Guittet 1:39.112/Gregg Black 1:38.400/Romain Maitre 1:39.303), Suz GSX-R1000, 1:38.938

9. Qatar Endurance Racing Team (Alex Cudlin 1:38.637/Mashel Al Naimi 1:39.015/Arturo Tizon 1:39.165), Kaw ZX-10R, 1:38.939

10. Team Bolliger Switzerland (Horst Saiger 1:38.328/Roman Stamm 1:38.492/Daniel Sutter 1:40.151), Kaw ZX-10R, 1:38.990

More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing:

Yamaha Sets New Track Lap Record in Le Mans

The Monster Energy Yamaha Austria Racing Team (YART) and GMT94 Yamaha are ready for tomorrow’s 24 heures Moto at Le Mans. They kicked off the 2015 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) by qualifying in second and sixth place respectively today.

Having displayed their blistering pace during the first qualifying session yesterday, when they clocked the second fastest time in the combined classification, the YART team took their pace to yet another level today, the breaking new fastest ever lap record for Le Mans by 0,248s.

Max Neukirchner was the first rider of the Austrian team to take the number 7 YZF-R1 to the Circuit Bugatti – Le Mans in qualifying two. The German set the tone by clocking a 1’36.969 for second place, 0,073s off the front in the classification of the first riders.

Second rider Ivan Silva followed in his teammates footsteps by posting a 1’38.061, 0,231s off the front for third place in his session.

The second qualifying was concluded with Sheridan Morais, leading the third rider qualifying session with a 1’37.935 when, with eight minutes on the clock, the session was red flagged. However, the South African rider kept his head cool. Already in the pits he seized the moment to get some clear track and soon posted a new track lap record of 1’36.578, increasing his lead in the classification of the third riders to 1,328s.

Combined the YART team members rode an average time of 1’37.202 and scored second place in the combined qualifying sessions classification, just 0,014s from pole.

Raining World Champion team, GMT94 Yamaha, was also able to make a big step today.

Though riding with a knee injury, sustained by a crash during Tuesday’s test, David Checa was able to successfully complete the second qualifying session with eighth place. He posted 1’39.108 lap, 2.210s off the lead in the classification of the first riders.

Kenny Foray took over the number 94 YZF-R1 from his teammate and dropped a fifth fastest time of 1’38.356, 0,526s from the second rider session leader.

Mathieu Gines was the last rider of the French team to qualify. He rode a strong stint and, despite a short interruption of the third rider session, still managed an 1’38.073, claiming third in the third riders classification, 1,495s off the front.

GMT94 hold sixth place in the combined qualifying standings, having rode an average time of 1’38.466.

After today’s positive results, both teams look forward to tomorrow when the 24 hours of non-stop racing action will start at 3pm local track time.

Max Neukirchner – Monster Energy Yamaha YART rider

“We are really happy with the results. All three of the riders are really fast and we have a real good team. Of course you need a little luck when you ride a 24 hours race, but we feel good and all riders have top level of fitness, so I think we will have a good race tomorrow.”

Ivan Silva – Monster Energy Yamaha YART rider

“As a team we are quite happy with the results and for myself I’m happy with my lap times. I’m very happy with the bike. It allows me to ride very consistently, also in the night. We have a real good package, which could bring us victory, but of course you always need a bit of luck on your side.”

Sheridan Morais – Monster Energy Yamaha YART rider

“Today was really good, after yesterday we knew all the riders, including Damian our spare rider, were very fast. It was a matter of getting a clear road, because there is so much traffic. When I was in for a tyre change there was a red flag situation, which was fortunate for me, because I then managed to get quite a clear lap and ride a really good time. The ideal time would be a lot faster, but we were far ahead of everybody else and I’m very happy for this. I wish my teammates could have had some clear track also, because I think then we would definitely have gotten pole position. Second or first doesn’t really matter though, because it’s only 2 metres difference at the start. I’m very, very happy. On a brand new bike we did a very good job.”

Mandy Kainz – Monster Energy Yamaha YART Team Manager

“We were told we were on pole, although I thought weren’t. As it turned out they made an error and we are in second place. Nevertheless today was quite a good day for us, we could show a good pace. We were lucky with the traffic, so we could manage the lap times we expected and broke the Endurance track record. It’s really exciting when you realise that this is more or less a stock bike and that with small modifications it can do lap times like this. What Sheridan did today with extreme traffic of 60 bikes on track is incredible. His time is close to three seconds off the pace of Marc Marquez in the MotoGP, which is incredible. Sheridan and this bike fit perfectly together; they love each other and are in perfect harmony, so they enjoy the ride and go very fast.”

David Checa – GMT94 Yamaha rider

“I crashed on the first day of testing and hurt my leg. Every day it goes a bit better, but still I’m struggling a little. We tried some things on the bike, but I didn’t feel very confident. My teammates improved a little, which is good. If the race had been a day later it would have been better for me. I can’t be happy with qualifying, because I’m not a 100%, but I know we have a good rhythm for the race, without having to push to the limit, so for me it’s ok. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. The main thing is that we all do our best during 24 hours, like we usually do. Sometimes the fastest team doesn’t win the race, but the most intelligent or the luckiest team. Last year we won the championship without winning a race. We know this bike is completely new and we need more information to improve. It’s a really good bike but we have not enough data to be on the same level as last year right away, but step by step we will arrive.”

Kenny Foray – GMT94 Yamaha rider

“Yesterday was difficult, because David crashed in the first qualification and after that it was a little bit hard for Mathieu and me to ride, because the bike was not ready. We tested a lot of things; new parts and a new tyre. Today’s qualification was ok because, although they predicted rain the track was dry. The feeling with the bike was better and we could push a little more to improve our lap time a little. Still we are not quite satisfied with our lap times, but the race will be different. The race is 24 hours and we feel that we can do something good. You never know what’s going to happen during the race and maybe a 1’39 or 1’40 can even win the race. We will see, we are ready for the race!”

Mathieu Gines – GMT94 Yamaha rider

“Today was better than yesterday, because I won a half of a second in the qualification and that’s better for us. The best part was last night during the night practice, when the feeling was even better, so I think we have a really good bike for the 24 hours moto. Being fast in qualifying was not our strategy, we work for the race. Results in Q1 weren’t very good, but during night practice we were third or fourth, so the strategy for the race is very good.”

More, from a press release issued by BMW Motorrad France Team Penz13.com:

BMW Motorrad France Team Penz13.com on provisional 5th for the 24 hours of Le Mans

Le Mans, France. The BMW Motorrad France Team Penz13.com will start tomorrow’s 24 hours of Le Mans race from fifth place on the grid. Markus Reiterberger (GER), Gareth Jones (AUS) and Pedro Vallcaneras (ESP) showed a strong performance during yesterday’s and today’s qualifying sessions for the opening round of the 2015 FIM World Endurance Championship, securing a spot amongst the top runners. The average lap time of all three riders was a 1:38.074.

Reiterberger posted the best lap of his qualifying group, lapping in 1:36,896 minutes. This also meant he was second fastest of all riders taking part and one of only four to jump under the 1:37 barrier.

Jones improved his pace by half a second and rode a 1:38,584. Team mate Vallcaneras made the biggest step: the Majorcan rider lapped the Circuit Bugatti in 1;38,742 minutes which meant an improvement of over a second. Reserve rider Lukas Pesek only had some laps today and had to stop early due to some technical issues which are solved by the team already.

Markus Reiterberger

Rider

“It has been awesome. I still had some traffic on my fastest lap and also did some small mistakes, so there would have been more possible. But I am satisfied so far and now looking really forward to the race.”

Gareth Jones

Rider

“I had hoped for dry conditions in today’s qualifying and I got them. I was able to improve my lap time and pace and went quicker around here than yesterday. The bike is set up very good and we are ready to get the 24 hours of Le Mans rolling.”

Pedro Vallcaneras

Rider

“I am more than happy today! I went over a second quicker than yesterday and got sixth in my group, so that’s really good. I enjoyed a lot to be out on track there.”

Lukas Pesek

Rider

“I only got a couple of laps in today and then had to stop with a technical problem. But still it was great fun to ride the BMW S 1000 RR.”

Rico Penzkofer

Team Principal

“I am completely satisfied how the weekend went so far. Reiti, Gareth and Pedro did an awesome job today by improving their times massively. Markus is one of only four riders that were able to do 1:36 times! Now we prepare everything for tomorrow and try to relax a bit and then go for it in the 24 hours of Le Mans.”

More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:

Honda Racing qualifies in third place for the 24h Motos

Honda Racing qualifies in third place for the start of the 24h Motos in Le Mans after the second qualifying sessions.

After another qualifying session in Le Mans under a cloudy sky, Honda Racing finally qualified in third place on the starting grid of the 24h Motos. The combined qualifying times gave Honda Racing an average lap time of 1:37.855.

The team decided not to go out on track during the first morning session and to focus on the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP’s set-up and strategy for the race. Then, Sébastien Gimbert went out for his second qualifying session and finished fourth with a best lap time in 1:38.141. Freddy Foray went out on track during the next session in order to test a few more set-ups on the bike; he did a best lap time in 1:39.497 and finished in ninth position. Finally, Keith Amor did a few laps on the bike and set a best lap time in 1:43.989 finishing in seventh position.

Yesterday evening, the team finished the night practice session at the second place with a best lap time in 1:38.760.

Honda’s Endurance specialists Julien Da Costa, Sébastien Gimbert, Freddy Foray and Keith Amor are confident ahead of the 24h Motos start tomorrow at 15:00 on the Bugatti circuit after positive practices and qualifying sessions during the whole week.

For all the latest news on the team follow @HondaRacingCBR on Twitter.

Julien Da Costa

Third place is really good because our goal was not to qualify on top and we had to focus on our set-up for the race. I am very happy with the job done here in Le Mans, we are in a good pace and we’re eagerly waiting for the race to start.

Sebastien Gimbert

I had difficulties to weave in and out through the traffic on track in the morning, anyway I managed to improve my lap time and did my best time in 1:38.141.

In the world of Endurance, qualifying practice and race are two separate things; I know that we’ll be performing regarding our race pace because our bike is well balanced and it is pleasant to ride. What people remember at the end of a race is when you cross the finish line, so our aim now is to be at the better place on Sunday at 15:00 and to mark the maximum of points.

Freddy Foray

We all agreed with the team on the fact that it wasn’t necessary for Julien Da Costa and myself to go out on track today because the bike’s set-up is already really efficient and it is always useful to rest for one day before a 24 hours race. I did two laps on the race bike anyway because we needed to have a confirmation on our race set-up. I am very satisfied with the Honda bike, but now we are waiting to see the other teams’ rhythm in order to know if we are able to be in the same pace.

Tomorrow might be rainy, so the track will probably be wet at the beginning of the race – this will add a little spice to the race! We are definitely prepared for the 24 hours race, the bike is good and now all that we can wish is that we’ll be there at the race finish as well.

Keith Amor

It was enjoyable to be able to do a few more laps, unfortunately somebody crashed out just in front of me so there was a red flag and I went back to pit box. But anyway it’s nice to be back on a Honda, having a bit of fun and doing some laps.