In front of a home crowd Glenn van Straalen (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) proved to be the star of the Supersport field by claiming his first career victory. In difficult conditions the Supersport field started the 18 lap race as rain started to fall around the 4.555km circuit.
While some riders opted to pit immediately at the end of the first lap some waited to change to wet tyres. The majority of the field, including the eventual winner, pitted a lap later and van Straalen gradually made his way through the field before taking the lead with just over four laps remaining. By keeping a cool head van Straalen became the first home winner at the Dutch Round in the Supersport class since Michael van der Mark in 2014.
By finishing second Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) is now the Championship leader although just three points separate the top four in the standings. Niki Tuili (EAB Racing Team) finished third to claim his first podium of the season.
P1 | Glenn van Straalen | Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing
“It was difficult to know when to make your pitstop but the grip in the wet was really good. I had a really good rhythm on the rain tyre and I was making some really good lap times. The gap was getting smaller to the riders in front. At the end of the race, when I was leading, I saw what the gap was and it wasn’t easy! I had to stay focused on the race and take it corner by corner to get to the end. It’s really amazing to win here. It feels so good!”
Yandel Medina won MotoAmerica Junior Cup Race Two Sunday at rainy Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia. The 16-year-old from New York rode flawlessly, leading from start to finish on his New York Safety Track Kawasaki Ninja 400 and taking the first victory of his MotoAmerica career by 1.779 seconds.
Pole-sitter Ryan Wolfe was the runner-up on his Wolfe Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400, and Eli Block placed third on his BARTCON Racing Ninja 400.
The race was shortened from 11 to nine laps due to the full-wet conditions.
RACE REPORT: YOSHIMURA SERT MOTUL FIGHTS BACK TO WIN EWC OPENER
*Crash hits YART’s EWC title defence leaving Le Mans-based team to win 47th 24 Heures Motos
*Linfoot celebrates maiden EWC victory after Suzuki-powered team recovers from early fall
*Wide-open nature of EWC underlined with five different manufacturers in the top five
*Qualifying and race lap records broken as 78,800 fans watch action-packed EWC opener trackside
*BMW and YART teams complete podium, National Motos Honda takes Superstock glory
Yoshimura SERT Motul (12). Photo courtesy FIM EWC.
For immediate release (21 April 2024): Yoshimura SERT Motul made it back-to-back FIM Endurance World Championship victories with a fighting first place in the 24 Heures Motos today, as the 10th EWC season promoted by Warner. Bros Discovery Sports began with plenty of unmissable action.
The Suzuki-powered team’s triumph in the 47th edition of the Le Mans-based race followed on from its victory in last September’s title-deciding Bol d’Or. But while the contribution of riders Gregg Black, Dan Linfoot and Étienne Masson was key to its Circuit Bugatti success, the squad’s path to glory was eased when Karel Hanika crashed shortly before the 16-hour mark while leading by four laps.
What was shaping up to be the perfect start to Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team’s EWC title defence ended as a case of what might have been. The Austrian outfit set new lap records in both qualifying and the race and led comfortably until Hanika’s uncharacteristic error in cold conditions, which dropped it back to third place behind runner-up BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team.
“It’s always good to finish the race but the objective is to win,” Black said. “We won in 2021 and 2022 but those races were a bit easier because we could relax towards the end. We were quite fast with YART but with the crash we dropped quite far back and had to push all the way to the end. BMW and YART had issues and we ended up leading the race when on paper we thought maybe we would finish third or second. But we made no more mistakes and kept pushing. In the end we only had one lap over BMW so we couldn’t relax. It’s amazing to be back on the first step [of the podium here], just amazing. Dan, Étienne, the whole team have done such great work all winter, we showed our speed and got our revenge from last year. It’s just awesome.”
For Linfoot, his maiden EWC victory was the perfect way to begin his career as a Yoshimura SERT Motul rider. “The last stint you were over-thinking everything, you hear every noise of the engine, you short shift early, you downshift with some space,” Briton Linfoot said. “It was tough but I rode under the limit, found a nice rhythm and kept my head. It’s amazing, I’m speechless, my first race with the team, in the team’s home race. I’m just so thankful to everybody for accepting me into the team, helping me with everything I need. It’s just an incredible day.”
Hanika injured his shoulder in his Sunday morning crash and the decision was taken for his team-mates Niccolò Canepa and Marvin Fritz to complete the race as a pair.
“I’m really sorry for my team because I blame myself, I should be more careful in these conditions,” the Czech said. “To be honest I don’t really know the reason of the crash, we have to analyse. My team-mates did an amazing job to take us back to the podium position but it’s a big shame we couldn’t fight for the win. I probably could have continued but it would be a bit risky with my shoulder. The condition of it is not the best, so we decided to continue this way [with two riders].”
Like YART, Yoshimura SERT Motul had to make up for lost time, the team fighting back to take third from Kawasaki Webike Trickstar shortly after 03h00 having earlier dropped out of the lead fight when a traction control issue caused Black to crash nearing the end of the third hour.
Yoshimura SERT Motul Team Director Yohei Kato said at the time: “In the pit box we missed a fuel reset and Gregg tried to reset but made a wrong button. The traction control didn’t work well and he had a high side. But all three riders have shown a great performance so we will catch up soon.”
There was an emotional win in the Dunlop-equipped FIM Endurance World Cup category with National Motos Honda gaining revenge for its agonising Bol d’Or retirement last September when it was on course for the Superstock title only to stop with 20 minutes remaining. Chromeburner-RAC41-Honda finished second followed by 3ART Best of Bike after the #36 Yamaha was hastily repaired after a crash nearing the final hour.
“We are very happy because the last year at the Bol d’Or we lose the race after 23 hours,” said Swiss Sébastien Suchet, who along with his brother Valentin and Frenchman Guillaume Raymond, claimed top honours in the Dunlop-equipped Superstock class. “For this year we wanted to finish the race and we win. The Bol d’Or was very difficult but now we are all happy, for my team and my team-mates and for the next race we will push again to the maximum.”
Reiterberger, who was partnered to second place by Illya Mykhalchyk and BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team newcomer Sylvain Guintoli, said: “We had a problem with the exhaust but second is still a very good position for us and we didn’t give up. It was unbelievably cold [during the night], colder than last year. I had a glove under my glove and a heat vest under the suit but it was still super-super cold, the visor was frozen and I really didn’t feel the fingers under braking so I break like I feel.”
Behind the overall top three, Kawasaki Webike Trickstar held third for a time, dropped back with gear selector and exhaust issues before moving ahead of Tati Team Beringer Racing for fourth with three hours remaining.
Although it wasn’t the record-setting sixth 24 Heures Motos victory KWT rider Grégory Leblanc craved, fourth spot still represented a strong start to KWT’s second EWC season with new recruit Christian Gamarino achieving his best EWC finish to date on his step up to the championship’s headlining class, after he helped Team 33 Louit April Moto win the FIM Endurance World Cup in 2023.
For Tati Team Beringer Racing, meanwhile, fifth among the Formula EWC outfits was a positive beginning to its new-for-2024 Honda alliance although a long pitstop after midday caused concern. Team Bolliger Switzerland enjoyed a fine run to sixth followed by BMRT3D maxxess Nevers on its graduation to Formula EWC level. Motobox Kremer Racing took eighth with KM99 ninth and Wójcik Racing Team EWC completing the top 10 after both suffered several delays. Mana-Au Competition, Maco Racing and Honda Viltaïs Racing were non-finishers.
Following home the Superstock top three, Junior Team Le Mans Sud Suzuki placed fourth followed by TCP Racing on its debut as a permanent EWC entrant. TRT27 AZ Moto, which included Isle of Man TT legend Michael Dunlop in its line-up, was next among the all-season Superstock teams on its maiden EWC appearance with Honda power followed by JMA Racing Action Bike. Team 18 Sapeurs Pompier CMS Motostore, Team 202 and Team Players were all delayed by crashes but crossed the line following extensive repairs.
Team Aviobike by M2 Revo and Wójcik Racing Team STK were not classified due to technical issues, while Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team, ADSS97, Team Étoile, Team Slider Endurance, Honda No Limits, Pit-Lane Endurance, Uniserv Moto82 Team, Team Racing 85 by Soleane and Team 33 Louit April Moto all retired.
How F.C.C. TSR Honda France dropped out of the EWC victory chase
F.C.C. TSR Honda France was firmly in the victory fight when Mike Di Meglio crashed early in the second hour of racing, ending the team’s chances of a repeat 24 Heures Motos win in the process. “I was taking care but we have no grip on the rear,” Di Meglio said. “I was not pushing because with the full tank of fuel at the start [of the stint] you need to manage the braking so I was taking care of when to overtake the guys but I lose the front. It’s not good to start like this but we keep calm.”
Rea makes emotional return to racing after serious injury
Despite falling twice, Gino Rea described his return to racing for the first time since he suffered serious injuries in a crash practicing for the Suzuka 8 Hours in 2022, as a “positive” experience. The Honda-powered Wójcik Racing Team rider said: “In general it’s positive because I felt good, the head was good and my riding was good and my pace was okay. Unfortunately, I crashed on the first lap, it was totally unexpected, I had a problem with my brakes on the first lap. I was trying to adjust it on every corner but I didn’t quite get the feeling. I went to brake, but I had no brake and down I went. But thank you for everyone who supported me through my rehab. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be here.”
Alt: Honda Viltaïs Racing “didn’t deserve” early retirement
Florian Alt said his Honda Viltaïs Racing team “didn’t deserve” the engine failure that robbed it of a possible podium finish in the second hour of the 24 Heures Motos. The top independent team in the FIM Endurance World Championship had been in third place during the early stages of the race. “I’m really, really not happy because we didn’t deserve it, we didn’t have any issues in the test, we didn’t have any issues last year and this time it was some material which was not in our hands,” German rider Alt said. “I am really sorry for the mechanics, they did an amazing job, they rebuilt the engine in two hours to try to continue but actually it was impossible. We were so fast, it was bad luck but we come back.”
Title-winning Team 33 Louit April Moto out of luck
There was early disappointment for Team 33 Louit April Moto, which was beginning the defence of its FIM Endurance World Cup title in Le Mans but was forced to retire with a mechanical failure shortly after 19h30. Guillaume Antiga, part of its four-strong Kawasaki-powered line-up, said: “After the crash of my team-mate Flavio [Ferroni] the radiator is broken and the bike temperature is too much and it’s not possible to continue the race.”
EWC SPORTITY APP MEDIA CHANNEL REMINDER: The FIM Endurance World Championship’s dedicated Sportity app media channel for the 2024 season is available using the password 2024FIMewc-Media. The Sportity app is a digital information resource widely used in sports events and championships around the world. It’s attractive to users because it keeps all relevant information in one place and is accessible through smartphones or computers. Users are made aware of new information becoming available through push notifications and the app can be downloaded for free via the App Store or Google Play. The EWC Sportity app dedicated media channel includes event timetables, entry lists, venue details, results, standings, rider profiles, roll of honour, media safety information, press release archive, EWC explained, key contacts and lots more.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium hosts round two the EWC season, the 8 Hours of Spa Motos, from 6-8 June.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike rider Richie Escalante suffered a heavy crash caused by a collision with another rider after the finish of MotoAmerica Superbike Race 1 at Road Atlanta.
Escalante was awake and alert afterwards and was able to move away from the crash site under his own power. He was evaluated at the track and then transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.
Scans at the hospital revealed a fracture of his left wrist along with compression fractures of L1, L2, and L4 in his back.
Escalante was held overnight at a local hospital but has been released and will fly home to Mexico for further medical evaluation and treatment.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2024 season marks Team Hammer’s 44th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 133 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 362 times, and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
Hayden Gillim was fastest during MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Warm-Up Sunday morning at rainy Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Riding his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Road Glide, Gillim turned a 1:48.809 on the wet 2.55-mile road course and led the field of 12 riders.
Multi-time Australian Superbike Champion and Race One winner Troy Herfoss was the best of the rest with a 1:48.853 on his S&S Indian Challenger.
Kyle Wyman, the winningest King Of The Baggers rider, rounded out the top three in the session with a 1:50.677 on his factory Hayden-Davidson.
Toprak Razgatlioglu won FIM Superbike World Championship Race Two at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands. Riding his ROKiT BMW Motorrad M 1000 RR, the Turkish star won the 21-lap race by 0.625 second.
Two-time and defending World Champion Alvaro Bautista was the runner-up on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, and Remy Gardner placed third, just 1.022 seconds behind Razgatlioglu, on his GYTR GRT Yamaha YZF-R1.
American Garrett Gerloff finished 12th on his Bonovo Action BMW.
Razgatlioglu and Bautista share honours at the Cathedral
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54) beat Alvaro Bautista (1) and Remy Gardner (87) in Race Two. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) shared the spoils on Sunday in Assen. In the ten lap Tissot Superpole Race Bautista led the field home after a stunning comeback ride saw him come through the field to take the lead from Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) on the penultimate lap.
Starting from pole position, Bautista led the majority of the first half of Race 2 but with spots of rain in the air the field closed up. Razgatlioglu choose this as his moment to pounce but with Bautista retaking the lead before Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) mixed it in.
The Turkish moved into the lead for the final six laps but was under pressure throughout the closing stages. Bautista would finish less than a second behind the race winner with Gardner able to claim his first career podium. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) finished in fourth position ahead of Locatelli.
When WorldSBK returns to action there will be just six points separating Bautista and Razgatlioglu with Bulega a further eight points adrift after a difficult weekend. The Italian finished Race 2 in eighth position.
P1 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
“Grid position isn’t important because it’s the race that matters. I enjoyed this race. At the start there was a bit of rain. I stayed close just to watch the guys and understand what to do. I needed a good pace and I passed people step by step and finally I was in the lead! We made a mistake in the Superpole Race with the tyre so I used the SC0 tyre in the afternoon and it worked well. I want to say thanks to my team’s hard work this weekend because finally we have won in Assen! I’ve never won here before and also for BMW they hadn’t won here. I’m very happy today!”
P2 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“I’m really happy with how the whole weekend has been. To finish all three races on the podium in these conditions is a pleasure. Race 1 was really tricky and I enjoyed the Superpole Race a lot. There was some light rain in the afternoon and it was a bit difficult. I tried to keep a little bit of margin and I think second position was good. I’m really happy and we are building my confidence with the bike.”
P3 | Remy Gardner | GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team
“It’s been two years without a podium for me so yeah I’ve definitely had some really hard times. Obviously, everyone knows my GP story and then we didn’t get a podium last year when I moved to WorldSBK. It’s been a big challenge for me and I just want to say thank you to my girlfriend and my team and everyone that has believed in me. Finally it’s so good to be back on the podium again and I can’t wait to go to the next race already.”
JD Beach was fastest during MotoAmerica Steel Commander Superbike Warm-Up at rainy Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Riding his new Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR, Beach lapped the wet 2.55-mile circuit in 1:42.683 to lead the field of 23 riders.
Three-time and defending Champion Jake Gagne was second with a 1:42.941 on his Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha YZF-R1 in what he described as “gnarly” conditions.
Superbike rookie Sean Dylan Kelly continued to impress by posting the third-best time, a 1:43.087, on his TopPro Racing BMW M 1000 RR.
Battered and bruised from a post-race crash on Saturday, Loris Baz did one lap on his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R during the Warm-Up Sunday morning but did not record a lap time.
Richie Escalante, who made contact with Baz at the end of Race One and also crashed, is not expected to ride Sunday at Road Atlanta. His Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team is expected to issue a statement on the Mexican rider’s condition later today.
Ryan Vickers won Bennetts British Superbike Race One Sunday at Circuit de Navarra, in Spain. Riding his OMG GRILLA Yamaha YZF-R1 on Pirelli control tires, Vickers won the 20-lap race by 1.364 seconds.
Vicker’s teammate Kyle Ryde was the runner-up, and Danny Kent placed third, 2.152 seconds behind Vickers, on his McAMS Racing Yamaha.
Just hours after winning MotoAmerica Supersport Race One in the dry Saturday afternoon, PJ Jacobsen was the quickest rider in the wet Warm-Up session Sunday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Riding his Rahal Ducati Moto Panigale V2 on Dunlop rain tires, the New York native turned a 1:42.229 on the 2.55-mile course.
Jacobsen’s 16-year-old teammate Kayla Yaakov was second in the field of 34 riders with a 1:43.580.
Mathew Scholtz turned a third-fastest 1:43.608 on his Strack Racing Yamaha.
After crashing out of the lead in Supersport Race One, Tyler Scott was back on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750 Sunday morning and was 19th with a time of 1:49.138.
American Julian Correa took second place in British Talent Cup Race Two Sunday at Circuit de Navarra, in Spain. Riding his Microlise Cresswell Racing Honda, Correa, age 15, was the runner-up in the eight-lap race by 0.077 second behind Team City Lifting/RS Racing’s Filip Surowiak. Kovara Projects/RS Racing’s Amanuel Brinton was a very close third, 0.002 second behind Correa.
American Joshua Raymond, Jr. finished 18th on his Fibre Tec Honda, and Raymond’s American teammate Eli Banish got 21st.
In front of a home crowd Glenn van Straalen (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) proved to be the star of the Supersport field by claiming his first career victory. In difficult conditions the Supersport field started the 18 lap race as rain started to fall around the 4.555km circuit.
While some riders opted to pit immediately at the end of the first lap some waited to change to wet tyres. The majority of the field, including the eventual winner, pitted a lap later and van Straalen gradually made his way through the field before taking the lead with just over four laps remaining. By keeping a cool head van Straalen became the first home winner at the Dutch Round in the Supersport class since Michael van der Mark in 2014.
By finishing second Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) is now the Championship leader although just three points separate the top four in the standings. Niki Tuili (EAB Racing Team) finished third to claim his first podium of the season.
P1 | Glenn van Straalen | Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing
“It was difficult to know when to make your pitstop but the grip in the wet was really good. I had a really good rhythm on the rain tyre and I was making some really good lap times. The gap was getting smaller to the riders in front. At the end of the race, when I was leading, I saw what the gap was and it wasn’t easy! I had to stay focused on the race and take it corner by corner to get to the end. It’s really amazing to win here. It feels so good!”
Yandel Medina won MotoAmerica Junior Cup Race Two Sunday at rainy Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Georgia. The 16-year-old from New York rode flawlessly, leading from start to finish on his New York Safety Track Kawasaki Ninja 400 and taking the first victory of his MotoAmerica career by 1.779 seconds.
Pole-sitter Ryan Wolfe was the runner-up on his Wolfe Racing Kawasaki Ninja 400, and Eli Block placed third on his BARTCON Racing Ninja 400.
The race was shortened from 11 to nine laps due to the full-wet conditions.
RACE REPORT: YOSHIMURA SERT MOTUL FIGHTS BACK TO WIN EWC OPENER
*Crash hits YART’s EWC title defence leaving Le Mans-based team to win 47th 24 Heures Motos
*Linfoot celebrates maiden EWC victory after Suzuki-powered team recovers from early fall
*Wide-open nature of EWC underlined with five different manufacturers in the top five
*Qualifying and race lap records broken as 78,800 fans watch action-packed EWC opener trackside
*BMW and YART teams complete podium, National Motos Honda takes Superstock glory
Yoshimura SERT Motul (12). Photo courtesy FIM EWC.
For immediate release (21 April 2024): Yoshimura SERT Motul made it back-to-back FIM Endurance World Championship victories with a fighting first place in the 24 Heures Motos today, as the 10th EWC season promoted by Warner. Bros Discovery Sports began with plenty of unmissable action.
The Suzuki-powered team’s triumph in the 47th edition of the Le Mans-based race followed on from its victory in last September’s title-deciding Bol d’Or. But while the contribution of riders Gregg Black, Dan Linfoot and Étienne Masson was key to its Circuit Bugatti success, the squad’s path to glory was eased when Karel Hanika crashed shortly before the 16-hour mark while leading by four laps.
What was shaping up to be the perfect start to Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team’s EWC title defence ended as a case of what might have been. The Austrian outfit set new lap records in both qualifying and the race and led comfortably until Hanika’s uncharacteristic error in cold conditions, which dropped it back to third place behind runner-up BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team.
“It’s always good to finish the race but the objective is to win,” Black said. “We won in 2021 and 2022 but those races were a bit easier because we could relax towards the end. We were quite fast with YART but with the crash we dropped quite far back and had to push all the way to the end. BMW and YART had issues and we ended up leading the race when on paper we thought maybe we would finish third or second. But we made no more mistakes and kept pushing. In the end we only had one lap over BMW so we couldn’t relax. It’s amazing to be back on the first step [of the podium here], just amazing. Dan, Étienne, the whole team have done such great work all winter, we showed our speed and got our revenge from last year. It’s just awesome.”
For Linfoot, his maiden EWC victory was the perfect way to begin his career as a Yoshimura SERT Motul rider. “The last stint you were over-thinking everything, you hear every noise of the engine, you short shift early, you downshift with some space,” Briton Linfoot said. “It was tough but I rode under the limit, found a nice rhythm and kept my head. It’s amazing, I’m speechless, my first race with the team, in the team’s home race. I’m just so thankful to everybody for accepting me into the team, helping me with everything I need. It’s just an incredible day.”
Hanika injured his shoulder in his Sunday morning crash and the decision was taken for his team-mates Niccolò Canepa and Marvin Fritz to complete the race as a pair.
“I’m really sorry for my team because I blame myself, I should be more careful in these conditions,” the Czech said. “To be honest I don’t really know the reason of the crash, we have to analyse. My team-mates did an amazing job to take us back to the podium position but it’s a big shame we couldn’t fight for the win. I probably could have continued but it would be a bit risky with my shoulder. The condition of it is not the best, so we decided to continue this way [with two riders].”
Like YART, Yoshimura SERT Motul had to make up for lost time, the team fighting back to take third from Kawasaki Webike Trickstar shortly after 03h00 having earlier dropped out of the lead fight when a traction control issue caused Black to crash nearing the end of the third hour.
Yoshimura SERT Motul Team Director Yohei Kato said at the time: “In the pit box we missed a fuel reset and Gregg tried to reset but made a wrong button. The traction control didn’t work well and he had a high side. But all three riders have shown a great performance so we will catch up soon.”
There was an emotional win in the Dunlop-equipped FIM Endurance World Cup category with National Motos Honda gaining revenge for its agonising Bol d’Or retirement last September when it was on course for the Superstock title only to stop with 20 minutes remaining. Chromeburner-RAC41-Honda finished second followed by 3ART Best of Bike after the #36 Yamaha was hastily repaired after a crash nearing the final hour.
“We are very happy because the last year at the Bol d’Or we lose the race after 23 hours,” said Swiss Sébastien Suchet, who along with his brother Valentin and Frenchman Guillaume Raymond, claimed top honours in the Dunlop-equipped Superstock class. “For this year we wanted to finish the race and we win. The Bol d’Or was very difficult but now we are all happy, for my team and my team-mates and for the next race we will push again to the maximum.”
Reiterberger, who was partnered to second place by Illya Mykhalchyk and BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team newcomer Sylvain Guintoli, said: “We had a problem with the exhaust but second is still a very good position for us and we didn’t give up. It was unbelievably cold [during the night], colder than last year. I had a glove under my glove and a heat vest under the suit but it was still super-super cold, the visor was frozen and I really didn’t feel the fingers under braking so I break like I feel.”
Behind the overall top three, Kawasaki Webike Trickstar held third for a time, dropped back with gear selector and exhaust issues before moving ahead of Tati Team Beringer Racing for fourth with three hours remaining.
Although it wasn’t the record-setting sixth 24 Heures Motos victory KWT rider Grégory Leblanc craved, fourth spot still represented a strong start to KWT’s second EWC season with new recruit Christian Gamarino achieving his best EWC finish to date on his step up to the championship’s headlining class, after he helped Team 33 Louit April Moto win the FIM Endurance World Cup in 2023.
For Tati Team Beringer Racing, meanwhile, fifth among the Formula EWC outfits was a positive beginning to its new-for-2024 Honda alliance although a long pitstop after midday caused concern. Team Bolliger Switzerland enjoyed a fine run to sixth followed by BMRT3D maxxess Nevers on its graduation to Formula EWC level. Motobox Kremer Racing took eighth with KM99 ninth and Wójcik Racing Team EWC completing the top 10 after both suffered several delays. Mana-Au Competition, Maco Racing and Honda Viltaïs Racing were non-finishers.
Following home the Superstock top three, Junior Team Le Mans Sud Suzuki placed fourth followed by TCP Racing on its debut as a permanent EWC entrant. TRT27 AZ Moto, which included Isle of Man TT legend Michael Dunlop in its line-up, was next among the all-season Superstock teams on its maiden EWC appearance with Honda power followed by JMA Racing Action Bike. Team 18 Sapeurs Pompier CMS Motostore, Team 202 and Team Players were all delayed by crashes but crossed the line following extensive repairs.
Team Aviobike by M2 Revo and Wójcik Racing Team STK were not classified due to technical issues, while Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team, ADSS97, Team Étoile, Team Slider Endurance, Honda No Limits, Pit-Lane Endurance, Uniserv Moto82 Team, Team Racing 85 by Soleane and Team 33 Louit April Moto all retired.
How F.C.C. TSR Honda France dropped out of the EWC victory chase
F.C.C. TSR Honda France was firmly in the victory fight when Mike Di Meglio crashed early in the second hour of racing, ending the team’s chances of a repeat 24 Heures Motos win in the process. “I was taking care but we have no grip on the rear,” Di Meglio said. “I was not pushing because with the full tank of fuel at the start [of the stint] you need to manage the braking so I was taking care of when to overtake the guys but I lose the front. It’s not good to start like this but we keep calm.”
Rea makes emotional return to racing after serious injury
Despite falling twice, Gino Rea described his return to racing for the first time since he suffered serious injuries in a crash practicing for the Suzuka 8 Hours in 2022, as a “positive” experience. The Honda-powered Wójcik Racing Team rider said: “In general it’s positive because I felt good, the head was good and my riding was good and my pace was okay. Unfortunately, I crashed on the first lap, it was totally unexpected, I had a problem with my brakes on the first lap. I was trying to adjust it on every corner but I didn’t quite get the feeling. I went to brake, but I had no brake and down I went. But thank you for everyone who supported me through my rehab. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be here.”
Alt: Honda Viltaïs Racing “didn’t deserve” early retirement
Florian Alt said his Honda Viltaïs Racing team “didn’t deserve” the engine failure that robbed it of a possible podium finish in the second hour of the 24 Heures Motos. The top independent team in the FIM Endurance World Championship had been in third place during the early stages of the race. “I’m really, really not happy because we didn’t deserve it, we didn’t have any issues in the test, we didn’t have any issues last year and this time it was some material which was not in our hands,” German rider Alt said. “I am really sorry for the mechanics, they did an amazing job, they rebuilt the engine in two hours to try to continue but actually it was impossible. We were so fast, it was bad luck but we come back.”
Title-winning Team 33 Louit April Moto out of luck
There was early disappointment for Team 33 Louit April Moto, which was beginning the defence of its FIM Endurance World Cup title in Le Mans but was forced to retire with a mechanical failure shortly after 19h30. Guillaume Antiga, part of its four-strong Kawasaki-powered line-up, said: “After the crash of my team-mate Flavio [Ferroni] the radiator is broken and the bike temperature is too much and it’s not possible to continue the race.”
EWC SPORTITY APP MEDIA CHANNEL REMINDER: The FIM Endurance World Championship’s dedicated Sportity app media channel for the 2024 season is available using the password 2024FIMewc-Media. The Sportity app is a digital information resource widely used in sports events and championships around the world. It’s attractive to users because it keeps all relevant information in one place and is accessible through smartphones or computers. Users are made aware of new information becoming available through push notifications and the app can be downloaded for free via the App Store or Google Play. The EWC Sportity app dedicated media channel includes event timetables, entry lists, venue details, results, standings, rider profiles, roll of honour, media safety information, press release archive, EWC explained, key contacts and lots more.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium hosts round two the EWC season, the 8 Hours of Spa Motos, from 6-8 June.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike rider Richie Escalante suffered a heavy crash caused by a collision with another rider after the finish of MotoAmerica Superbike Race 1 at Road Atlanta.
Escalante was awake and alert afterwards and was able to move away from the crash site under his own power. He was evaluated at the track and then transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.
Scans at the hospital revealed a fracture of his left wrist along with compression fractures of L1, L2, and L4 in his back.
Escalante was held overnight at a local hospital but has been released and will fly home to Mexico for further medical evaluation and treatment.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2024 season marks Team Hammer’s 44th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 133 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 362 times, and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
Hayden Gillim was fastest during MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers Warm-Up Sunday morning at rainy Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Riding his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson Road Glide, Gillim turned a 1:48.809 on the wet 2.55-mile road course and led the field of 12 riders.
Multi-time Australian Superbike Champion and Race One winner Troy Herfoss was the best of the rest with a 1:48.853 on his S&S Indian Challenger.
Kyle Wyman, the winningest King Of The Baggers rider, rounded out the top three in the session with a 1:50.677 on his factory Hayden-Davidson.
Toprak Razgatlioglu won FIM Superbike World Championship Race Two at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands. Riding his ROKiT BMW Motorrad M 1000 RR, the Turkish star won the 21-lap race by 0.625 second.
Two-time and defending World Champion Alvaro Bautista was the runner-up on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, and Remy Gardner placed third, just 1.022 seconds behind Razgatlioglu, on his GYTR GRT Yamaha YZF-R1.
American Garrett Gerloff finished 12th on his Bonovo Action BMW.
Razgatlioglu and Bautista share honours at the Cathedral
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54) beat Alvaro Bautista (1) and Remy Gardner (87) in Race Two. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) shared the spoils on Sunday in Assen. In the ten lap Tissot Superpole Race Bautista led the field home after a stunning comeback ride saw him come through the field to take the lead from Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) on the penultimate lap.
Starting from pole position, Bautista led the majority of the first half of Race 2 but with spots of rain in the air the field closed up. Razgatlioglu choose this as his moment to pounce but with Bautista retaking the lead before Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) mixed it in.
The Turkish moved into the lead for the final six laps but was under pressure throughout the closing stages. Bautista would finish less than a second behind the race winner with Gardner able to claim his first career podium. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) finished in fourth position ahead of Locatelli.
When WorldSBK returns to action there will be just six points separating Bautista and Razgatlioglu with Bulega a further eight points adrift after a difficult weekend. The Italian finished Race 2 in eighth position.
P1 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
“Grid position isn’t important because it’s the race that matters. I enjoyed this race. At the start there was a bit of rain. I stayed close just to watch the guys and understand what to do. I needed a good pace and I passed people step by step and finally I was in the lead! We made a mistake in the Superpole Race with the tyre so I used the SC0 tyre in the afternoon and it worked well. I want to say thanks to my team’s hard work this weekend because finally we have won in Assen! I’ve never won here before and also for BMW they hadn’t won here. I’m very happy today!”
P2 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“I’m really happy with how the whole weekend has been. To finish all three races on the podium in these conditions is a pleasure. Race 1 was really tricky and I enjoyed the Superpole Race a lot. There was some light rain in the afternoon and it was a bit difficult. I tried to keep a little bit of margin and I think second position was good. I’m really happy and we are building my confidence with the bike.”
P3 | Remy Gardner | GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team
“It’s been two years without a podium for me so yeah I’ve definitely had some really hard times. Obviously, everyone knows my GP story and then we didn’t get a podium last year when I moved to WorldSBK. It’s been a big challenge for me and I just want to say thank you to my girlfriend and my team and everyone that has believed in me. Finally it’s so good to be back on the podium again and I can’t wait to go to the next race already.”
JD Beach was fastest during MotoAmerica Steel Commander Superbike Warm-Up at rainy Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Riding his new Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR, Beach lapped the wet 2.55-mile circuit in 1:42.683 to lead the field of 23 riders.
Three-time and defending Champion Jake Gagne was second with a 1:42.941 on his Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha YZF-R1 in what he described as “gnarly” conditions.
Superbike rookie Sean Dylan Kelly continued to impress by posting the third-best time, a 1:43.087, on his TopPro Racing BMW M 1000 RR.
Battered and bruised from a post-race crash on Saturday, Loris Baz did one lap on his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R during the Warm-Up Sunday morning but did not record a lap time.
Richie Escalante, who made contact with Baz at the end of Race One and also crashed, is not expected to ride Sunday at Road Atlanta. His Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team is expected to issue a statement on the Mexican rider’s condition later today.
Ryan Vickers won Bennetts British Superbike Race One Sunday at Circuit de Navarra, in Spain. Riding his OMG GRILLA Yamaha YZF-R1 on Pirelli control tires, Vickers won the 20-lap race by 1.364 seconds.
Vicker’s teammate Kyle Ryde was the runner-up, and Danny Kent placed third, 2.152 seconds behind Vickers, on his McAMS Racing Yamaha.
Just hours after winning MotoAmerica Supersport Race One in the dry Saturday afternoon, PJ Jacobsen was the quickest rider in the wet Warm-Up session Sunday morning at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Riding his Rahal Ducati Moto Panigale V2 on Dunlop rain tires, the New York native turned a 1:42.229 on the 2.55-mile course.
Jacobsen’s 16-year-old teammate Kayla Yaakov was second in the field of 34 riders with a 1:43.580.
Mathew Scholtz turned a third-fastest 1:43.608 on his Strack Racing Yamaha.
After crashing out of the lead in Supersport Race One, Tyler Scott was back on his Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750 Sunday morning and was 19th with a time of 1:49.138.
Julian Correa on the podium in Spain. Photo by Bonnie Lane Photo, courtesy Michael Correa.
American Julian Correa took second place in British Talent Cup Race Two Sunday at Circuit de Navarra, in Spain. Riding his Microlise Cresswell Racing Honda, Correa, age 15, was the runner-up in the eight-lap race by 0.077 second behind Team City Lifting/RS Racing’s Filip Surowiak. Kovara Projects/RS Racing’s Amanuel Brinton was a very close third, 0.002 second behind Correa.
American Joshua Raymond, Jr. finished 18th on his Fibre Tec Honda, and Raymond’s American teammate Eli Banish got 21st.
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