YART Yamaha Produce Good Efficiency to Win the 8 Hours of Spa Motos
The Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Workforce of Niccolò Canepa, Marvin Fritz, and Karel Hanika, reigning FIM Endurance World Champions, have been merely sensational as they dominated proceedings to storm to beautiful back-to-back victories at Spa-Francorchamps and scale back the hole to the chief within the general championship standings to only one level.
The climate, typically a key issue on the legendary 6.985km Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, stayed dry and sunny all through the second spherical of the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC), and the 1000’s of followers that attended the occasion bore witness to some of the dominant performances in current reminiscence.
Defending champions YART had laid down a marker on Friday by not solely topping Free Observe, with Marvin Fritz setting an unofficial lap document of two:18.551, but additionally by producing a commanding efficiency throughout qualifying. All three riders dominated their respective teams by displaying blistering tempo to make sure YART began from pole place and secured the 5 factors on provide for securing pole place.
Fritz was to not be denied, and he bought his arms on the official lap document on Friday afternoon after he set a 2:18.552 in his first qualifying session to beat Hanika’s 2:18.845 set in 2022. But it surely was not simply the German who was quick, as all three YART riders managed to interrupt the two:19 barrier (the one ones to take action all through the complete weekend) because the Austrian squad demonstrated unimaginable tempo main into Saturday’s race.
When the motion bought underway within the first 8 Hours of Spa Motos, following on from two 24-hour editions of the occasion in 2022 and 2023, it produced some thrilling racing, however nobody might deny YART from making it two wins in a row at Spa. As at all times, technique would show to be essential in the course of the race as a result of whereas the Bridgestone-shod #1 R1 was undoubtedly the quickest bike on the grid within the arms of the YART riders, as a result of gasoline consumption, the group knew that they must make yet another pit cease than their rivals.
With that in thoughts, they wanted to push proper from the phrase go, and so they couldn’t have dreamed of a greater first stint than that of Canepa’s. The Italian, who was nonetheless feeling the results of his crash on the Daytona 200, bought away beautifully from pole and was within the lead by the tip of the primary lap. After a quick battle with championship rivals SERT, the 36-year-old put the hammer down and set the tone for the remainder of the race as he blasted off into the gap. By the point of the primary pit cease, he had sensationally created a spot on the entrance of just about ten seconds in some of the electrical opening stints in EWC historical past.
Fritz and Hanika then continued to set a punishing tempo whereas displaying unimaginable consistency to match their pace. Because the race progressed, the trio have been relentless and continued to push, extremely getting faster and faster because the clock ticked down, ultimately extending their result in over a minute. All three riders have been completely faultless, and the group backed this up by not making a single mistake in the course of the pit stops, as YART elevated their benefit on the entrance on virtually each lap.
Sticking to their technique completely, they created a big sufficient hole to permit them to make an additional pit cease however nonetheless retain the lead, and with the tip of the race getting nearer, the win was there for the taking.
As is usually the case, the skilled Canepa took the ultimate stint, and he introduced the YART R1 house to win the 8 Hours of Spa Motos by 40.145 seconds after finishing 201 laps, to spark jubilant celebrations amongst the group and full the proper weekend. The victory, together with pole place, meant that the defending champions claimed the utmost 35 factors on provide in Belgium and closed the hole within the EWC standings to the chief to only one level, with two rounds nonetheless to go.
It was a harder race for the Belgian-based KM99 squad of Jérémy Guarnoni, Florian Marino, and Randy de Puniet. After qualifying in seventh, a crash inside the first half hour noticed them drop down the timing screens. They mounted a robust fightback, just for a second crash to lose them extra time, however they bounced again within the final couple of hours to complete in sixteenth general and tenth within the Components EWC class.
Up subsequent for each groups is the forty fifth Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race in Japan from the nineteenth to the twenty first of July.
Niccolò Canepa – P1 201 laps
Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Workforce
“I’m thrilled as a result of we gained final 12 months within the 24-hour race, and we’ve gained once more this 12 months within the eight-hour race. Actually, the efficiency has been excellent all through the race weekend from all of us, from the group to the tyres, and naturally, my teammates have been unimaginable. Regardless of having to make yet another pit cease, we managed the technique completely and caught to our plan to safe victory, and now we’ve lowered the hole to the championship leaders to only one level with two rounds to go.”
Marvin Fritz – P1 201 laps
Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Workforce
“It was the proper race. We gained, set a brand new lap document, and we every topped our qualifying teams, plus we managed to safe the utmost factors for the championship. I couldn’t be extra pleased with my teammates and the complete YART group; we did a tremendous job. We pushed proper from the beginning of the race as a result of we knew we needed to make yet another pit cease than our opponents, and Niccolò couldn’t have gotten us off to a greater begin. Karel and I continued that method, and we have been all setting a tremendous tempo for the remainder of the race. The group did an outstanding job with the pit stops, the Bridgestone tyres have been nice, and the bike felt wonderful. Actually, it was the proper efficiency, and to stay to our technique and never make a single mistake was unimaginable. It was very particular. Final 12 months, we gained with the #7 bike; this 12 months, we gained with the #1 on our R1, and I couldn’t be happier. Carry on Suzuka.”
Karel Hanika – P1 201 laps
Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Workforce
“It feels wonderful to win for the second 12 months in a row right here at Spa. I had a troublesome race in Le Mans. I wasn’t at my greatest, and my crash price us the victory there. So, I needed to reset and deal with getting again to my greatest. It positively took me a bit extra time to rise up to hurry throughout Personal Observe, however lap by lap, my confidence got here again, and by qualifying, I used to be feeling actually good on the bike once more. In an eight-hour race, it’s simple to make a mistake, as it’s extra like a dash, however the entire group was faultless, and we produced an unimaginable efficiency. I’m joyful that I used to be capable of bounce again like this, and my group and teammates are so good it’s unbelievable. We have now an amazing environment within the group, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved right here in Spa. I need to thank the entire group and everybody at Yamaha and Bridgestone who supported us; this win was for you. We’re already trying ahead to Suzuka.”
Mandy Kainz
Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Workforce – Workforce Supervisor
“What a efficiency! The entire group have been unimaginable since we arrived on Thursday, working tirelessly to supply a efficiency like this. I’m so proud of all of them. The riders have been faultless at the moment and confirmed what we’re able to. The bike was excellent, and once we mix every little thing like we did right here in Spa, I really consider that we’re unstoppable. Clearly, that is endurance, so there are many elements to take into consideration, however this weekend, we pulled off the proper race. To safe back-to-back victories at this observe can also be particular, and I need to thank everybody from the group, Yamaha, and Bridgestone, for offering us with the proper bundle. We managed to safe the utmost championship factors, and now we’re only one level behind the leaders, so it’s sport on for Suzuka.”
Extra, from a press launch issued by Aprilia Racing:
APRILIA RSV4 WINS THE EWC AT SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS
FIRST VICTORY IN THE SUPERSTOCK CLASS FOR AVIOBIKE BY M2 REVO TEAM
The Aprilia RSV4 gained the 8 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the second spherical of the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship. This excellent end result underlines the competitiveness and reliability of the RSV4 1100 in its second look within the Superstock class.
The group, made up of skilled rider Kevin Calia, together with Luca Bernardi and Francesco Cocco, of their first look on this observe, delivered a flawless race, taking the Aprilia RSV4 1100 to victory within the Superstock class. It is a outstanding show of power, on condition that that is solely Aprilia’s second look within the Superstock class.
MASSIMO RIVOLA
APRILIA RACING CEO
“It’s unimaginable to take the Superstock win in our second Endurance race of the season. Congratulations to Luca and Kevin for the win, to Aviobike and Nuova M2 Revo for the good teamwork. Spa-Francorchamps is a observe the place Components 1 often races, it’s extremely quick and has some harmful factors, such because the well-known Eau Rouge. To see the RSV4 aggressive and dependable is an indication of the standard of the product, which makes us proud”.
Extra, from a press launch issued by Yoshimura SERT Motul:
YOSHIMURA SERT CONSOLIDATES ENDURANCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD
Yoshimura SERT Motul put in a strong and constant efficiency on the 8 Hours of Spa Motos to complete second, earn invaluable championship factors, and preserve its FIM Endurance World Championship lead.
Having gained the opening spherical of the 2024 FIM EWC season at Le Mans, Yoshimura SERT Motul went into the 8 Hours of Spa Motos with a nine-point championship benefit. Decided to keep up its lead, the Franco-Japanese group put in a robust qualifying session which noticed the group qualify in third.
The group’s holeshot supremo, Gregg Black, blasted from third place on the beginning grid to guide into the primary nook. He rapidly settled into a quick race tempo that allowed him to struggle on the entrance of the race with the 4 greatest groups within the area. Etienne Masson and Dan Linfoot stored the Suzuki GSX-R1000R pinned at a excessive tempo all through their stints, sustaining the group’s sturdy place.
Yoshimura SERT Motul is famend for its environment friendly and speedy pit stops and the crew didn’t disappoint at Spa. Tremendous-quick turnarounds between riders, allowed them to be in contact with the main group.
Tyre grip was a difficulty with rising observe temperatures, nonetheless, Yoshimura SERT Motul labored brilliantly to keep away from the various pitfalls on the Belgian observe.
Yoshimura SERT Motul secured second place on the rostrum on the 8 Hours of Spa Motos. The group left the Belgian occasion with 88 factors and continues to guide the championship.
The following spherical of the 2024 FIM EWC season will happen at in Japan for the well-known Suzuka 8-Hour from the nineteenth to the twenty first of July.
Yohei KATO – group director
“I’m pleased with the end result, however pissed off nonetheless, as a result of we gave every little thing, we needed to win realizing that YART had yet another pit cease to make. We did every little thing we might to keep up a spot of lower than 40 seconds, however we have been struggling due to the warmth, and we have been dropping time. Other than that, we rode a strong race and that’s a very powerful factor.”
Damien SAULNIER – group supervisor
“It was an intense week. We’re nonetheless aiming for victory, nonetheless, on this quick race, the place our most important rivals have been very aggressive, we set ourselves the goal of a podium end – mission completed. Our riders have been quick, and we made the many of the pitstops. We’re constructing our season round profitable the title. It’s an amazing end result and I’m very happy. This end result means we are able to go to Suzuka nonetheless main the championship. It’s essential for the group and for Yoshimura.”
Gregg BLACK – rider
“We’ve completed 4th right here twice. Our aim this 12 months was clearly to complete on the rostrum. After all, a win is at all times what we would like, however the championship stays our precedence, so we didn’t need to give every little thing after which take too many dangers. We made an excellent begin, however the observe situations weren’t notably beneficial. The bike labored rather well, and the group did an amazing job within the pits. We didn’t miss a lot. We completed simply 40 seconds behind the winners, which actually isn’t a lot over an 8-hour race.”
Etienne MASSON – rider
“To be sincere, I’m a bit pissed off as a result of second place on the rostrum isn’t a nasty place, however it’s not the primary! We confirmed our efficiency throughout qualifying. Within the race, the recent situations didn’t enable us to get an excellent feeling on the bike, however we stored hanging on. And on the finish of the race, we have been sooner and really constant. We didn’t want a lot to win. We nonetheless put in an excellent efficiency, and I believe we’ll present our power on the subsequent race in Suzuka.”
Dan LINFOOT – rider
“We had an excellent race and took one other 27 factors within the championship, so we’re nonetheless within the lead. That’s the nice level. After all, we got here right here to win however the hole between us and the profitable group was fairly small and so we must be pleased with this podium place. Consistency was key and we’re going to maintain on working to enhance our efficiency. I really feel good within the group and on the bike. Now we’re specializing in the subsequent checks and the race at Suzuka.”
