Gregg Black has apologised to his Yoshimura SERT Motul team and team-mates after a dramatic crash dropped the Suzuki-powered squad out of the podium fight in Japan’s round of the FIM Endurance World Championship last weekend.
Yoshimura SERT Motul looked set to improve on its 2022 placing of third by claiming the runner-up spot, only for Black to crash nearing the seven-hour mark.
Having led early on, Black’s team had responded to late-race rain by switching the UK-born French rider onto wet weather tyres.
Returning to the track for what would have been a double stint in the hot and humid conditions, Black slid off at the ‘S’ Curves and eight minutes were lost in the pits while repairs were made. Sylvain Guintoli completed the race on the #12 Suzuki in 11th position.
Obviously, the race didn't end as we’d hoped, said Black. We made a good start and my team-mates and I had a really good race pace while managing our fuel consumption well. But when I took off again on rain tyres, I rode on a white strip without realising it because of the smoked screen on my helmet. That mistake ruined our race and I apologise to the whole team. We really deserved a podium here.
Yohei Kato, the Yoshimura SERT Motul Team Director, said: We were doing the perfect race, until the rain. We had to be strong as a permanent endurance team, but we made a mistake. I’m very disappointed. We were very competitive, and we were holding on to second place. It has been really good to race in our own country and spend time with key sponsors and partners – top management from Suzuki Motor Corporation joined us too. We always like to race in front of home fans and appreciate their support.
Team Manager Damien Saulnier added: The week was almost perfect and everything was going well until Gregg's crash. But we mustn't remember the mistake he made today and think of all the victories we've had thanks to him.
Original Source [ FIM EWC ]
