Belgian star Loris Cresson will carry the hopes of a nation on his shoulders as he bids for home success in the FIM Endurance World Championship during this Saturday’s 8 Hours of Spa Motos.
Riding for BMRT3D maxxess Nevers, which has stepped up from Superstock to the Formula EWC category for 2024, Cresson will partner compatriot and new team recruit Vincent Lonbois, plus Frenchman Julien Pilot on the #24 Kawasaki. This is what the 25-year-old from Braine-l’Alleud has had to say ahead of round two of the EWC season at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
As a Belgian rider, how important is the 8 Hours of Spa Motos?
For me it’s really important and it was very nice to get a world championship race in Belgium again, it was something we missed a lot for the visibility of the sport but also for the popularity of the riders. And it’s good for riders like me who have always raced outside Belgium during their career. When the fans see they high level we have in the EWC it helps to change the image for the people, this is good. It’s also good to have family and friends coming because it’s really close for them and this is very motivating.
With so many people watching you and supporting you, is a strong result essential, something you feel you must deliver?
Every race we want to deliver the best result but when it’s at home and everybody is there you have an extra motivation because you want to make everybody proud and you want for yourself to say, ‘it’s good, I made it’. Because it’s at home it’s even better.
Having raced in Superstock in the past you start this year’s EWC race at Spa in the headlining Formula EWC category. How good is that?
Last year and the year before in the Superstock class we had the ambition to win the race. Unfortunately, because of some endurance parameters, we didn’t do it. Now in Formula EWC we will be fighting with the big guys so you will have extra motivation because if we are on the podium then there will only be two teams or one team better than us.
It was a strong start to life in Formula EWC for you and your BMRT3D maxxess Nevers team with eighth overall in the 24 Heures Motos. How satisfied were you with what you achieved?
Honestly all the winter and the start of the race week we could not imagine this but we know the team is really good in the pitstops and during the race we almost never had a problem. It was quite satisfying we could finish quite easily in the top 10. For a shorter race, when we understand more about the bike and the category, we will see what we can do. But it was really satisfying to be there with no troubles.
Spa’s EWC round switches from 24 hours to eight hours. What do you think it will be like?
Going to a shorter format can be good and hopefully it will bring more attraction for the fans because they can come for all the day and see all the race. For the riders it’s good because we have been missing a shorter race and it’s good to have some shorter races during the season. Having come from sprint racing I know you have to go 100 per cent from the start to the end. Because the track is long you need to be intelligent because if you crash and you lose two laps you lose more than five minutes and the race is over. I have been on many tracks but for sure Spa is one of the best. The layout is perfect with a lot of up and down and then you have the history. You are never bored, it’s a really good sensation.
The 8 Hours of Spa Motos takes place at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium from 7-8 June. Click HERE for more event information including details of how to buy tickets.
Find out more from Loris Cresson as he looks ahead to the 8 Hours of Spa Motos by following this link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=476937485042979
Original Source [ FIM EWC ]
