Honda Viltaïs Racing was in fightback mode when Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps hosted round two of the FIM Endurance World Championship last week – not once but twice.
After its non-finish in the 24 Heures Motos in April, the top independent EWC squad from 2023 was determined to get rewarded in the 8 Hours of Spa Motos.
Qualifying fifth, the team was in fourth place when a water leak necessitated a lengthy pitstop in the third hour that plunged it down to 18th position.
But riders Florian Alt, Leandro Mercado and Steven Odendaal didn’t give up and fought their way back to fourth place at the flag for 22 crucial EWC points.
Team Manager Pierrick Gillet said:
“There was a lot at stake for us in this race. We had to bounce back, regain our confidence and find our bearings. Everyone was aware of that. Either we were annihilated by the pressure, or on the contrary, we kept our cool. The great satisfaction was to see the team never doubt, even when we had a minor mechanical problem that saw us demoted. From start to finish, everyone remained vigilant. That really shows the maturity of the team. We were also very apprehensive about the way the tyres would behave here and, in the end, it wasn’t complicated at all with the Pirelli. So I’m pleased with this result and the way we went about getting it.”
