EVENT PREVIEW: EWC TITLE BATTLES GO DOWN TO THE BOL

Top international motorcycle racers from across the globe will go all-in for glory during next week’s Bol d’Or, the deciding round of the FIM Endurance World Championship and FIM Endurance World Cup.

After action-packed races at Le Mans, Spa and Suzuka, the 2024 EWC season – the 10th promoted by Warner Bros. Discovery Sports – is set for a thrilling finale at Circuit Paul Ricard from 12-15 September when all four FIM titles will be up for grabs.

Just six points split the top two in the FIM Endurance World Championship, Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team, the defending champion squad, and Yoshimura SERT Motul, which finished first in last season’s Bol d’Or, effectively making the Bol d’Or – broadcast live on TV and online around the world – a winner-takes-all climax to the season.

But with 65 points up for grabs, third-placed BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team and Tati Team Beringer Racing, currently in fourth, will also be in title contention in southern France next week, although these two teams will need to score big in the Bol d’Or and hope that luck isn’t on the side of the YART and SERT squads. BMW is 44 points behind YART with Tati 55 points adrift.

Should Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team prevail by banking a second consecutive FIM EWC title then it would serve as a fitting farewell for Niccolò Canepa. The double world champion will retire from riding following the Bol d’Or, and the 36-year-old Italian is determined to call time on his competition career as a title winner.

“I would never have imagined that I would have had so much success and got so much enjoyment from this sport,” Canepa said. “I gave everything to racing, but I got back much more than I expected. I have won two EWC titles and one in Superstock. Hopefully, we can make it three in EWC after the Bol d’Or.”

The race to win the Superstock-based FIM Endurance World Cup is also far from settled. National Motos Honda FMA might hold a commanding 53-point advantage in the Dunlop-equipped category, but with Superstock teams counting their best three scores out of four, 3ART Best of Bike, Chromeburner-RAC 41-Honda, 2024 newcomer Team Étoile and Aviobike by M2 Revo can all come out on top. National Motos Honda FMA was on course to claim the title last year until a mechanical failure struck with a little more than 20 minutes remaining. This year’s Bol d’Or is a gilt-edged opportunity for the stalwart EWC outfit to get revenge.

In the FIM Endurance World Championship for Manufacturers, Yamaha leads Honda by five points, while Honda is 34 points ahead of Yamaha in the FIM Endurance World Cup for Manufacturers.

At 5.673 kilometres, Circuit Paul Ricard is the third longest track on the EWC calendar, Featuring a combination of slow-, medium- and high-speed corners, the layout includes the 1.8-kilometre Mistral Straight. A place to pass and be passed, the Mistral requires bikes to run for 20 seconds at more than 300kph and places an onus on reliability and mechanical sympathy. Changeable weather and windy conditions can also be a factor during the event.

INJURED LEBLANC PASSES THE EWC BOL D’OR BATON TO RETURNING CHECA
Grégory Leblanc has reluctantly accepted defeat in his battle to be fit for the Bol d’Or, with David Checa called up as his replacement. Leblanc broke his leg during a crash in Warm-Up for July’s 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race. Despite the Frenchman making every effort to recover in time for a race he’s won four times in the past, he has made the decision to stand down from his ride with Kawasaki Webike Trickstar. CLICK FOR FULL STORY.

SOOMER ONBOARD AFTER GUINTOLI ANNOUNCES EWC BOL D’OR WITHDRAWAL
Sylvain Guintoli won’t contest the season-deciding Bol d’Or. The former EWC champion, who helped Yoshimura SERT Motul win the event last season, had been due to contest the 24-hour race as part of the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team line-up. However, he has confirmed his absence from the Circuit Paul Ricard-based round for personal reasons, for which he has the full support of the entire EWC family and beyond. Hannes Soomer from Estonia will replace him. CLICK FOR FULL STORY.

YAMAHA R7 EUROPEAN SUPERFINALE SET FOR DEBUT EWC APPEARANCE
In an exciting move, the FIM Endurance World Championship will welcome a new guest race at the Bol d’Or. Some 30 riders competing in national-level Yamaha Cups and Challenges have been invited to contest the Yamaha R7 European SuperFinale. Following two qualifying sessions, the first of two races takes place on Friday 13 September followed by the second counter at 12h10 CET on 14 September ahead of the Bol d’Or getting under way at 15h00. On offer to the Yamaha R7 European SuperFinale winner is a brand new R7, the latest in Yamaha’s R-series range of bikes, that combines the perfect blend of agile handling and sports performance with everyday fun, according to the manufacturer. The second and third-placed riders will win vouchers for GYTR performance parts that can be redeemed from their local Yamaha GYTR PRO shop.

HOW POINTS ARE SCORED AT CIRCUIT PAUL RICARD AND HOW THEY STAND IN EWC
Click HERE to find out how points are scored in the Bol d’Or and click HERE for the provisional standings following the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race.

EWC RIDERS SAID WHAT?

Gregg Black (France), Yoshimura SERT Motul: “Our aim is clearly to get the championship title back. We have got capacity to get there and do it. As always, we’ll need a little luck but performance-wise we will be up there. We know we are strong at this track. The speed and corners seem to suit our bike and we can be quite comfortable on track. Having said that, there are often difficulties to overcome, and we can never be complacent. My wrist has been much better since the pins were taken out on 1 August. I’ve been doing a lot of physio and exercises and it’s all going in the right direction.”

David Checa (Spain), Kawasaki Webike Trickstar: “I was so disappointed for Grégory [Leblanc] when he got injured because, for a long time, he struggled a lot to find a team and now he was riding so well and I don’t like to ride because somebody is injured. I was world champion with the team, I know the bike and I did a test last week in Paul Ricard. It was good to recover the sensation to ride a bike because one year without riding is long. I was happy and the team was happy also. Now it’s the target to try to achieve a good result for Kawasaki and the team because they trust in me and I will try to do my 100 per cent to achieve a good result for the team and also for me and my team-mates. I have good team-mates, the team is motivated and they want to do a good result. You never know what will happen in endurance but I think we can fight for the podium.”

Mike Di Meglio (France), F.C.C. TSR Honda France: “It’s a hard track for the bike and also your neck with the long straight where it’s difficult because of the difference of the speed between the faster and slower bikes. You need to take care but also with the engine. But I like the track. The first part after the chicane and Signes corner after the straight and then the double right I like and it’s good for overtaking. It's been a very tough season for us, the crash at Le Mans, I was not there for Spa [because I was injured], in Suzuka we get the new machine and we get some trouble and also some crash. To be on the podium would be the minimum because to finish the season like that can be good for the winter and the focus for next season. Of course, if we can get the victory that would be fantastic. But I just want to work to find a good pace and to be close to the podium because in endurance you never know what can happen.”

Mathieu Gines (France), Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motorstore: “The Bol d’Or is not easy but I am not so bad at this track and I really wanted to do this because I love the place and for me it was important to find a way. Now I have this opportunity I am very happy to come back in the EWC for this last race of the season. My team-mates are very fast and we can be really strong. It is not possible for the team to win the championship but for sure it’s possible to fight for the second place. I will try to give my best to the team and to all the riders.”

Karel Hanika (Czech Republic), Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team:“We have showed we were number one throughout the season and that’s why we have it on the bike, everybody knows it and I think we can arrive to the Bol d’Or with our heads up. We didn’t make many mistakes this year, our team is working fantastic and the bike is incredible. I believe we can beat SERT in any track in the world. The Mistral Straight is pretty special, you have to be fully concentrated because there are faster bikes on the straight, slower bikes on the straight and you have to take caution when you are doing more than 300kph. The track itself is amazing and the run-off areas are super-big. It’s a special race.”

Hannes Soomer (Estonia), BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team: “It will be my first time doing the Bol d’Or and straight away with the factory team. I would like to be happier about it but the situation with Sylvain is not really pleasant and definitely not the way I wanted to get my first chance but I will do my best. In Le Mans. I didn’t really get to the difficult part of the night, the cold part that everybody is talking about when you feel like you want to be home. I’ve tried to learn the track as much as possible in the car simulator. It’s the same what I did for Suzuka so at least I know where the turns go but I will have to learn it during the week. I think the pressure is there when you wear a factory team’s leathers but I try not to think about it. I will just do my best and learn as much as possible from Markus [Reiterberger] and Illya [Mykhalchyk] and how to manage the night and everything.”

Hannes Soomer impressed when he won the Superstock category at Suzuka

PROVISIONAL KEY EWC TIMINGS

Thursday 12 September:
14h10-16h10: Free Practice
17h20-17h40: First Qualifying (Blue Riders)
17h50-18h10: First Qualifying (Yellow Riders)
18h20-18h40: First Qualifying (Red Riders)
18h50-19h10: First Qualifying (Green Riders)
20h40-21h40: Night Practice

Friday 13 September:
11h00-11h20: Second Qualifying (Blue Riders)
11h30-11h50: Second Qualifying (Yellow Riders)
12h00-12h20: Second Qualifying (Red Riders)
12h30-12h50: Second Qualifying (Green Riders)
18h15-19h20: Pit Walk

Saturday 14 September:
15h00: Start of 87th Bol d’Or

Sunday 15 September:
15h00: Finish of 87th Bol d’Or

*All timings are CET and subject to change

BOL D’OR ESSENTIALS
Where: Circuit Paul Ricard
Location: RDN8 - 2760 Route des Hauts du Camp 83330 Le Castellet, France
When: 12-15 September 2024
Track Length: 5.673 kilometres
Race distance: 24 hours

BEST LAPS:
Qualifying: BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team (Markus Reiterberger, 1m51.596s, 2023)
Race: BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team (Illya Mykhalchyk, 1m52.898s, 2023)

IN 100 WORDS:
After celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022, the Bol d’Or’s 87th edition marks the second 24-hour race of the season. Taking place at Circuit Paul Ricard in southern France for the 31st time, the legendary event will decide all four FIM EWC titles. Of the venue’s 5.673-kilometre layout, 1.8 kilometres are taken up by the imposing Mistral Straight. A place to pass and be passed, the Mistral requires bikes to run for 20 seconds at more than 300kph. Changeable weather and windy conditions can also be a factor during the traditional season decider won by Yoshimura SERT Motul in 2023.

FAST FACTS:
· The Bol d’Or was first held in 1922 on a five-kilometre circuit of dirt roads between Vaujours, Clichy-sous-Bois and Livry-Gargan.
· Back then it was more a question of survival than an out-and-out race with one rider per bike allowed and no stops except for refuelling.
· Competitors had to wait until 1954 before they could count on a team-mate with a third rider not permitted until 1978.
· While the Bol d’Or celebrated turning 100 in 2022, the event was actually the 85th running and the 29th edition to take place at Circuit Paul Ricard.
· World War II, waning public interest and the COVID-19 pandemic respectively resulted in no Bol d’Or between 1940-46, 1961-68 and 2020.

RECENT WINNERS:
2023: Yoshimura SERT Motul (Gregg Black, Sylvain Guintoli, Étienne Masson), 717 laps
2022: Viltaïs Racing Igol (Florian Alt, Erwan Nigon, Steven Odendaal) 718 laps
2021: Yoshimura SERT Motul (Gregg Black, Xavier Siméon, Sylvain Guintoli) 704 laps
2019: Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (Vincent Philippe, Étienne Masson, Gregg Black) 313 laps
2018: F.C.C. TSR Honda France (Freddy Foray, Josh Hook, Mike Di Meglio) 698 laps

WHO’S IN IT TO WIN IT? The provisional entry list for the Bol d’Or is available via the EWC Media Sportity channel, password: 2024FIMewc-Media. Follow this LINK to find out more.

Niccolò Canepa's YART Yamaha team tops the entry list