Slider Endurance completed its first FIM Endurance World Cup campaign with Honda power during last month’s Bol d’Or. Here’s a reminder of what the Dunlop-equipped squad described as “an incredible adventure, filled with twists and intense moments”.
Pre-event: With Daniel González fracturing a thumb in testing and Jacopo Cretaro called up to ride in another race, Slider Endurance has to “react quickly to rebuild our team”. In come Charles Diller and Joseph Foray, plus EWC newcomer Marc Alcoba, to partner Rodi Pak.
Private testing: After travelling 1057 kilometres from its base in Campbon, France, to Circuit Paul Ricard, Alcoba suffers a sprained ankle during a fall, which also damages one of Slider’s Honda CBR1000RR-R motorcycles.
Free Practice and First Qualifying: Thursday’s first official track activity proves significantly more trouble-free. According to Slider Endurance: “The wind was still there on Thursday morning, but it didn't stop our riders from shining in qualifying. Practice and qualifying showed some good performances despite the conditions”.
Second Qualifying: With the wind weakening, Alcoba (1m55.784s) and Pak (1m56.960s) shine in Second Qualifying as Slider Endurance ends up 11th among the Superstock category contenders.
The race: After Pak makes “an explosive start”, Slider Endurance reports “several technical difficulties during the race”. Repairs have to be made to the Honda’s braking system and front- and rear-wheel sensors, while a pitlane speeding penalty is also applied, which Slider says was “likely due to electronic malfunctions that affected our ability to meet the speed limit”.
“Despite these challenges, we finished 15th in the overall ranking and eighth in Superstock,” Slider Endurance stated following the EWC season finale. “After three years of not finishing due to electronic issues and a fall, we've finally wrapped up our first Bol d’Or. We would like to express our most sincere gratitude to everyone who made this possible.”
Original Source [ FIM EWC ]
