As well as all the talking on track, plenty was said off it during the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship. Here’s a refresher.
24 HEURES MOTOS
Florian Alt: “I am really sorry for the mechanics, they did an amazing job, they rebuilt the engine in two hours to try to continue but actually it was impossible. We were so fast, we didn't deserve this but we come back”
Gregg Black (above): “We were quite fast with YART but with the crash we dropped quite far back and had to push all the way to the end. It’s amazing to be back on the first step [of the podium], just amazing. We showed our speed and got our revenge from last year. It's just awesome”
Karel Hanika: “I’m really sorry for my team because I blame myself, I should be more careful in these conditions. My team-mates did an amazing job to take us back to the podium position but it’s a big shame we couldn’t fight for the win”
Gino Rea: “I felt good, the head was good and my riding was good. Thank you for everyone who supported me through my rehab. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be here”
Sébastien Suchet: “We are very happy because the last year at the Bol d’Or we lose the race after 23 hours. For this year we wanted to finish the race and we win. The Bol d’Or was very difficult but now we are all happy, for my team and my team-mates”
8 HOURS OF SPA MOTOS
Marcel Brenner: “Spa is amazing, crazy, a nice track but so difficult with the braking, so long, you need to understand a lot of things. Now it’s my third time here, it’s not easy but it’s more normal”
Kevin Calia: “We went with a strong strategy, Luca and me both did double stints. The race was so close with the #55, they were so fast during the race and also in the box”
Marvin Fritz: "I’m pretty happy with the lap time and the new lap record, especially after I took it away from my brother-in-law [Karel Hanika], which is a pretty nice feeling"
David Sanchis (pictured right): “We need to work a bit more to catch these guys because the level is high in this championship so we as a team need improve a little bit our bike and try to be closer next time to the other guys. We are going to fight for the championship with everything we have”
Kazuki Watanabe: "After I had a fall on Monday, I had some responsibility and I believe I have paid that back just a little bit"
45TH COCA-COLA SUZUKA 8 HOURS ENDURANCE RACE
Albert Arenas: “It's an incredible race, and until you try it, it's impossible to explain. These riders are true warriors”
Sylvain Guintoli: “It’s like being in a very, very hot sauna without drinking much and sweating a lot for an hour while you’re exercising”
Josh Hook: “There’s not one easy part of the track. Suzuka is the most physical track and demanding track you will ever go to. It’s just lefts and rights and you don’t really get a break around that place and that makes it so hard on top of the heat factor”
Guillaume Raymond: “Until you have lived it, you can’t imagine how hard this race is”
Johann Zarco (above): “I feel good because when you fix this target and you have the victory it’s a big relief”
BOL D’OR
Niccolò Canepa: “In the end, I am happy because after what happened to us during the race, we would not have dreamt of being on the podium, and we managed to secure an excellent third, and it is a great result and a good way to end my career”
Randy de Puniet (above): “SERT was too fast, the pace was incredible, the BMW too, but they had some trouble at the end of the race and that’s why we finished second”
Martin Kuzma: “I praise the performance of our riders, because they are the ones who want to race and not to play tactics, but it was not possible without that this time. We win together, we lose together, it’s teamwork”
Dan Linfoot: “To win Le Mans, second in Spa, third in Suzuka and finally winning the Bol d’Or to take the championship is an incredible experience"
Valentin Suchet: “It was a really tough race, especially mentally. We went into it thinking it would be straightforward, no pressure, just run our race – but that’s not how it turned out. It was an emotional rollercoaster”
Original Source [ FIM EWC ]
