Source: SRC Kawasaki

SRC Kawasaki has staged a remarkable third consecutive victory at the Bol d’Or 24 Hour at Magny-Cours, defying long odds after one of its trio of riders suffered serious injury in the lead-up.

It was a thrilling 24-hour race, beginning at 3pm local time under sweeping rain showers. The weather would prove a telling factor in the race, catching out a number of the top teams, including SRC Kawasaki, early in the piece.

Gregor Leblanc and Nicolas Salchaud virtually shared the riding load between them, with injured teammate Matthie Lagrive only riding to satisfy race requirements.

They too were early crashers, but held tough at the head of the field through nightfall.

Polesitters Honda Racing were on track to complete a dream result from pole position but would suffer terminal gearbox issues with just a few hours left to run.

Their misfortune was to SRC Kawasaki’s favour, with the hobbled team instantly recovering its multi-lap deficit to put five laps on eventual runners-up, the Yamaha Racing GMT Michelin outfit of David Checa, Kenny Foray and Mathieu Gines.

Third place went the way of Junior Team LMS Suzuki, with Baptiste Guittet, Etienne Masson and Gregg Black outlasting favoured EWC teams to bring their Superstock-spec machine home on the podium, 11 laps off the lead.

Team Bolliger Switzerland came home a lap behind in fourth, with Team Motors Events April Moto completing the top five.

The Endurance World Championship (EWC) opener proved particularly taxing for the seven Aussie riders in the mix.

Gareth Jones was the only local finisher, riding consistently to help his Team R2CL Suzuki squad finish seventh, 21 laps off the leaders.

The remaining Aussie riders were all part of retiring teams, with Jason O’Halloran and Damian Cudlin not required as stand-ins as their teams both bowed out.

It was a costly race for Wayne Maxwell, who, from initial reports, suffered a broken leg in a dramatic high-side crash on board the Yamaha Austria Racing Team R1. The team, also consisting of Rick Olson, retired from the race.

Alex Cudlin’s hopes for a podium finish in the Superstock class were dashed when engine failure sidelined his Qatar Endurance Racing Team entry, while Bryan Staring’s Team Traquer Louit Moto bike was also out after just 95 laps.

The adjustment to the EWC pointscoring system for 2014 sees points awarded for positions held at the eight, 16 and 24 hour marks, dampening the effects of DNFs for some of the top entries.

After round one of five it is SRC Kawasaki leading the way on 55 points from Yamaha Racing GMT 94 Michelin on 50 and Team Bolliger Switzerland on 37.

The new system proves fortuitous for the likes of non-finishers Honda Racing, who still took 19 points from the first two checkpoints to hold down seventh overall.

The 2014 EWC resumes in Japan on 27 July for the Suzuka 8 Hours.

2014 Endurance World Championship
Round one – Bol d’Or 24 Hour, Magny-Cours

Race results:
1. SRC Kawasaki (LEBLANC, LAGRIVE, SALCHAUD)
2. Yamaha Racing – GMT 94 Michelin (CHECA, FORAY, GINES) +5 laps
3. Junior Team LMS Suzuki (GUITTET, MASSON, BLACK) + 11 laps
4. Team Bolliger Switzerland #8 (SAIGER, STAMM, SUTTER) + 12 laps
5. Team Motors Event April Moto (FASTRE, SAVARY, STORRAR) +13 laps
6. National Motos (TIZON, FOUR, JUNOD) + 18 laps
7. Team R2CL (JONES, MARTIN, GIABBANI) + 21 laps
8. Yamaha Viltais Experience (BARDET, CARRILLO, NIGON) + 29 laps
9. Metiss JLC Moto (HOLUB, AYER, CHERON) + 34 laps
10. AM Moto Racing Competition (LOISEAU, MAITRE, BUISSON) + 40 laps

Championship standings (after round one of five):
1. SRC Kawasaki 55
2. Yamaha Racing – GMT 94 Michelin 50
3. Team Bolliger Switzerland #8 37
4. Team Motors Event April Moto 35
5. National Motos 32
6. Team R2CL 24
7. Honda Racing 19
8. TMC City Bike TRT 27 19
9. Maco Racing Team 15
10. Flembbo Leader Team 13