Source: Supplied.

The YART Yamaha Official EWC Team has claimed redemption with a stunning victory during the weekend’s third round of the 2017-2018 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) at the Slovakia Ring 8 Hours, beating home GMT94 Yamaha and points leader F.C.C. TSR Honda France.

The fight between the two factory Yamahas lasted until the very last minute of the race after nightfall in Slovakia. In the end, YART Yamaha emerged the winner with a less than a 32-second lead over GMT94 Yamaha. The Austrian Yamaha, which scored its first points this season, took over the lead 1h30m into the race.

Australian Broc Parkes and teammates Marvin Fritz and Max Neukirchner then managed to stay in control of the race despite electronics issues, holding off GMT94 Yamaha’s David Checa, Niccolò Canepa and Mike Di Meglio.

Considering the blistering pace set by the two machines in the lead, F.C.C. TSR Honda France’s Freddy Foray, Alan Techer and Aussie Josh Hook put up a good fight. In fact, Foray broke the race’s lap record with a time of 2m04.185s.

F.C.C. TSR Honda France’s third finish at the 8 Hours of Slovakia Ring allows the squad to hold on to top spot in the 2017-2018 FIM EWC provisional standings, though they are now just one point ahead of GMT94 Yamaha.

After battling in the leading pack for a lengthy spell, Honda Endurance Racing came home ahead of BMW-mounted NRT48’s Kenny Foray, Stefan Kerschbaumer and Peter Hickman and Mercury Racing’s Karel Hanika, Jakub Smrž and Matej Smrž.

The next stop on the Endurance World Championship calendar is scheduled for 9 June in Germany for the 8 Hours of Oschersleben.

Detailed results