Source: Suzuki Racing.

Suzuki Endurance Racing Team has stormed to a dominating victory at the opening round of the 2015 Endurance World Championship, the 38th Le Mans 24-Hour, at Circuit Bugatti in France.

Team riders Vincent Philippe, Anthony Delhalle and new member Etienne Masson overcame a high-speed slide-off by Delhalle just over an hour into the event.

SERT was able to take the lead after five hours and eventually cross the finish line seven laps ahead of nearest rivals and early race leaders SRC Kawasaki’s Gregory Leblanc, Matthieu Lagrive and Fabien Foret.

After qualifying fourth on the grid, SERT set a blistering and consistent pace throughout, taking 26 well-orchestrated pit-stops during 24-hours of close and intense racing between the 56 entered teams, completing a total of 833 laps.

The Team Bolliger Switzerland completes the podium after a very regular race, only bothered by a faulty sensor which caused them to lose a few laps.

Suzuki’s Junior Team LMS, which is run from the same SERT headquarters at Le Mans, also topped the Superstock podium with team riders Baptiste Guittet, Gregg Black and Roman Maitre claiming fourth overall against the EWC teams.

Of the Aussies, Gareth Jones’ BMW Motorrad France team was seventh overall, while Alex Cudlin overcame a back injury and a series of mechanical problems to finish 15th and seventh of the Superstock runners with his QMMF Racing Team.

The second round of the FIM EWC will take place on 24-26 July in Japan for the annual prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours.

2015 FIM Endurance World Championship
Round one – Le Mans 24-Hour, France

Overall results:
1. Suzuki Endurance Racing Team
2. SRC Kawasaki
3. Team Bolliger Switzerland
4. Junior Team LMS Suzuki
5. GMT94 Yamaha
6. Team Traqeur Louitt Moto 33
7. BMW Motorrad France (Gareth Jones, AUS)
8. Tati Team Beaujolais Racing
9. AM Moto Racing Competition
10. April Moto Motors Events Team
15. QMMF Racing Team (Alex Cudlin, AUS)