World Endurance: Teams Test At Le Mans

YART Yamaha Ready for 2022 Le Mans After Topping FIM EWC Test

The YART Yamaha EWC Team enjoyed a successful two days of testing at the Bugatti Circuit, as it gears up for the 2022 Le Mans 24 Heures Motos, the season opener of the FIM Endurance World Championship, which takes place on 16-17 April.

With riders Niccolò Canepa, Marvin Fritz, Karel Hanika, and reserve rider Robin Mulhauser, the Austrian outfit dominated the timings throughout the test, topping all four sessions and completing 264 laps of the 4.185 km circuit on board the #7 Yamaha R1 machine.

On the opening day, the YART Yamaha squad was fastest out of the blocks, setting a 1’35.807 lap time, which would give them the top spot by the end of the day. With 142 laps complete, the rain ended Tuesday’s running early but the riders were pleased with the set-up and electronic improvements.

The wet weather returned on Wednesday morning, but it provided a good opportunity for YART Yamaha to test the electronic package in the rain. They once again managed to go fastest in the morning session, and on the dry track in the afternoon the team could improve their fastest time to a 1’35.707, having run 122 laps.

The YART Yamaha squad will return to the Bugatti Circuit for another test just before the 45th edition of the Le Mans 24 Heures Motos.

Niccolò Canepa

YART Yamaha EWC Team Rider

“It went very well, we were on top in every session, dry and wet, so we are really confident. We had some improvements, trying new Brembo callipers and master cylinders that worked well. We worked a lot on the electronics and found some good engine brake settings. The lap times were really good, so I am looking forward to the first race of the season here.”

Marvin Fritz

YART Yamaha EWC Team Rider

“Today and yesterday went well, despite the weather. Conditions got a little hotter in the afternoon and it made it a bit difficult, but today we found some ways to improve this. We were very fast in the end and the team did a fantastic job to prepare the bike, while we also made some big step forwards with the electronics. Each of the riders did a great job as well. It couldn’t have gone much better and now we have to look forward to the race. We are prepared for all conditions and our lap times show that we’re in a good position, it could have been even faster, but we’re really happy.”

Karel Hanika

YART Yamaha EWC Team Rider

“The test was really good, great to be back here in Le Mans. It has felt like being at home since we arrived, and since the first day we’ve felt very good. We had to work on different set-ups with the tyres when the weather changes. It’s positive to be able to ride in both the wet and dry, and overall we made some steps especially with the electronics. There was some room to improve in that area and step-by-step we have reached our goals in the end. Really looking forward to the race weekend, my teammates did a great job, we improved our speed and I think we won every session. This shows our bike is working really well and the team are doing a great job. It was an important test, we still have a lot of work ahead to make sure we’re competitive across the weekend, but I can’t wait to get going.”

Robin Mulhauser

YART Yamaha EWC Team Reserve Rider

“I’m learning the bike and the team step-by-step, every component is very new for me. The package is just amazing, the tyres, suspension, electronics, the people working on the bike, it is all very professional and new for me. I’m getting used to it and I want to thank the team for the confidence they put in me, as well as my teammates for the help and tips they gave. I think the team is completely ready for the 24 Hours.”

Andrew Pitt

YART Yamaha EWC Team Crew Chief

“We had some mixed weather today, but yesterday in the better conditions the lap times were coming really easy, even with some issues we were working through. We were trying to identify which were the right tyres for the track temperatures, plus some things we had to improve with the electronics on the engine brake side, and traction control. We started with a wet track today, and we had a good feeling straightaway. When we went into the dry conditions, we were able to make some good steps and the riders were happy with everything. The track never actually completely dried out today, so the pace was very good considering this. The only thing left to do is the one-hour stints on the Tuesday test before the event, but all-in-all the riders are very happy and the pace is coming quick. The boys were fastest in all conditions, so I think this was a really useful test overall and bring on race week!”

More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki Press Office:

POSITIVE LE MANS TEST FOR YOSHIMURA SERT MOTUL

Reigning World Champion Yoshimura Suzuki Endurance Racing Team Motul have been on track at the Bugatti Circuit in France yesterday and today to test ahead the 24 Heures Motos on April 16th.

The team, which has won numerous races at the circuit, focused on technical innovations and learning about the new tyres supplied by Bridgestone.

Held behind closed doors, pre-Mans testing allows the various teams to work on the bike’s configuration, adapt new parts and get a feel for their bikes before the season-opening race.

After an outstanding 2021 season, there were no changes in the team. The #1 Suzuki GSX-R1000R is back with its three experienced riders Gregg Black, Sylvain Guintoli and Xavier Simeon. And even if they knew the track perfectly, the tricky weather conditions of the Sarthe region are always a source of learning.

The time spent on track was not for pure performance but for working on the race pace and adapting the settings to the new tyres. And for this, a first sunny day and then a second wet day perfectly simulated the changing weather conditions that could be expected during the 24 Heures Motos.

The consistency of the riders and the good impressions following the improvements developed in Japan were confirmed. But a crash by Black at the end of the first day prevented him riding the next day. Thanks to a sunny spell, Guintoli and Simeon improved the team’s time by setting the third fastest time of the second day of testing at 1’36’250.

Yoshimura SERT Motul, the winner of the 2021 24 Heures Motos, confirmed its ambitions to defend its title and to be at the front.

Yohei Kato – Team Director:

“We confirmed our pace on the first day by using the new features brought for the 2022 season. We are happy because everything works well on this track. Bridgestone provided us with new specification tyres, so we focused some of our work on that. Unfortunately Gregg suffered a heavy crash but should be fully recovered for the race. The rain on the second day allowed us to keep learning the tyres in more difficult conditions.”

Damien Saulnier – Team Manager:

“We had two completely different days with track conditions that are likely to be encountered during the race. During the first dry day, we were able to try a lot of things that Yoshimura had prepared during the winter tests with Kazuki Watanabe, which proved to be positive. The reunion with the whole team was very nice because we didn’t see each other all winter long! The only drawback of the day was Gregg’s fall at the end of the afternoon. Then the mixed weather conditions of the second day, with a greasy track in the morning, were used to prepare for the race. In particular, we worked on the usage limits of rain tyres and slicks and rotated the riders so that they could adapt to these delicate conditions. As the track dried at the end of the day, we were able to set some fast laps and improve on the previous day’s lap times.”

Sylvain Guintoli:

“It’s a good test for us. It was my first time on the bike since the final in Most (Czech Republic) so it was good to test the new stuff. We worked mainly on the new tyres and the rear of the bike. We are also happy that we could ride in all conditions; hot on the first day and wet/ dry on the second day to be ready for the race.”

Gregg Black:

“The first day went well, in dry conditions with sunshine. We were able to set good lap times on relay tyres, so in race conditions. We are quite satisfied with the new settings and the evolutions on the bike. It bodes well for the race. I had the only opportunity of the day to start on new tyres to do a fast lap but I had a high side between the Dunlop bend and the Chapelle corner. It was a pretty fast crash and then it started to rain. Having a little pain in my ankle I didn’t ride the second day to recover and be in shape for the race.”

Xavier Siméon:

“It was two very productive days for us! The weather conditions were peculiar; we were lucky to do the first day almost 100% dry but it was rather wet/ dry conditions for the second. We were able to validate a lot of things because in endurance racing, the race does not stop with the rain and we have to take the right decision at the right time. This test also confirms the good feeling we had in Almeria in February. The package is still very good and we are on the same wavelength with Sylvain and Gregg about the settings, so I think we are ready for the race. I can’t wait for it to start!”

More, from a press release issued by BMW Motorrad Motorsport:

BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team enters final phase of preparations for 2022 season of the FIM EWC with tests at Le Mans.

Markus Reiterberger, Ilya Mikhalchik, Jérémy Guarnoni and Kenny Foray take part in two days of testing with the #37 BMW M 1000 RR at Le Mans.

Season gets underway with the 24 Hours of Le Mans over Easter weekend.

Werner Daemen: “I think we are very well prepared for the race.”

 
Le Mans. The countdown is on to the start of the 2022 season of the FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC). BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team has started the final phase of preparations with two days of testing at Le Mans (FRA). The team and its four riders Markus Reiterberger (GER), Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR), Jérémy Guarnoni (FRA) and Kenny Foray (FRA) worked their way through an intensive testing programme with the #37 BMW M 1000 RR.

Over the winter break, BMW Motorrad Motorsport and BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team made further optimisations to the #37 BMW M 1000 RR in many areas. This improved the performance of the engine and optimised fuel consumption, which is key in endurance racing. There have also been innovations in terms of suspension, brakes and cooling. These various areas were evaluated in-depth during testing at Le Mans.

The 2022 season of the FIM EWC gets underway with the renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA) over the Easter weekend (16th/17th April). The 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) is scheduled for 4th/5th June, and the 8 Hours of Suzuka (JPN) returns to the FIM EWC calendar on 7th August. The Bol d’Or at Le Castellet (FRA) will be held on 17th/18th September. A fifth race event is being planned.

Quotes after the Le Mans test.
 
Werner Daemen, Team Manager BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team: “It was a really good test. We almost went through our full test programme. We did one very fast lap time but as always we mainly focused on long distance tests and we found everything we were looking for. We just had some minor technical issues that we could solve for the race weekend. We still have some small things to do in the free practice just before the race but in general I am happy with everything, including our new rider and new team members. The bikes were really well prepared by the technical crew – better than ever! Together with our tyre partner Dunlop and BMW power we are very happy and I think we are very well prepared for the race.”

Jérémy Guarnoni: “It has been really two good days of testing because we got some dry action but also rode in the wet. So we could try the bike in absolutely all conditions and that is really important in view of a 24-hour race. The bike was good in the wet and we have a great pace also in the dry. We still have some work to do, especially to prepare for the fast lap time in qualifying where we still have a lot of potential. Overall, I am happy with this test and I think the package riders, team and motorcycle can fight for the win. We just need to work a little bit more during race week and try to do our best.”

Markus Reiterberger: “It was great to be back at the race track with the entire team after the winter. It also was nice to ride the bike with what I think is the most stunning design we have ever had. Is has been two productive days. As expected, the weather was changeable but we were able to ride more in the dry than we thought. We started our test program yesterday in the dry, tested many parts and got mileage on them. We did a lot of set-up work overnight and were able to confirm that with a good feeling this morning in mixed conditions. We were always at the front on rain tyres, intermediates and slicks. But we didn’t go chasing times and then it started raining hard at the end. But we were at the forefront there, too. We have great pace and a good base to fight for victory here at Le Mans. We only have a few small things to work on, but we’ll use the time until the race. We definitely have a lot of potential and I’m looking forward to a great time in a few weeks.”

Ilya Mikhalchik: “It was a good test. Regarding the weather, we had all conditions, with wet, intermediate and dry so we could test things under all conditions. I felt quite good on the bike and we also made some steps from last year, especially in race trim so we are well prepared. Maybe we were not the fastest at this test but this is not the main thing at the moment. Now I am looking forward to return to Le Mans for the race weekend in a few weeks. We keep working and try to do our best.”

Kenny Foray: “The test was a good preparation for the 24-hour race and the season. There have been many further developments on the bike and it was good that we were able to try them in all conditions. It has been busy two days and we learnt and confirmed a lot. It was great to be back at the track with the team and my team-mates Markus, Ilya and Jérémy. Of course we still can improve in some areas and that will be our focus until the big race. I can’t wait to be back at Le Mans soon.”