Le Castellet. BMW Motorrad Motorsport is eagerly awaiting the
thrilling season finale of the 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship
(FIM EWC) this coming weekend (14th to 17th September). The world
championship title will be decided at the 24-hour Bol d’Or race at
Le Castellet (FRA). Werner Daemen’s (BEL) BMW Motorrad World
Endurance Team is in third place overall as they head to the South
of France, making them one of the main players in the race for the
title. In the Superstock class, Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team is also
in a promising position.
The factory riders Markus Reiterberger (GER), Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR)
and Jérémy Guarnoni (FRA) on the #37 BMW M 1000 RR of BMW Motorrad
World Endurance Team started the season with two podium positions.
They finished both the 24-hour race at Le Mans (FRA) and the one at
Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) in third place. At the Suzuka 8-hour race, the
team finished in an excellent sixth place, making them the best
European team.
In the world championship standings, BMW Motorrad World Endurance
Team is in third place going into the finale, trailing the leaders by
just 38 points. The number of points awarded at the Bol d’Or will by
multiplied by a factor of 1.5. This means that the winning team will
receive 60 points, and there will be 49.5 points for second place and
42 points for third place. In addition, further points will be awarded
to the best teams in the interim standings after eight and 16 hours.
There will also be points for the top positions in qualifying.
BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team used the private day of testing at
Le Castellet on Tuesday to make their final preparations for the
finale. In addition to regular riders Reiterberger, Mikhalchik and
Guarnoni, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK factory rider Loris Baz (FRA) will
also be at the Bol d’Or as the fourth rider.
In the Superstock class of the FIM Endurance World Cup, the new
Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team with the #9 BMW M 1000 RR had a perfect
start to their maiden season when Kenny Foray (FRA), Jan Bühn (GER)
and Loïc Arbel (FRA) won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Going into the
finale, the team, managed by Arnaud Sassone (FRA), which is
collaborating with Werner Daemen’s company Motorcycle Racing Parts and
with BMW Motorrad Motorsport, is in fourth place in the Superstock
class. They are just 16 points off first place. The fourth rider in
this team at the Bol d’Or is Nelson Major (FRA), the newly crowned
champion of the French European Bikes Championship.
The first qualifying sessions get underway late afternoon on
Thursday, followed by the second round of qualifying on Friday
morning. The 86th edition of the Bol d’Or gets underway at 15:00 CEST
on Saturday 16th September. The race will finish 24 hours later. In
addition to BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team and Tecmas-MRP-BMW
Racing Team, the privateer BMW teams LRP Poland, TONE RT SYNCEDGE 4413
BMW and Seigneur Motorsport Team Mont Blanc will also be contesting
the Bol d’Or.
Quotes ahead of the Bol d’Or.
Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “We
are full of confidence as we eagerly await the season finale. We did
some testing recently and had some strong performances. We are very
well prepared, and I am convinced that we have the pace to win the Bol
d’Or. But it is a 24-hour race, and we know that anything can happen.
There are a lot of points up for grabs, and we are 38 points behind
the leader. Can we win the world championship? We have to try to win,
and then we will also need a bit of luck in terms of the results of
the other teams. But I am feeling confident.”
Werner Daemen, Team Manager BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team:
“The test day was really good. Our riders rode very well. We
made some changes to prepare for qualifying and the lap times are
looking strong. At the test, there were no transponders but I am sure
that we are within the top three. Our riders are quite happy. Of
course we still have some things on the list where we can further
improve. That’s our homework now and then we are ready for the
qualifying and the race.”
Markus Reiterberger: “We enter the final race of the
season highly motivated. The track is a high-speed circuit, which
should suit our bike. We have a powerful engine and good aerodynamics,
which worked in our favour last year when we secured the pole
position. Our recent test here was also quite promising. We were able
to further optimise our bike, experimented a lot, and will continue
working to get the best package for the weekend. We still have a
chance to become world champions. Our goal is to secure the pole
position and, in the race, at least make it to the podium, but
preferably take the victory. However, endurance races are always
unique, and the track is demanding on both the machine and the rider.
Many things can happen, but we are hopeful for a successful race and
bringing the title home for BMW.”
Ilya Mikhalchik: “I am looking forward to the race.
The feeling on test day was quite good. The bike worked well and the
performance of the tyres was also not bad. Overall, all was good, all
riders have been fast. Now we just have to find something extra to be
more constant in the race. We just want to do our best in the final
race, we try to fight until the end and to see where we can finish and
what we can do.”
Jérémy Guarnoni: “This weekend will be really
important for us. We have two goals: we want to win the race and if we
are successful we probably can be world champions. So it’s only about
to go really full gas all week and in the race, and to have clean and
trouble-free 24 hours.”
Loris Baz: “I am really happy to be here at the Bol
d’Or and help the guys. I would have come here anyway to visit and
support my friend Jérémy and the entire BMW Motorrad World Endurance
Team. Now it’s great to do some laps. The people now how much I like
endurance and how important it is for French people. It’s really cool
to be here.”
Arnaud Sassone, Team Manager Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing
Team: “We are feeling confident. We have everything in place.
We know that the motorcycle is the most powerful bike in the field and
our riders are in top form. If we put in the same level of performance
as we have thus far, we have a chance of getting the win at Le
Castellet. Everything else depends on how our direct rivals perform.”
