AVANT COURSE
A raft of innovations!
Wednesday 19 March 2008 - 17h24
Once again the endurance motorcycle season kicks off on the Bugatti circuit with a marvellous field and numerous innovations: an ethanol-based fuel for all the bikes, new regulations and an entirely revamped corner.
 
The 31st Le Mans 24 Hours for Motorcycles is the first of the 6 rounds of the QTEL Endurance World Championship and boasts numerous innovations.
To begin with, the exclusive use of the E10 fuel with 10% ethanol; it is an innovation in keeping with the ecological preoccupations of all the people involved in motor bike racing and fulfils everybody’s expectations.
The categories have been redefined in the technical regulations and the Superbike class no longer exists. Now the top category is the Formula EWC derived from the former Superproduction, and the only one counting for the Endurance World Championship. The Superstock category has been retained and will be rewarded by a World Cup. The Open category is still on the programme to enable motorbikes to race outside the championship.
The chief innovation on the Bugatti circuit is the Garage Vert corner. It has undergone a major revamp to improve safety for the riders and give the spectators a better view. It has been moved and redesigned without its layout being changed. The result? The Bugatti circuit has increased in length by a few metres and now measures 4,185 kms.
As in 2007, the field consist of the best in the world of endurance: 18 of the 20 permanent teams in the 2008 Endurance World Championship have entered. In total there are more entries than grid places, as proved by the attached list of requests. The ACO received 63 entry forms for practice on 17th/18th April, but only 56 bikes will be allowed to start on Saturday 19th April at 15h00.
Among them are 34 Formula EWCs, 25 Superstocks and 4 Open bikes. The French teams are the most numerous (22 in EWC and Supersport and 2 in the Open category). The team to beat in EWC will be the SERT outfit (Suzuki GSX-R 1000) 1st and 2nd in 2007 and the reigning world champion. Its rider line-up is the same: Philippe/Lagrive/Da Costa on no. 1 and Costes/Dietrich/Neukirchner on no.2.
Suzuki and Yamaha will be on an equal footing numerically speaking although the bikes will be shared out differently between EWC and Superstock: 12 and 9 for Suzuki and 14 and 7 for Yamaha respectively including GMT 94 (winner in 2005) in EWC. Kawasaki will have 5 bikes in EWC (including one for Kawasaki France entrusted to the rapid trio Giabbani/Mazuecos/Nigon with Tiberio in reserve) and 5 in Superstock. Honda has entered 2 bikes in EWC (including the National Moto Team victorious in 2006) and 4 in Superstock.
There is also a single MV Augusta that will race in the full 2008 Endurance World Championship in EWC, plus a Ducati and a Metiss in Open, without forgetting the 2 works flat-twin BMWs that are out to do much better than in 2007.

Finally, the French Honda Cup (reserved for Honda 600 CBRRs) and the race for the Grand Prix golden oldies, the ICGP Series reserved for Yamaha type motorbikes TZ 250 and 350 ccs from 1974 to 1984, will be the curtain raisers to the 24 Hours for Motorcycles.
Rendezvous Saturday 19th April at 15h00 for the start of the 31st Le Mans 24 Hours for Motorcycles on the Bugatti circuit Le Mans.

Find the entry list

Find the provisionnal scedule


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