Historic victory for Kawasaki #11

The finish of the 2011 24 Hours Moto. Under a blue sky with fans celebrating in the grandstands to welcome 41 finishers and especially the #11, the SRC Kawasaki team.

This is a first: never before has a crew won twice in a row at the 24 Hours Moto on the same machine, in the same team and with the same number. SRC Kawasaki  ZX10-R #11 and especially Julien Da Costa, Gregory Leblanc and Olivier Four, they enter the history of this legendary event at the 34th edition as victors, crossing the finish line on Sunday at 3pm. They enjoyed exceptional weather and set their track record in beating the distance record with 834 laps at an average of about 146 km / h.

Dominique Méliand , boss of the SERT, also managed a coup by placing the Suzuki #1 on the second step of the podium as he was without his two top drivers, Vincent Philippe and Freddy Foray. But the "Chef", as it is known in the paddock, has done wonders with strategic choices and bold riders. The young Baptiste Guittet will remember ...

Speaking of young driver, Loris Baz also ade an impression. Replacng Gwen Giabanni on the Yamaha Monster YART #7, he had never participated in a 24 hour race. That did not stop him settng the second fastest time of all test sessions. At the tender age of 18 years he took his machine to the third place of the 24 Heures Moto with his team mates Igor Jerman and Steve Martin, despite a fall early in the race.

The big losers in this race are undoubtedly the team BMW Motorrad France #99 who were favourites after dominating all qualifying sessions but eventually placed seventh due to technical problems during the night and the Yamaha France GMT 94 Ipone forced to retire after three falls including a very violent one at the entrance to the Dunlop curve.

This podium surprise means the Endurance World Championship is still undecided. SERT will arrive in Qatar on November 12 for the 8 Hours of Doha as a leader with 9 points ahead of the #99 BMW.

Photo: Bugatti Circuit (Le Mans), Le Mans 24 Hours, 25 September 2011. Kawasaki SRC Team