The Bol d’Or’s return to the Paul Ricard circuit proved to be a real crowd-pleaser, with 74,000 spectators turning out to watch the hotly contested race. The Kawasaki SRC team won the race, while SERT was crowned FIM EWC world champion.
While spectators are having fun and enjoying the party vibe at the Bol d’Or, riders continue lapping through the night. Reduced visibility and enhanced engine performance are among the elements the night holds in store.
16 hours into the race on the Paul Ricard circuit, five brands (Honda, Kawasaki, BMW, Yamaha and Suzuki) are occupying the five top spots of the 79th Bol d’Or. The night’s biggest beneficiary was the Honda Endurance Racing Team, which took the lead just before 3am.
Junior Team LMS Suzuki, leader of the Superstock category and ahead of the others at the start of the race, retired in the early evening. The team’s exit gave fresh impetus to its rivals, Tati Team Beaujolais Racing and Team Traqueur Louit Moto 33, who are lapping right behind bottom spot on the podium.
Several developments and a drama shook up the order of the race’s leading pack early this morning on the Paul Ricard circuit. Team Kawasaki SRC is the current frontrunner, with a two-lap lead over GMT94 Yamaha and SERT five laps behind.
BMW Motorrad France Team Penz13.com set the fastest time in the warm up on the Paul Ricard circuit this morning, ahead of pole-sitter Team SRC Kawasaki.
The Bol d’Or’s return to the sunny south of France lived up to its promise. The race got off to a fast and furious start before Team Kawasaki SRC settled into the lead.
Suzuki Endurance Racing Team and Honda Endurance Racing have been waging a superb battle for the lead for the past few hours at the Bol d’Or after a turbulent start to the race.
The 79th Bol d’Or was flagged off at 3pm in brilliant sunshine on the Paul Ricard circuit at Castellet. The favourites took the lead from the outset. At 11pm, SERT’s Suzuki was firmly in the lead, with several incidents punctuating the first eight hours of the race.
Together with SERT, Bolliger Team Switzerland is one of the oldest teams competing in the endurance world championship. Third in the 2015 provisional classification, Bolliger Team Switzerland is fuelled by passion and the commitment of its founder Hanspeter Bolliger and its array of volunteers.
