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We’ll pull out all the stops to win our FIM EWC 4th world title
2016-2017 FIM EWC winner GMT94 Yamaha head to the Suzuka 8 Hours Grand Finale in late July with a 10-point deficit to F.C.C. TSR Honda France, but also with a steely determination to achieve their overriding goal: holding on to the world title.
The entire GMT94 Yamaha team is 100% focused on the final race of the season – the Suzuka 8 Hours, slated to take place in Japan on 29 July. Last year, having dominated the proceedings all season, the French squad managed by Christophe Guyot picked up their third FIM endurance world championship title win after being crowned world champions on two previous occasions: in 2004 and 2014.
The new season started off well for GMT94 Yamaha, with David Checa, Niccolò Canepa and Mike Di Meglio pulling away to an uncontested win at the Bol d’Or in September 2017. The 24 Heures Motos could have ended in similar fashion, but the team were wiped out as a result of two crashes after leading the race for 16 hours.
GMT94 Yamaha have been striving to make up for lost time ever since Le Mans, finishing 2nd at the 8 Hours of Slovakia Ring and 3rd at the 8 Hours of Oschersleben. But F.C.C. TSR Honda France have managed to keep them at bay. Their duel will end in Japan at the end of July.
Christophe Guyot gave us his thoughts on the final face-off of the FIM EWC season. – What’s your strategy for the Suzuka 8 Hours? “No particular strategy. As with every race, we’ll have to work it out depending on rider performance, race incidents and how things pan out.” – What are your biggest strengths in this face-off with F.C.C. TSR Honda France at Suzuka? “Our highly motivated riders and a new Dunlop rear tyre, from which we got excellent performance on a very hot track in both Slovakia and Germany.” – Are you getting support from Yamaha Racing to defend your position in the FIM EWC standings? “We have no technical agreement with Yamaha Japan. The #21 Yamaha Factory is geared to win this round, which is basically a manufacturers’ race. EWC regulations allow them to showcase technology that we have no access to.”
Either way, GMT94 Yamaha – who made it to the top step of the Suzuka 8 Hours podium in 2012 – are doing everything in their power to win the battle against F.C.C. TSR Honda France. The French team will be in Japan in early July for a three-day test at Suzuka. “We’ll pull out all the stops to win our 4th world title,” vows Christophe Guyot.