@cdnsuperbike v @KennyRiedmann42 • Canadian Kenny Riedmann did more than just survive the79th running of the Bol D’Or 24 hour classic endurance event, held at Circuit Paul Richard in the South of France last weekend, September 19 and 20. The two-time and reigning CSBK Hindle Pro Sport Bike national champion put up a very strong showing aboard the Atomic Motosport Suzuki GSX-R1000, his squad placing ninth overall, two laps ahead of tenth position, and fifth in the Superstock category.
In front of an announced attendance of 74,000 spectators, Riedmann got the honor of taking the final stint, the Suzuki in for a splash of fuel and a rider change 15 minutes from the finish.
“There are no words to explain how crazy things were on the last lap, on the cool off lap, on the way into the pits,” explained Riedmann. “I couldn’t take it all in. The atmosphere, the enthusiasm, this is something you really have to see to believe.”
Conditions for the sometimes storm-lashed event, which returned to the south of France this year to try and take advantage of better weather, were reasonably warm and sunny (23 degrees) during the day and 12 degrees, somewhat damp, at night.
With usual lead rider and former World Superbike ace Giovanni Bussei sidelined with an injured shoulder, Riedmann was a last-minute addition to the “Atomic 68” effort. Riedmann frequently did double stints, almost always staying out on used tires.
Atomic’s data engineer considered Riedmann’s ability to handle a full fuel load and worn tire to be critical, Riedmann running within two seconds of his new tire/light fuel qualifying time for his 40 minute stints. The team used a physiotherapist and two massage therapists to keep the riders in reasonable shape, the pilots not allowed to sleep during the duration of the 24 hours.
The team also performed a couple of major services on the bike during the course of the event: for instance, changing the entire caliper – not just the brake pads!
Typically, the team’s Pirelli-shod GSX-R1000 Superstock entry would pull a top speed of between 310 and 315 km/h on the famously long and challenging (and sometimes campfire smoke-shrouded) Mistral straight, but at times slipstreaming could add to that outright speed number. Riedmann got one double draft to run an amazing 339.4 km/h through the traps!
The event was won by the SRC Kawasaki of Fabien Foret, Gregory Leblanc and Matthieu Lagrive, the team’s fourth straight Bol D’Or overall Superbike class success. The team made a total of 27 pit stops over 684 laps of the 5.8 km long Circuit Paul Richard, and won by over two laps after a day and night of competition.
Second spot belonged to outgoing World Endurance Champs GMT94 Yamaha, David Checa, Kenny Foray and Matheiu Gines at the controls of their YZF-R1, completing 682 laps. Third overall, and taking this year’s World Endurance Championship, was SERT (Suzuki Endurance Racing Team) with a GSX-R1000 piloted by Vincent Philippe, Anthony Delhalle and Etienne Masson, with a total of 677 laps.
Honda Endurance Racing Team of Julien Da Costa, Freddy Foray and Sebastien Gimbert led much of the race, but retired with engine issues at 10 AM Sunday morning.
Top Superstock squad was fourth overall Tati team Beaujolais Racing, their Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja turning a total of 673 laps. The biggest difference between the two 1000 cc classes, Superbike and Superstock, involved quick-change setups in SBK but not STK, so the Superstock runners made fewer tire changes.
From: Colin Fraser/ Professional Motorsports Productions
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