The Yoshimura SERT Motul squad (Suzuki Endurance Racing Team) has won the opening round of the 2022 FIM Endurance World Championship. The 24 Heures Motos this year marks the second time that the French-based motorcycle racing outfit has won at the coveted Bugatti Circuit of Le Mans on board their endurance-winning machine, the Suzuki GSX-R1000R.
This is quite a confidence boost for the defending world champion which its line-up includes Sylvain Guintoli, Xavier Simeon, and Gregg Black. It was a tough race, particularly against its closest rival of the race, the YART – Yamaha Official Team EWC, where both teams clocked an impressive 840 laps.
The Yamaha race team was less than two minutes behind the 16-time world champion, which was an amazing effort coming from the likes of Karel Hanika, Marvin Fritz, and Niccolo Canepa. 14 laps behind in the third place is the F.C.C. TSR Honda France squad, also another favourite for 2022.
This goes to show that the Suzuki GSX-R1000R might be a bit dated against its more advanced competitors, but you can never rule them out, especially in endurance racing. More racing action from the 2022 FIM Endurance World Championship to commence in the first week of June where the second round will take place at another legendary track, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
