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World Endurance race team GB Moto looks forward to a great 2001
2001 looks set to be a great year for World Endurance race team, GB Moto.
The team, launched just in time to enter and qualify for the Bol d'Or in September 2000, was recently granted permanent status for the FIM World Endurance Championship guaranteeing them an entry at each round of the newly expanded series. This year, the Championship will include new six-hour sprints at Brno, Nurburgring and Brands Hatch, the eight hours of Suzuka and the epic 24-hour races at Le Mans, Spa Francorchamps, Oshersleben and the Bol d'Or at Magny Cours.
 Surrey based GB Moto will be racing a Yamaha R1 in the newly created SuperProduction class, hoping to rack enough points to win the first FIM World Cup. The class is open to four cylinder machines up to 1000cc and allows a wide range of chassis modifications, but virtually no engine tuning. Other contenders in the SuperProduction class will be last year's champions, Phase One and runners- up, top French team GMT94. Both teams have put their faith in the new GSX-R1000 - an as yet unproven machine -which could work to GB Moto's advantage. GB Moto's mechanics have vast experience of the tried and trusted Yamaha R1 gained from developing a bike for team riders, Barry Watts and Gareth Piggott to win the UK Endurance series in 1998. The team also used Yamaha power to qualify for their first race at the Bol d'Or last year.
Team rider, Gareth Piggott said: "The new SuperProduction class has attracted the cream of the teams so it almost impossible to make any predictions. However, our team has worked very hard during the winter to build a bike that is capable of powering us to the podium. I'm therefore predicting that we will do very well this year!"
Joining Gareth on the bike for the season-opener, the popular 24-heures du Mans on 14/15 April 2001 is experienced racer, Mark Smith-Halvorsen and reserve rider, Belgian Luc Gysbrechts. Luc is riding in place of Barry Watts who crashed during pre-season testing last week, breaking a collarbone. Barry hopes to be fit enough to ride at Brno in May.
Rider, Mark Smith-Halvorsen explains: "Our pre-season practice at Le Mans went very well with each rider putting in some good times. Barry's crash was unfortunate and he's very angry at missing the first race of the season, but he'll be there in the pit lane to make sure we stay on the pace."
Any endurance fans making the trip to Le Mans are invited to visit the pits and meet the team. Racers, Gareth, Mark, Luc and Barry will be on hand to give an insight into what it takes for three riders and one machine to keep going for 24 incredible hours.
Follow GB Moto throughout the season at www.gbmoto.com
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