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A Decisive Round for the 2008 Title
Issued 27th August 2008
 Bol d’Or the 13th and 14th of September at Magny-Cours
Fifth round of the Qtel FIM Endurance World Championship, the Bol d’Or will certainly be decisive and breath-taking.
As there are sixty-five points left to allocate during the last two rounds of the season, of which thirty-five for Magny-Cours and the last thirty for Doha, in Qatar.
The current World Champion and Series leader Suzuki Endurance Racing Team leads by only thirty-one points over Yamaha Austria Racing Team and thirty-five over Team Kawasaki France.
The battle between those three teams will be the central spot of the next 24 Hours race.
On the GSX-R number 1, Suzuki keeps the same usual trio, Vincent Philippe, who recovered after his Suzuka injuries, Julien Da Costa and Matthieu Lagrive. Kawasaki France will start with the recent winning trio in Germany, Julian Mazuecos, Erwan Nigon and Ivan Silva.
Last but not least, Yamaha Austria reinforced its team (Igor Jerman and Steve Martin) with one of its previous pillars, Gwen Giabbani.
Let’s not forget about Phase One Endurance, who recruited Jörg Teuchert to complete the team with Damian Cudlin and Graeme Gowland.
There is also the Le Mans winner, Suzuki 2 with Guillaume Dietrich, William Costes and Olivier Four.
 The come back of Olivier Four with Suzuki resulted in various changes in the teams. Initially planned with Yamaha Austria, Olivier Four is now with the SERT. Then, expected on the Honda National Motos, Gwen Giabbani is back with YART.
On the National Motos, he will be replaced by Josep Monge, seen at the beginning of the season on the MV Agusta Midi-Pyrénées. Patrick Piot, another former MV Agusta rider, will ride the Yamaha Endurance 38 with Cyril Brivet.
In the Superstock class, the battle should occur between Le Mans winner Suzuki Junior Team, FIM World Cup leader Qatar Endurance Racing IJT and serious contender Yamaha LTG 57.
In the Open Class, BMW Motorrad enters their two HP2 Sport.
They will compete against the Birh Metiss and two 1098R from the Ducati Endurance Racing Team.
The Honda Moto Revue will definitely catch a lot of attention. On this CBR 1000 RR, engaged in the Superstock class under the number 60, Honda France and Moto Revue magazine enter with Jean-Michel Bayle, Sébastien Charpentier and Moto Revue’s editor Thierry Traccan.
“Ten Kate did the engine and chassis for us”, said Honda France Racing Manager Bernard Rigoni, “but we go there without any pressure. We just want to pay a tribute to Honda 60 years old birthday and prepare the official comeback of Honda in World Endurance.”
“In 2009, we will be at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Bol d’Or”.
The first qualifying session will take place on Thursday, September 11th, for this 72nd Bol d’Or.
For information visit www.fimendurance.com
Last Race of the season November 8th - Qatar - Doha/Losail 8 H
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