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Tecmas-MRP-BMW as leader at the Spa 24 Hours

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Green lights for Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team, the Bourges team before the Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours, the second step of the Worldwide Cup of Endurance in Superstock.

After it’s tremendous and historical victory at the Mans 24 Hours, Arnaud Sassone team is more than ever the people to fight. And we may believe than a good half dozen of teams, both with their means and ambitions, will do everything they can to do so. Nevertheless, being at the top at a first Superstock challenge seemed almost to easy for Tecmas. Almost natural as the displayed superiority of BMW M1000 RR n°9 during the weekly Mans’ battles was an evidence.

A race (almost) perfect for the team on a strategic plan as well as on the track for the three pilots: Kenny Foray, Jan Bühn and Loïc Arbel, hardly worried by a small problem of battery and traction-control.

 

It remains now to “confirm” on the spectacular track of the Belgium Ardennes. Which is not exactly the easiest as their can be many risks during a 24 hours race. A flat tire, a mechanical problem, a runway of the track and everything can change since in Endurance, no need to shout “victory” until you have actually passed under the checkered flag! By the way, to pass under the checkered flag in the small world of Endurance, for bikes like for cars it’s already a first victory? That’s what is told…

BMW calms at Spa

A race which can be only almost perfect as, like Arnaud Sassone said at the Mans debriefing: “to be even more secured, we must work again on the petrol consumption to win one or two relays during the 24 hours”. It is true that in the Sarthe, the n°9 had stayed 41’54’’ in total at the stand against 36’15” and 38’30” for the two other teams which acceded to the podium: the Yamaha n°36 (Art Best of Bike) and the Honda n°44 (No Limits). Nothing really exceptional, nor impossible to overcome.

Christian ragot

At Spa, on the longest track of this Worldwide Cup (6,985 km), the race strategy will still be primordial. Congratulated by the German BMW management, two hundred per cent supported by Werner Daemen and official BMW team running in EWC, the Bourges team is definitely inclined to keep with this winning dynamism. To reinforce its convictions, Arnaud Sassone reminds that “BMW has often been attractive at Spa; like the scratch victory of the BMW n°37 of the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team last year, the same one which got the third place this year at Le Mans EWC with Reitberger, Mykhalchyk and Guarnoni. The Tecmas three pilots following their leader Kenny Foray, are a homogeneous team, rapid et able to bring back precise information to the engineers. They are also at their best form and completely motivated. Since the Mans victory, besides the track record in …Taiwan for BMW, Kenny Foray has also succeeded at the Superbike French championship at Lédenon, approaching at three point of the leader Di Meglio at the “general”. Still in the Gard, Loïc Arbel has been on a nice podium with the 600 Supersport when Jan Bühn has multiplied the track-days participation for German manufacturer to keep the “rhythm”. 

The three of them know the Ardennes track. Kenny was at the 2022 qualification on the BMW n°37 which wan the race on EWC, when Loïc Arbel finished second at the scratch on the Kawasaki of the Tati Team, associated to Alan Techer. Finally, Jan Bühn run regularly on the Spa track since many years.

For the three pilots, the main word will be: 1. Do not go to the mistake! 2. Keep a constant “rhythm” during 24 hours together with taking care of the mechanic for just what is necessary. 3. Obtain as many points as possible like at le Mans, keeping in mind that being at the lead at the 8th then at the 16th hour of the race, like it happened at the 24 Hours of le Mans, equal each time 12 points more for the general classification. Now, it’s at Tecmas to ensure it’s favorite part!

Infos Plus

 

SCHEDULE.

Friday 16th/06: from 10 to 11 a.m.: free trails. From 12 to 2 p.m. and 3:15 to 5:15 p.m.: qualification tests. From 9 to 11 p.m.: night tests.

 

Saturday 18th/06:  from 11.30 a.m. to 12.30 a.m.: pit walk.

2 p.m.: departure of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

 

Sunday 18th/06: Arrival of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps

 

 

WORLDWIDE SUPERSTOCK CUP: 

  1. Tecmas-MRP BMW Racing Team: 64 points

  2. Art Best of Bike Yamaha: 53 points

  3. Chromeburner-RAC 41 Honda: 40 points

  4. Honda No Limit: 38 points

  5. Junior Team LMS Suzuki: 35 points; etc.​

Texte : Christian Ragot
Photos : Stéphane Valembois
English translation: Josette Borne

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