EWC title contenders assemble as Bol d’or gets 45 entries

Forty-five teams will contest next week’s FIM Endurance World Championship season decider, the 87th edition of the legendary Bol d’Or.

Of the packed entry, 34 squads are permanent EWC entrants with 14 of those contesting the Formula EWC category and 20 chasing success in the Dunlop-supplied Superstock division. Here are just some of the entry highlights.

Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team: Topping the entry as the defending EWC champion, the Austria-based outfit also heads the provisional 2024 title standings after three rounds with riders Niccolò Canepa, Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika. However, with a slender six-point lead over Yoshimura SERT Motul, a second straight EWC crown is far from secure.

Tati Team Beringer Racing: The leading independent entrant in its first season with Honda power, Tati Team Beringer Racing famously led last year’s Bol d’Or with new recruit Randy Krummenacher onboard. The Swiss remains a key component of the Tati line-up along with Hugo Clère and Corentin Perolari.

Yoshimura SERT Motul: After winning the 86th Bol d’Or, Suzuki-powered Yoshimura SERT Motul can count on the same line-up that banked victory in the season-opening 24 Heures Motos with Gregg Black returning from injury and Étienne Masson switching back from Team Suzuki CN Challenge, for whom he raced at Suzuka last month. Dan Linfoot, a new signing for 2024, starts the Bol d’Or with a 100 per cent podium record to maintain.

National Motos Honda FMA: Having endured Superstock title heartbreak in the 2023 Bol d’Or, stalwart EWC entrant National Motos Honda FMA returns to the event on a high, leading the Dunlop-equipped category by 53 points. But with its lowest score to drop and 65 points up for grabs, the French outfit will have to remain on its guard with 3ART Best of Bike, Chromeburner-RAC 41-Honda, Team Étoile and Team Aviobike by M2 Revo chasing hard.

After coming so close to winning the FIM Endurance World Cup for Teams in 2023, Chromeburner-RAC 41-Honda has brought in Diego Poncet, a successful racer in his native France, for the season finale.

EWC BOL D’OR 2024 ENTRY: THE KEY NUMBERS

45: Entrants
34: Permanent EWC teams
9: Former Bol d’Or winners
11: EWC champions past and present

FORMULA EWC TEAMS HOPING FOR BOL D’OR HIGH

Team Bolliger Switzerland heads to the Bol d’Or on course for a fine top-five finish in the FIM Endurance World Championship for Teams, while Grégory Leblanc is set for a hero’s welcome as he battles back from a broken leg, sustained at Suzuka last month, to return to the Kawasaki Webike Trickstar attack. KM99 features former Bol d’Or winner Jérémy Guarnoni in its Yamaha-powered line-up, while Honda Viltaïs Racing can count on two former winners, Florian Alt and Steven Odendaal.

BMRT3D maxxess Nevers, an overall Bol d’Or podium finisher in the past, is preparing to complete its maiden Formula EWC campaign. Maco Racing Team and Motobox Kremer Racing are long-standing Formula EWC entrants aiming for the category top 10.

F.C.C. TSR Honda France, which last won the EWC title in 2022, has endured a trying 2024 season, making a strong Bol d’Or result a key target. Wójcik Racing Team is set to field its all-Polish rider line-up for the second time this season. Mana-au Competition completes the Formula EWC entry with BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team calling on reserve rider Hannes Soomer in place of Sylvain Guintoli, who has withdrawn for personal reasons.

EWC SUPERSTOCK SQUADS GET SET FOR BOL D’OR ACTION

Team Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore has recruited former EWC champion Mathieu Gines for the Superstock season finale, JMA Racing Action Bike has added Jan Mohr to its Suzuki-powered squad, while Matthieu Gregorio joins Team 33 Louit April Moto, the outgoing title-winning Superstock entrant.

Dorian Laville joins Team Players, Adrien Lepine is a new recruit for Uniserv Moto82 with Yvan Laetzig joining TCP Racing. Pitlane Endurance – JP3 brings in Luca Vitali as Eemeli Lahti switches back to TRT27 AZ Moto, for whom he made his EWC debut in last season’s Bol d’Or. Joe Akroyd makes his second start of the season for ADSS 97. The Honda No Limits, Tecmas and Team 202 squads will also chase EWC points, as will Junior Team LMS Suzuki and Team Racing 85 by Soleane and Team Slider Endurance.

The 87th Bol d’Or takes place from 12-15 September. Click HERE for ticket information.