Broken chain ends Bol d'Or podium push for SERT

SERT’s chances of a podium finish at the weekend’s Bol d’Or came to a crushing end when a broken chain cost the team valuable time on Sunday morning.

The Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, with riders Vincent Philippe, Etienne Mason, and Gregg Black, had been fighting in and around the top-three for much of the 24-hour race, leading at various points.

A brake issue earlier in the race – just after SERT had taken the lead for a second time – cost them time, along with two stop-and-go penalties for pushing the bike outside of the designated area and a pit box infringement, before the chain derailment ended hopes of a podium finish.

However, in the same fighting spirit that has seen the team amass 15 EWC titles, all three riders kept fighting and recovered to seventh place at the chequered flag.

SERT were also campaigning the new GSX-R1000 for the first time, and despite the disappointing end to the race – which saw just 29 of the 59 starters make it to the finish – learned much about the new bike’s potential.

Team manager, Dominique Hébrard, commented, “We were aware of the new Suzuki GSX-R1000 capacities during qualifying, but for this, we were venturing a little bit into the unknown and now we are looking forward to the next round.”

SERT’s chances of a podium finish at the weekend’s Bol d’Or came to a crushing end when a broken chain cost the team valuable time on Sunday morning.

The Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, with riders Vincent Philippe, Etienne Mason, and Gregg Black, had been fighting in and around the top-three for much of the 24-hour race, leading at various points.

However, in the same fighting spirit that has seen the team amass 15 EWC titles, all three riders kept fighting and recovered to seventh place at the chequered flag.