EWC Championship on the line at Most this weekend

2021 EWC Final – 6 Hours of Most

This weekend will see the Endurance World Championship add a new circuit to the championship, visiting the Czech Republic for the season finale at the 6 Hours of Most. The title’s still on the line too, with the battle going down to the line between a factory team and a privateer effort, with runner-up spots in both the EWC and Superstock classes also up for grabs.

That’s a battle for the 2021 FIM EWC title between a factory team with 16 titles under their belt and a privateer team who have steadily been making their way up through the ranks season after season.

A tie-up between the Japanese team Yoshimura Suzuki and Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, Yoshimura SERT Motul is a ‘new’ team in 2021, but it is a combination of two historic names in Endurance. Yoshimura – a lead player and four-time winner of the Suzuka 8 Hours; and SERT – an endurance specialist with 16 world titles and the reigning champions.

VRD Igol Experiences, a Yamaha-supported independent team, are the only ones in a strong position to challenge Yoshimura SERT Motul for the 2021 title. VRD Igol Experiences – a perfect example of a performance-focused and cohesive team – are in their third season in the EWC class after winning the 2016-2017 FIM Superstock World Cup.

In the saddle of the Bridgestone-shod factory Suzuki, Gregg Black, Xavier Simeon and Sylvain Guintoli will focus on increasing their 36-point lead in the standings. On paper, considering their lead plus the team’s experience and level of performance, the challenger does not stand much of a chance.

But anything is possible in Endurance. Florian Alt, Florian Marino and Nico Terol will go all out in the saddle of the 333 Dunlop-shod Yamaha to seize the slightest chance of winning.

Yoshimura SERT Motul have won two out of three races this season but like most of the factory teams, they had a run of bad luck in Portugal.

VRD Igol Experiences have stuck to a tried and tested method to win big points in all three races and are now in a position to possibly win their first world title. However they will also have to fend off three factory teams wanting to end the season with a win and finish on the highest possible step in the world rankings.

F.C.C. TSR Honda France, who won at Estoril but were forced to withdraw at the Bol d’Or, are the next best placed factory backed team, only 16-points behind VRD Igol Experiences.

Webike SRC Kawasaki France Trickstar and BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, who were also forced to withdraw at the Bol d’Or, are close behind.

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Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director

“The finale will once again be really exciting with the intense six-hour race at Most. The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team has done some outstanding work this season and has been one of the teams battling for the world championship title. Retiring due to technical problems at Le Castellet was certainly a setback, but that can always happen in endurance racing – what we saw on more than one occasion at Le Castellet. However, we still have the chance to reach the rostrum in the overall world championship standings. A world championship podium would be just reward for the entire team and for the riders, after all their efforts in this project and I know that they will give their all to round off the season with this success.”

Another team worth watching is the privateer Yamaha-mounted Moto Ain, who finished second at the Bol d’Or. They are sixth in the overall standings, ahead of the German team Motobox Kremer, the factory Ducati team ERC Endurance who are making progress despite being forced to withdraw at the Bol d’Or. Maco Racing Team are also continuing their progress with Anthony West, and there’s the YART–Yamaha Official EWC Team too.

Mandy Kainz – YART Yamaha Official EWC Team, Team Principal

“Most was a last-minute decision from our promoters Eurosport, but I guess we will have an advantage! We didn’t know that our final race would take place in the Czech Republic, but we participated in the World Superbike round with Marvin and Karel who were both stunning. Marvin was inside the top ten and Karel showed good pace too despite using Pirelli tyres. It’s true that we’re going into this round a little bit blind because we haven’t tried the track with the Bridgestone tyres, but I’m confident that our package will be strong. We have nothing to lose after what has been a very difficult season; we’ve been one of the fastest teams, but we’ve also been the unluckiest so for that reason our goal for Most is no different and that’s a podium finish. We have nothing to lose because we’re not in a championship fight and therefore our target is clear. We’re going to Most to bring a trophy home!”

Currently tenth in the world rankings, the Austrian factory Yamaha team were regularly among the front runners in tests and the early stages of races, and will try to climb onto the podium for the first time this season.

World Cup Superstock

While the FIM Endurance World Cup reserved for Superstock teams has already been won by BMRT 3D Maxxess Nevers, the battle for the runner-up spots will be hotly fought.

Often seen on the Superstock podium, Italy’s No Limits Motor Team are the best placed to claim second place in the overall standings. Falcon Racing and Team 18 Sapeurs-Pompiers CMS Motostore are also likely to be at the front of the field in the Czech Republic.

Free practice and qualifying will take place from 9 am onwards on Thursday 7 October in Most. During the double-header weekend also featuring a round of the FIA WTCR, the 6 Hours of Most, the final of the 2021 FIM EWC, will be flagged off at 11 am on Saturday 9 October.

2021 FIM EWC-Teams Ranking

2021 FIM World Cup Superstock Teams Ranking

2021 6 Hours of Most entry list