The 2018 Suzuka 8 Hours, a very special edition for the world of Endurance
6 min. read
28/07/2018
The World Endurance Championship finale takes place this weekend at the 8 Hours of Suzuka, and it is a very special edition. Tomorrow will see the final race for a flagship Endurance team, the three-time world champion French team led by Christophe Guyot: GMT94.
A major name in Endurance is saying goodbye to the discipline: GMT94 has decided to end its commitment to the World Championship. Yet, the team has never been more successful than it is at this moment: on the eve of the final round of the 2018 season, GMT94 is in contention for the crown. Before this, over the last five years, GMT94 has won 2 World Championship titles (2014 and 2017) and finished third (2013, 2015, 2016). GMT94 also boasts an impressive record of 17 World Championship victories, including a record six wins at Oschersleben in Germany, as well as 3 wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 2 at the Bol d'Or.
The beautiful GMT94 team, 2018 edition! (Credits: Good-Shoot.com and GMT94)[/caption]
GMT94 is a story of passion and hard work that began in Ivry-sur-Seine in the Val-de-Marne and resulted in an unconventional journey. Christophe Guyot began racing as a competition rider in France in 1988. Three years later, in 1991, he founded the GMT94 team and took on the dual role of rider and team manager. He entered the Superbike World Championship that year and also began competing in Endurance races the following year. In speed racing, Christophe Guyot became French Superbike Champion in 1998, remaining to this day the only rider to have won this title on a privateer bike against factory machines. In Endurance, 1999 marked the team's first pole position (Oschersleben) and first podium (Estoril). The year 2000 finally brought the team's first victory (Oschersleben). In 2001, GMT94 made a major statement and asserted its uniqueness by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Never before had a privateer team competed with the team manager on the handlebars! It was in 2003 that the adventure in the World Endurance Championship reached a new milestone: after competing as a privateer team with Honda, Kawasaki, and Suzuki bikes, GMT94 began a partnership with Yamaha France and became one of the two official Yamaha Racing teams competing in the World Endurance Championship, alongside the Yamaha Austria Racing Team (YART). 2003 also saw David Checa join the team as a rider. This transitional period paid off: GMT94 became World Endurance Champion in 2004 for the first time in its history. At the end of this highly successful season, Christophe Guyot retired from racing and decided to focus exclusively on his role as team manager. The Yamaha era continued successfully until the 2018 season: all titles and victories were won on a Yamaha R1.
[caption id="attachment_6573" align="alignnone" width="978"]
Simple things are often the best. A brief, friendly exchange and photo with Christophe Guyot at WorldSBK 2017 in Magny-Cours! (Credits: Nicolas Bassand)[/caption]
On his Yamaha R6 in the 2018 Supersport World Championship, Corentin Perolari received brand support on the starting grid of the Italian round: he was accompanied by Eric de Seynes, president of Yamaha Motor Europe. (Credits: PhotoPSP.com and GMT94)[/caption]
Incredible view of the Suzuka circuit during the night tests! (Credits: EWC)[/caption]
First of all, the points scored count double for this finale in Suzuka, and this has been the case since Eurosport Events took over the promotion of the championship: so there is a lot to gain or lose in the standings!
In addition, the factory bikes of the Japanese brands that do not participate in the rest of the World Championship are allowed for this race, with regulations allowing differences in terms of engine, electronics, tires, and riders! For the composition of their teams, the factories that only participate in the Suzuka race generally combine a Japanese rider with two riders from the speed championships, WorldSBK, or sometimes MotoGP. For example, this year Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam can be found alongside Kazuma Watanabe in the Kawasaki Team Green team, or Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark alongside Katsuyuki Nakasuga in the Yamaha Factory Racing Team.
In reality, there are therefore two races in Suzuka. On one side, the Japanese factories entered solely for this event fight for prestige, honor (Japanese), and marketing, of course. On the other side, the permanent teams play for their place in the final championship standings.
The GMT94 R1 in its special livery accompanied by the 1998 R1. (Credits: Yamaha Racing)[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_6577" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
For this anniversary, the family photo is complete with the addition of the YART R1 #7 and the Yamaha Factory Racing Team R1 #21! (Credits: Yamaha Racing)[/caption]
For the GMT94 bikes, this special livery was created by William Charbonnier from the French workshop Wad'z. A paint genius in charge of the GMT94 bikes since 2004, Wad'z paints bikes but also helmets. He takes care of the helmets of many riders, with prestigious names like Lucas Mahias or Kenny Foray.
Back to the present: here we are. Tomorrow is when everything happens, in the heat and humidity of Suzuka. On this mythical track, the three GMT94 riders will try to shine one last time on their faithful steed. Dressed in its war paint for its 20th birthday, the R1 is ready to enter the legend once again.
[caption id="attachment_6578" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
During the tests, Mike di Meglio accompanies the R1 a little further on its legendary journey. (Credits: Yamaha Racing)[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_6579" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
From the GMT94 box at the Suzuka circuit, David Checa, surrounded by Mike Di Meglio on his left and Niccolò Canepa on his right, knows the very particular character of this final race with his teammates... (Credits: Yamaha Racing)[/caption]
GMT94: a look back at an extraordinary history
[caption id="attachment_6572" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The beautiful GMT94 team, 2018 edition! (Credits: Good-Shoot.com and GMT94)[/caption]
GMT94 is a story of passion and hard work that began in Ivry-sur-Seine in the Val-de-Marne and resulted in an unconventional journey. Christophe Guyot began racing as a competition rider in France in 1988. Three years later, in 1991, he founded the GMT94 team and took on the dual role of rider and team manager. He entered the Superbike World Championship that year and also began competing in Endurance races the following year. In speed racing, Christophe Guyot became French Superbike Champion in 1998, remaining to this day the only rider to have won this title on a privateer bike against factory machines. In Endurance, 1999 marked the team's first pole position (Oschersleben) and first podium (Estoril). The year 2000 finally brought the team's first victory (Oschersleben). In 2001, GMT94 made a major statement and asserted its uniqueness by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Never before had a privateer team competed with the team manager on the handlebars! It was in 2003 that the adventure in the World Endurance Championship reached a new milestone: after competing as a privateer team with Honda, Kawasaki, and Suzuki bikes, GMT94 began a partnership with Yamaha France and became one of the two official Yamaha Racing teams competing in the World Endurance Championship, alongside the Yamaha Austria Racing Team (YART). 2003 also saw David Checa join the team as a rider. This transitional period paid off: GMT94 became World Endurance Champion in 2004 for the first time in its history. At the end of this highly successful season, Christophe Guyot retired from racing and decided to focus exclusively on his role as team manager. The Yamaha era continued successfully until the 2018 season: all titles and victories were won on a Yamaha R1.
[caption id="attachment_6573" align="alignnone" width="978"] Simple things are often the best. A brief, friendly exchange and photo with Christophe Guyot at WorldSBK 2017 in Magny-Cours! (Credits: Nicolas Bassand)[/caption]
Supersport in sight
GMT94 is leaving Endurance at the end of the 2018 season, but competition is at the heart of its DNA and there is no question of stopping there: for 2019, the team will focus 100% on the Supersport World Championship. The stated ambition is to become a development team, taking charge of the training and future of talented young riders eager to reach the highest level. As it has done in Endurance, Christophe Guyot will build a team with the goal of winning the world title, with all the motivation and energy that have characterized GMT94 since its inception, but also capitalizing on the experience gained over the years. There will be 2 riders entered for the 2019 season, and their names have not yet been revealed. In the 2018 season, GMT94 is already competing in the Supersport World Championship, but certainly not with the level of commitment the team would like: this is mainly due to calendar issues. The World Endurance Championship calendar has a limited number of rounds (5 rounds this season), and riders generally compete in other championships outside of Endurance for financial reasons and/or training needs. Regarding GMT94's riders, David Checa competes in the Spanish Championship, Niccolò Canepa is a test rider in the Superbike World Championship, and Mike Di Meglio participated in a few races in the Supersport World Championship before being replaced for this part of the job by young Corentin Perolari. But since Eurosport Events became the promoter of the World Endurance Championship in 2015, the season organization and race dates have been rearranged: for the 2018 season, 3 out of 5 rounds of the World Endurance Championship (Le Mans, Slovakia Ring, Oschersleben) unfortunately took place during Superbike World Championship and Supersport Championship race weekends (Netherlands, Italy, Czech Republic). Away from Endurance from 2019 onwards, GMT94 will therefore be able to focus fully on its goal in Supersport. [caption id="attachment_6574" align="alignnone" width="1024"] On his Yamaha R6 in the 2018 Supersport World Championship, Corentin Perolari received brand support on the starting grid of the Italian round: he was accompanied by Eric de Seynes, president of Yamaha Motor Europe. (Credits: PhotoPSP.com and GMT94)[/caption]
The 8 Hours of Suzuka: a special race under the dominance of the Japanese factories
While these 8 Hours of Suzuka have a special value for GMT94, the race also has a special flavor for the 63 other teams entered: simply because it is the 8 Hours of Suzuka, the only race in the championship that differs in organization and stakes. [caption id="attachment_6575" align="alignnone" width="682"] Incredible view of the Suzuka circuit during the night tests! (Credits: EWC)[/caption]
First of all, the points scored count double for this finale in Suzuka, and this has been the case since Eurosport Events took over the promotion of the championship: so there is a lot to gain or lose in the standings!
In addition, the factory bikes of the Japanese brands that do not participate in the rest of the World Championship are allowed for this race, with regulations allowing differences in terms of engine, electronics, tires, and riders! For the composition of their teams, the factories that only participate in the Suzuka race generally combine a Japanese rider with two riders from the speed championships, WorldSBK, or sometimes MotoGP. For example, this year Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam can be found alongside Kazuma Watanabe in the Kawasaki Team Green team, or Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark alongside Katsuyuki Nakasuga in the Yamaha Factory Racing Team.
In reality, there are therefore two races in Suzuka. On one side, the Japanese factories entered solely for this event fight for prestige, honor (Japanese), and marketing, of course. On the other side, the permanent teams play for their place in the final championship standings.
Happy birthday to the Yamaha R1 and on with GMT94!
Suzuka 2018 is a special race for the Yamaha R1: this year we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of this model on the market! To celebrate this milestone, the three official Yamaha R1s (GMT94, YART, and the Japanese factory team Yamaha Factory Racing Team) that are on track this weekend feature a special paint job. They brilliantly recreate the red and white paint job of the first R1 from 1998: so many memories and nostalgia! [caption id="attachment_6576" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The GMT94 R1 in its special livery accompanied by the 1998 R1. (Credits: Yamaha Racing)[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_6577" align="alignnone" width="1024"] For this anniversary, the family photo is complete with the addition of the YART R1 #7 and the Yamaha Factory Racing Team R1 #21! (Credits: Yamaha Racing)[/caption]
For the GMT94 bikes, this special livery was created by William Charbonnier from the French workshop Wad'z. A paint genius in charge of the GMT94 bikes since 2004, Wad'z paints bikes but also helmets. He takes care of the helmets of many riders, with prestigious names like Lucas Mahias or Kenny Foray.
Back to the present: here we are. Tomorrow is when everything happens, in the heat and humidity of Suzuka. On this mythical track, the three GMT94 riders will try to shine one last time on their faithful steed. Dressed in its war paint for its 20th birthday, the R1 is ready to enter the legend once again.
[caption id="attachment_6578" align="alignnone" width="1024"] During the tests, Mike di Meglio accompanies the R1 a little further on its legendary journey. (Credits: Yamaha Racing)[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_6579" align="alignnone" width="1024"] From the GMT94 box at the Suzuka circuit, David Checa, surrounded by Mike Di Meglio on his left and Niccolò Canepa on his right, knows the very particular character of this final race with his teammates... (Credits: Yamaha Racing)[/caption]
By Nicolas
