So near and yet so far at Suzuka

BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent's Sébastien Gimbert, Damian Cudlin and Erwan Nigon looked all set to claim an historic podium finish in today's Suzuka 8 Hours race, until an electrical problem saw them drop from second to tenth in the last 40 minutes of the race. Starting from 11th on the grid, the #99 BMW S1000RR made steady progress during the first six hours, benefitting from consistency of pace and a number of retirements from the front of the race to eventually move up into third place.The team were promoted one more place when Vincent Philippe on the championship leading SERT bike crashed out of second place as the race entered the final hour. With just 50 minutes to go BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent looked certain to secure a first podium finish at Suzuka for a European manufacturer, and take the lead in the championship standings as a result.Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. Just a few minutes after taking second place the #99 BMW S1000RR had to pit in with an electrical issue which the team didn't have time to remedy in the time remaining. Instead, Gimbert was despatched to do the best job he could in the final 40 minutes, on a bike that was now 20 seconds off the pace of the leaders.The reigning French Superbike Champion fought as hard as possible, and was often well over the limit, but was unable to hold off challenges from behind and eventually had to settle for ninth place at the chequered flag. The riders and the team were obviously disappointed to miss out on a podium finish, but will take consolation from the fact that they have closed the gap to the leaders in the championship standings.BMW Motorrad France Team Thevent will return to action at round four of the Endurance World Championship, the 8 Hours of Oschersleben in Germany, which takes place from 9 - 12 August.Erwan Nigon: "Today I have experienced the biggest disappointment of my career so far. To finish second at Suzuka behind a full factory bike, ridden by the likes of Rea, Akiyoshi and Okada, would be like a victory for us, but it wasn't to be. In racing you win some, like we did at Qatar, and you lose some, like we did here today, but knowing that doesn't make it any easier to accept. The team did a great job and we rode a near perfect race for seven and a half hours, only to lose out to a minor electrical problem within sight of the chequered flag. Unbelievable. Sébastien did a brave ride at the end, to salvage ninth position and the all-important championship points."Damian Cudlin: "A podium finish at Suzuka is something that you dream about as a rider, something that you'll be boring your kids with for years, so I'm devastated to have got close enough to taste it only to miss out in the last 40 minutes. We rode a textbook race, made no mistakes and we were in sight of the podium when I came in to hand over to Seb for the final run. We knew there was something wrong as soon as he started the bike and, sure enough, he was straight back in after one lap. There wasn't time to start pulling the bike apart, so he went back out on a bike around 100km/h down on top speed compared to the competition. It must have been scary for him out there, but he held it together and brought it home in the top ten, when I was convinced we weren't even going to finish."Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal "Once again we are reminded that racing has its highs, but it also has its lows. We came so close to a remarkable result today, but it just wasn't to be. All three riders and everyone in the team did an outstanding job this weekend and, but for some bad luck right at the end of the race, we'd have been celebrating an historic podium here. So, I want to say thank you to every single one of the team, to BMW and to Michelin, for all their hard work and commitment this weekend. We have moved up to fourth in the championship standings and closed the gap on the leaders. Next time out at Oschersleben, I hope we can close the gap further with a win for BMW at home."

Source: http://www.fim-live.com/en/media/news/news-detail/article/1343723017-so-near-and-yet-so-far-at-suzuka/

Bruno Bertacchini Silvano Bertarelli Albert Bertholet Guy Bertin Franco Bertoni