The 24 Hours Frigo Motorcycling at Circuit Catalunya before nightfall

The 24 Hours Frigo Motorcycling at the Circuit de Catalunya began today with plenty of on-track action, although right from the start we had a dramatic moment with David Checa’s crash on the Yamaha YZF R-1 1000 of Folch Endurance. That crash, without consequences for the rider, has undoubtedly marked a turning point, as the whole team now has to fight back.

With this situation, the Suzuki Català has taken control without problems, with its four riders setting the fastest times. Xavi Del Amor was in charge of opening the attack, followed by Victor Casas, Adrián Bonastre and Antonio Alarcos. Since Folch’s crash, the Suzuki has controlled the 24H and, after more than 5 hours of track action, they lead the Team FMA Assurances by several laps.

FMA Assurances is doing a great job with its Honda CBR 1000 and its four riders, Bastien Mackels, Mickael Morin, Marc Fissette and Bruce Rulfo, while the third step of the podium at this stage of the race is held by Team Louit moto33 with Nans Chevaux, Grégory Di Carlo, Dylan Buisson and Nicolas Salchaud.

For its part, Folch Endurance has not given up despite that crash and that bad start; lap by lap and hour by hour, it has been passing rivals and, from outside the top 10, has managed to climb to 4th with 18 hours to go. The effort the team and all its riders Arturo Tizón, David Checa, Josep Monge and Roberto Martínez are putting in is remarkable, and we will see how they reach nightfall. As for the women’s team, they are in 22nd position, improving lap by lap.

All of this happens while night begins to fall over the Catalunya circuit, but the strong sun is still saying goodbye to today, and some participants have already switched on their machines’ lights, everything ready to experience the longest night in motorcycle racing on the Catalan track.

If you can, don’t miss anything from the 24 Hours Frigo motorcycle race.

Standings after 5 Hours of competition:

1. Del Amor / Casas / Bonastre / Alarcos SUZUKI GSX-R 1000 EWC 123 0 4:01’11.440 12 1’50.153 154.5
2. Chevaux / Di Carlo / Buisson / Salchaud KAWASAKI ZX-10 1000 SST1 121 0 4:01’31.125 2 Laps 2 Laps 36 1’53.685 149.7
3. Rulfo / Mackels / Morin / Fissette HONDA CBR 1000 EWC 121 0 4:02’29.953 2 Laps 58.828 38 1’52.674 151.0
4. Checa / Monge / Tizón / Martínez YAMAHA YZF R-1 1000 EWC 118 0 4:01’38.237 5 Laps 2 Laps 4 1’50.305 154.3
5. Cristóbal / Esteve / Costa / Amado KAWASAKI ZX-10 1000 SST1 120 0 4:01’35.783 3 Laps 1 Laps 4 1’54.129 149.1
6. Ribó / Bergès / Duran / Torras BMW S1000RR 1000 O-SBK 117 0 4:01’58.333 6 Laps 1 Laps 105 1’55.503 147.3
7. Guichon / Simon / Poiteau YAMAHA YZF R-1 1000 SST1 117 0 4:02’05.051 6 Laps 6.718 8 1’55.683 147.1
8. Tsitos / Pesselier / Masnada / Portelada BMW S1000RR 1000 SST1 118 0 4:02’07.297 5 Laps 1.897 8 1’53.198 150.3
9. Garcia / Rafart / Jansana / Collelldemont KAWASAKI ZX-10 1000 SST1 D 117 0 4:02’59.360 6 Laps 31.677 8 1’56.589 146.0
10. Lebail / Debroise / Carl YAMAHA YZF R-1 1000 SST1 117 0 4:02’27.683 6 Laps 22.632 89 1’56.835 145.7

Photo | PlusMoto.com