GMT win in Doha as SERT crowned

Yamaha Racing France GMT 94 Ipone riders David Checa, Kenny Foray and Matthieu Lagrive closed the season with a first victory and hence, offered their French official Yamaha the third place of the 2011 Qtel FIM Endurance World Championship at the last race, in Qatar. Reaching the end of the race through a very fast pace, BMW Motorrad France 99 finished second in Doha. For the honours, Sébastien Gimbert, Erwan Nigon and Damian Cudlin outperformed Suzuki Endurance Racing Team of Vincent Philippe and Anthony Delhalle. Nonetheless, this third place gave Suzuki Endurance Racing Team their eleventh world title, with a four point lead over BMW Motorrad France 99. The race started at a very high pace, as Vincent Philippe took the holeshot but the fight to lead was quickly shared between Yamaha Racing France GMT 94 Ipone, Monster Yamaha YART and BMW Motorrad France 99 riders. The collision between the BMW and the Monster Yamaha YART riders during the eleventh lap gave then an open shot to the Yamaha Racing France GMT 94 Ipone who then took leadership despite the pressure of the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team. Following closely, the Honda TT Legends Team took a well-deserved fifth place, due to a strong pace and pit stop management. Honda riders John McGuinness, Keith Amor and Glen Richards outperformed the Spanish Yamaha of YMES Folch Endurance with Dani Ribalta, Pedro Vallcaneras and Jose Manuel Luis Rita. Maco Racing Team, Motobox Kremer Racing by Shell Advance, the Team FMA Assurances, the Team R2CL were in a group to finish in the EWC top 15. The Bolliger Team Switzerland lost the benefits of a great start during the early stages of the race as they encountered some fuel injection problems and finished 16th overall, in an unusual 11th in EWC. In seventh position, the Yamaha of DG Sport took victory in the Superstock class, thanks to their tire management by using their set of Michelin tyres during two consecutive shifts. Their well prepared riders, Hugo Marchand, Josep Monge and Raymond Schouten managed to hold back the Suzuki of Team Motors Events Bodyguard AMT, already assured of the 2011 Superstock FIM World Cup. The Suzuki of Qatar Endurance Racing Team is back on the podium and finished in the Superstock third place ahead of the MCS Racing Ipone and Endurance Moto 45. The feminine team of Qatar Endurance Racing Team (Nina Prinz, Nikolett Kovacs and Paola Cazzola, Superstock) finished in 6th place, ahead of the BMW from Van Zon Boenig Motorsportschool Penz13 RT. Well placed from the start, the BMW lost some ground after a fuel shortage, but finished the season with a FIM World Cup second place. Some of the team favourites in the Superstock class saw their hopes for victory vanish from the beginning of the race. The Suzuki AM Moto Racing Compétition had to abandon with some fuel injection problems and their colleagues of Suzuki of No Limits Motor Team crashed, ending their season unceremoniously. <media 22779 hours - "doha">8 hours of Doha Standings</media><media 22781>2011 Qtel FIM Endurance World Championship standings</media><media 22782 http//www.fim-live.com/fileadmin/user_upload/medias/Endurance/2011/Doha/Resultats_Course/StandingsSST11.pdf>Final standings 2011 FIM Endurance World Cup</media> A 52 minutes highlights programme of the 8 Hours of Doha will also be broadcast next week on several TV channels around the world: Speed Channel – Australia  -  TV Meridiano – Venezuela  -  Sport TV - Portugal Moto TV – Italy  -  ESPN – EMEA  -  Eurosport  -  FIM TV.