16 April 2012 Team Kawasaki SRC wins 76th Bol d’Or World Endurance race

After 24 hours of strenuous racing, the French Kawasaki SRC Kawasaki Team has won the prestigious Bol d’Or World Endurance race in Magny-Cours beating the factory Suzuki team into second place after an intense battle.
Under difficult race conditions, and with really cold temperatures, riders Julien Da Costa, Grégory Leblanc and Olivier Four rode the wheels of off their Ninja ZX-10R to clinch the first Kawasaki victory since the Bol d’Or race was transferred to Magny-Cours some twelve years ago.

Team Manager, Gilles Stafler, talked proudly about this important result for Kawasaki and the blisteringly quick Ninja ZX-10R. ‘We fought with an incredible pace during most of the race, despite the really poor conditions. I would like to thank all the team for this fantastic result, not only the riders, because today it’s a victory of the whole team.

Of course Julien Da Costa, Grégory Leblanc and Olivier Four have done an incredible job. It was a really tough race and we were ready for the difficult conditions. I think that the biggest contributor to our success has been that we didn’t make any mistakes at all during the race.’


Julien Da Costa: ‘It’s my second victory here at the Bol d’Or, but maybe the most difficult one. I’m really tired now, but it’s a really good feeling to share this victory with the team.’

Grégory Leblanc: ‘It’s a really great moment in my career. Last year we were on the second spot of the podium and to be on the top stage today is a really sweet feeling. I’m sure we will be having a big party to celebrate this victory!’

Olivier Four: ‘In dry conditions I was lacking a little bit of race. When I saw that the weather conditions turned to be very tricky I understood that it would be a perfect race for me. I’m really pleased to have my third victory in the Bol d’Or race with the Kawasaki SRC team.’

Team Kawasaki SRC is now leading the World Endurance Championship standings.

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