he final countdown is underway to start the 2022 FIM Endurance World Championship. Honda’s endurance teams completed two days of testing at the Bugatti Circuit at Le Mans this week (29-30 March), with 48 teams attending the Pre-Test.
F.C.C. TSR Honda France, with the Frenchman Mike Di Meglio, Australian Josh Hook and the new British rider British Gino Rea who has joined the factory Honda team this season, clocked the fourth quickest time, with a lap time of 1:36.222 around the 4.185 kilometre French track.
It was a very positive test for the Honda team which collected valuable data regarding electronics, chassis and tyre settings with very consistent laps and good race pace.
With different weather conditions during the two days of testing, F.C.C. TSR Honda France topped the second-best time on day 1 aboard the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, on a cold and cloudy track.
On day 2, as morning sessions were in damp conditions left by overnight rain, the Honda #5 preferred to wait until the track was dried and tested during afternoon sessions, but the lap time was not improved, ending the Pre-test in fourth position.
Privateers RAC 41 Chromeburner, with a solid base for this season, same riders line up, Chris Leesch, Grégory Fastré and Wayne Tessels and same mechanics, ended the two-days test in sixth place on the timesheets in the Superstock category. The runner up team at the Bol d’Or race last season is very happy with the work done by the team, finding a good pace setting with Dunlop tyres in the Fireblade ready to fight for podiums this season.
Honda’s Superstock contenders National Motos, counts on a renewed three-rider line up, Swiss brothers Sebastien and Valentin Suchet and Frenchman Guillaume Raymond. The Honda #55 had some transponder issues during the test, but the French team had a good pace during both days of testing, and they will be targeting top positions in the Superstock category aboard the Fireblade SP.
Honda teams are ready to tackle the first race of the 2022 season, the 24 Heures Motos, which starts at 3 pm (CEST) on Saturday 16 April and finishes at 3 pm (CEST) on Sunday 17 April.
Gino Rea 5
F.C.C. TSR Honda France
”It has been a very positive test. Yesterday we did a lot of positive work on electronics, the chassis and tyre setting with different compounds for different conditions and got into work with the whole team. We are trying to do a consistent pace that is really good for us, and our race pace is very good. We are going in the right direction with the bike and looking forward to the race.”
Josh Hook 5
F.C.C. TSR Honda France
”It was a very good test for us. We were fast straight away with the Honda bike working very well with new Bridgestone tyres that seem to suit our bike better than last year. All three riders are very fast and consistent, and we can make a tyre last a long time. We are really looking forward to Le Mans race.”
Mike Di Meglio 5
F.C.C. TSR Honda France
‘It was a very positive 2 days of testing; we worked a lot on the bike during the test with the electronics and the settings to find the correct information, and now we are ready for Le Mans 24 Heures.”
