Japan smiles once again on the Elf Marc VDS / KM99 Team, finishing P9 at the 8 Hours of Suzuka, third round of the FIM EWC

This weekend, the Elf Marc VDS / KM99 Team took part in the legendary 8 Hours of Suzuka, the third round of the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC).

After a superb 10th place finish last year, the Belgian team representing the Elf Marc VDS colors aimed to repeat, or even improve, that performance this year in the Land of the Rising Sun. A challenging goal, given the exceptional field of competitors, including riders from MotoGP and WorldSBK.

As always, weather conditions proved extremely demanding for both the riders and the entire crew.

High temperatures combined with intense humidity pushed everyone to their limits throughout the week. Fortunately, the team could count on its physiotherapist (Stephen Davies from Physio One Brussels), who did a remarkable job all week monitoring hydration levels and closely following the physical condition of both riders and staff.

Qualifying sessions, disrupted by several red flags, turned out to be difficult. The #99 Yamaha could only secure the 18th fastest time, which was below expectations. Under a scorching sun, Randy de Puniet made a cautious start, dropping the team down to 21st place in the opening laps.

From there, the race unfolded smoothly despite the extreme conditions. The riders and technical crew delivered a flawless performance, showing resilience, consistency, and focus throughout the event.

Without making a single mistake, the team steadily climbed up the standings to cross the finish line in a remarkable 9th place overall.

This result is even more significant as it marks a 4th place among the permanent European teams and the top result among teams running Dunlop tyres.

Thanks to this strong performance, the team secured 12 valuable points in the world championship, moving up to P8 in the overall standings. Everything will be on the line during the season finale at the Bol d’Or in mid-September, where many points are still up for grabs.

The Elf Marc VDS / KM99 Team warmly thanks its partners for their trust, as well as all the Japanese fans who showed up at Suzuka, and all the fans supporting the team from afar.

For more information and updates on Team Elf Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99, please visit our official website (www.KM99.be) and our social media channels.

Contacts :
Gaetan SCHYNS, Team Owner : gaetan@km99.be
Mario KUPPER, Team Manager: mario@km99.be
Dario SCHYNS, Communication & SN: dario@km99.be