Suzuka 8 Hours: A Disappointing Race After a Historic Qualification for Elf Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99

A few days after setting the best qualifying result in its history in the FIM Endurance World Championship, starting from third on the grid, Belgian squad Elf Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99 finished the 47th Suzuka 8 Hours in 30th place overall, at the end of a race marked by an early and a late crash.

A Crash Early in the Race

The start of this 47th edition was given on a soaked track, with Florian Marino aboard the #99 Yamaha R1 from a superb third position on the grid. Despite a cautious start, the French rider was caught out by an oil patch off the racing line and crashed after roughly fifteen minutes of racing.

Seriously damaged, the #99 Yamaha had to be brought back to the pits, where the mechanics did an outstanding job getting it back out on track after only 16 minutes of repairs.

The incident dropped the team to 47th position, almost ten laps behind the leaders, a near-impossible gap to close over an eight-hour race.

An Impressive Race Pace Regardless

Despite the setback, the team never stopped fighting. Alessandro Delbianco in particular stood out with an exceptional pace aboard the #99, setting lap times comparable to those of the leading teams and regularly ranking among the fastest riders on track during his stints. But eight hours of racing is not enough to make up a ten-lap deficit suffered so early in the event.

This strong momentum was cut short by a second crash for Florian Marino as the rain intensified, just 40 minutes from the chequered flag, denting the team's late-race comeback.

Hampered by these two incidents, Elf Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99 ultimately crossed the finish line in 30th place overall, a result that reflects neither the potential shown throughout the week, nor the level of competitiveness demonstrated by the #99 Yamaha at the legendary Japanese circuit.

Thank You to the Whole Team

Elf Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99 would like to warmly thank all its fans, partners and supporters for their commitment and unwavering support throughout this week in Japan. A special mention goes to every member of the team, who delivered flawless work all week long. Work that unfortunately wasn't rewarded by the final result.

Focus Now Turns to the Bol d'Or

The team now turns its attention to the final round of the season, the Bol d'Or, which will take place from September 17 to 20, 2026 at Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, where the team will be determined to close out its season with a result that matches the potential shown at Suzuka.

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