Dunlop First Across the Line at the Bol d’Or 24-Hours

Dunlop riders won the prestigious Bol d’Or 24-hour race on the weekend of September 13 and 14. The tyremaker secured an enviable one-two-three finish, and with it clinched the 2008 Qtel FIM Endurance World Championship. This brings Dunlop’s total of Bol d’Or wins since 1969 to 25, with the last eight consecutive victories. This is more than any other tyre manufacturer.

French Suzuki Endurance Racing Team No.1, with riders Vincent Philippe, Matthieu Lagrive and Julien Da Costa, took the flag after one of the toughest races of the series, ahead of sister team Suzuki Endurance Racing Team No.2 and the Yamaha Austria Racing Team. All three teams raced on Dunlop tyres. Winning the race gave the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team No.1 a strong enough points advantage to secure the 2008 Qtel FIM Endurance World Championship with one race still to go. This is the ninth time the team has won the title and its fourth consecutive title.

With almost half the teams competing on Dunlop tyres, this race was a major event for the company. A total of 3,800 tyre were sent to the race in five trucks, supported by a team of 15 Dunlop staff.

“We congratulate Suzuki Endurance Racing Team No.1 on winning the world title yet again,” said Steve Male, manager Motorcycle Motorsport EU. “As predicted, this race was one of the toughest and most demanding motorcycle races of the season. At the beginning of the evening, the rain caused many crashes and forced several teams to retire. It was a spectacular win for Suzuki Endurance Racing Team No.1, crossing the line six laps ahead of its sister team and nine laps ahead of the third placed team.

“When we talk about ‘Race to Road’ as being vital to our street tyre development, endurance racing is an essential element, providing the most demanding variation of performance requirements,” Male added.