2024 FIM ENDURANCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPSUZUKA 8 HRS. RACE RESULT & REPORT■ PLACE : Suzuka International Circuit/Japan■ EVENT DATES : Jul. 17-21■ TEAM : Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar■ MACHINE NO. : #11
RIDER “Blue”

RIDER “Yellow”

RIDER “Red”

Gregory LeblancChristian Gamarino

Roman Ramos

QUALIFY (riders best lap)
Gregory Leblanc2.08’ 241

Roman Ramos

2.08’ 397

Christian Gamarino

QUALIFYING POSITION(average lap time of 2 fastest riders)

18th2.08’ 319

RACE RESULTLupsBest lups

DNF123

2.9’ 306

2.08’ 414QUALIFY (Jul. 19)

Together with experienced Suzuka Meister Gregory Leblanc, Kawasaki Webike Trickstar welcomed 2 Suzuka
rookies this season, Italian Christian Gamarino who already tested Suzuka once a month ago and Spanish
Roman Ramos who never had ran this technical circuit.
The weekend was extremely warm and the riders had been struggled the whole weekend to adapt thisexceptional condition especially 2 rookies who have never experienced such extreme heat in Europe.
For 2 qualifying sessions on Saturday, the track condition was critical as the air temperature raised to 33°C
and track temperature was more than 50°C, but the riders tried with the race tyres to be ready for the race.
At the first qualify, blue rider Leblanc scored 2.08’ 241 at his second lap and kept pushing, but the session
stopped by the red flag.
The team had decided not to continue the session for the purpose of saving the tyres for the other riders
after red flag.
He tried to improve his lap time on his 2nd qualify session but he was not able to make it happen and hisbest lap time remained from the 1st qualify.
Rider yellow Gamarino started his 1st session with the tyres Leblanc had used in the previous session andscored 2.8’ 895 on his second lap.
But so did for the previous session of the red rider, this session had stopped by red flag.
He went back to the track after the red flag got cleared and improved his lap time down to 2.8’ 688.
He respectfully continued to improve his lap times in his second qualify either, and scored 2.8’ 414 as hisbest qualify time.
As missing the pre test in Suzuka due to the calendar crash with Spanish Championship, red rider Roman
Ramons had discovered Suzuka circuit only a few days before, he’ d decided to spend his first qualify
session to set up the bike and get to be ready for his second qualify.
The track temperature dropped down a bit when his session started at 17:03 which meant that the condition
got slightly better to attack, and this had allowed him to score 2.8’ 397, amazing lap time for Suzuka rookie
who had only made few laps during the weekend.
The team final qualifying time is set 2.08’ 319 which is the average lap time of 2 fastest riders in the team
Leblanc and Ramos, 18th starting position over all.

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2024 FIM ENDURANCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPSUZUKA 8 HRS. RACE RESULT & REPORTRACE (DNF)

Race day was the hottest day during the week, and the whole paddock was suffered by the heat from earlymorning.
Kawasaki Webike Trickstar was not able to get the ideal starting position as wished but had good confidence
for the race since the team had been working hard to focus for the race under this extreme heat so that thewhole team was highly motivated on Sunday morning. In the morning warm
up session, the bike set up improved and Leblanc had made a few laps withthe fast and consistent pace having comfortable feeling.
But while he stayed pushing on the track, he had an unfortunate crash andgot injured.
Considering his injury, the circuit doctor decided “unfit” for him tocontinue the event and he was forced to be withdraw for the race.
This had forced the team to change the team strategy for the race which is startingin a few hours, and 2
remaining riders needed to complete 8 hours without having Gregory.
Starting rider for this Suzuka 8 Hours is decided Gamarino who had never experienced to be a starting rider
in the team since his debut to the team in 2024.
Starting from 18th position, Gamarino had lost some positions but soon picked up again and raised hisposition to 15th at Lap3.
He had kept the good pace and picked up one more position at Lap7.
To take the advantage of the good fuel consumption of KWT,
Gamarino had stayed on the track a few laps more after most of the team
had already done the pit stop and this had brought the team to raise theposition up to 5th before the first pit stop. When Ramos went out fromthe box to the track, he found himself at 14th position over all and he kept running with the consistent pace.
Although when suddenly his pace got visibly dropped and the team was wondering what was happening,
Ramos fell on the team’ s 53rd lap, but he picked up the bike immediately and came into the box.
Immediately after he brought his bike to the pit-lane, he fell down on the ground and lost conscious for seconds.
He was sent to the circuit medical center to check up, and be found that having dehydration syndrome.
KWT already had only 2 riders which had meant that it was impossible tocontinue the race only by Gamarino, but Gamarino tried to give all his best
to the limit until the EWC regulation allowed. KWT never had declared“Retire” , and continued till the end.
Ramos, who was recovering from dehydration showed the intention tocontinue also, team had decided to complete the last session by him topass the checkered flag.
KWT had only completed 123 laps which was not considered to complete the race, although both of theriders and every single person in the team gave their all to this event and gained so much data for the future.
It was not the result the team and the riders wanted, but this is the race.
Now KWT starts to get to be prepared for the last round in Bold’ or in September.

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2024 FIM ENDURANCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPSUZUKA 8 HRS. RACE RESULT & REPORTGregory LeblancI feel sorry that I gave a big handicap due to my crash and injury.
I really would like to apologize to everyone. I wished I could continueeven suffering by the injury, but it wasn’ t possible when the doctor
makes the decision.
But this is the race and we are always facing these risks.
I definitely will come back stronger for Bold’ or.
Thanks for Japanese fans to support us during the weekend!
Christian Gamarino
I’ m sorry for the team as Greg crashed in the morning warm up
session on Sunday and got injured, and we had to complete the raceby 2 riders which was already difficult start for the team.
Moreover, Roman suffered with the dehydration during the race andlost conscious for a while, the situation had got even more difficult.
In any cases, as I wanted to give all I have and did 3 consecutive
stints but it was impossible to finish the race alone.
It was a pity as my race pace was good, and we did our best but unfortunately we didn’ t havegood luck at this race.
Although we were able to get some important data for next year at least, I look forward to comeback again.
Now we change our mind and get ready for Bold’ or. Thanks to everyone to support us.
Roman Ramos
Honestly it was not a good weekend for us.
When Greg got injured in warm up, we knew that the race will not beeasy to manage by 2 Suzuka rookies without having him.
Anyway we had to do our best with all what we have, and Christian
starts the race and I followed.
I was OK on the track but suddenly my whole body got cramp and I
suffered.
When I came into the pit box for pit stop, I lost the conscious for a while and this was becauseof the dehydration.
I stayed at medical center for 1.5 hours for the recovery, and went back to the track again formaking some laps, but we are already far away and all we wanted is just to get the checkered
flag for the team.
I need to recover well now and come back to Bold’ or with 100% physical condition.
I would like to thank you to Japanese fans for your warm support.
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2024 FIM ENDURANCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPSUZUKA 8 HRS. RACE RESULT & REPORT
Ryuji Tsuruta
First of all, I would like to thank you very much for your big support on
KWT at our very special event “Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance race” .
We were forced to face the hard moment heading to the race after loosing
Gregory who got injured at Sunday warm up.
Despite having only 2 riders, our intention to finish the race had neverchanged, and Christian had replaced Gregory in the best way to start therace.
Although we had been keeping the good pace, when Roman had taken over Christian and making
his laps at his first stint, he suffered with the dehydration and we lost the way to manage one time.
As already having only 2 riders, it was impossible to complete the remaining race by only rider, wethought that we should declare “Retire” , but the team never did not want to give up so we had
decided to continue to give all what we have.
Christian had completed all his planned stints, and Roman had went back again to the track at theend of the race after his body recovered and we had got the checkered flag.
We feel sorry that our important event had finished in this kind of way, and apologize to all oursupporters and fans not to be able to show our best performance.
Although this is the endurance race and I’ m honored with all the effort of the team and riders
who never gave up.
We would like to thank you to all the sponsors, partners and fans who had supported us during
the weekend under extreme heat. We never forget this bitter feeling and we will come back stronger
to Bold’ or to complete the season in the best way.

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