6 Heures Moto Masterful victory of the Dunlop Test Team (Reiterberger-Foray)!
This last Saturday it was under a summer sky that the 2021 edition of the 6 Heures Moto took place on the Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps. Right from the qualifying session, the tone was set, with a new lap record in 2’22’’18 put in by the #37 Dunlop Test Team of Markus Reiterberger and Kenny Foray, emanating from the FIM World Endurance Championship. This was confirmed in the race, with at the end of the day a brilliant domination from this duo, adding their name to the record book …
Even though the start of these Heures Moto 2021 was made difficult due to a fall at Les Combes during the warm-up lap… prior to setting up the grid, and a lengthy oil spill in Blanchimont after only two laps – which resulted in a neutralisation of some thirty minutes -, the major part of the race was of a glistening smoothness. And there were but few who were in a position to challenge the supremacy of the #37 Dunlop Test Team duo.
Manning the #41 RAC 41/Chromeburner, Grégory Fastré was nonetheless able to play up front in the ranking prior to experiencing a technical issue and falling without any serious injury. However, the team completed by Chris Leesch and Wayne Tessels, dropped down in the rankings, making it a point of honour to finish the race in 33rd position.
The race turned into a back and forth battle between the #37 of Reiterberger and Foray, and the #333 VRD Igol Experiences of Florian Marino, Nico Terol and James Westmoreland, but following a fair fight, the Dunlop Test Team got the better of the battle, to masterfully clinch victory with just under one lap ahead of VRD Igol Expériences. A logical silver medal for the members of the team, which allowed the #333 to proclaim being the only team to finish in the same lap as the winners, which moreover is the prize-winner in the Trophy Pro category!
The lowest tread on the overall podium was the outcome of a splendid battle between the #77 Yamaha YART – Powered by Bridgestone of Marvin Fritz and Danny Märtz, and the #84 Bike Parts – Interbike Racing Team of Gian Mertens, Nicky De Wit and Come Geenen, finally separated by less than 30 seconds to the benefit of the #77.
For his first visit to Spa, the British rider Jon Railton, teamed up with Joe Akroyd, had the pleasure of completing the overall top 5 on the British Endurance Racing Team, finishing ahead of the #61 Mototech of Davy Maes and David Drieghe, who finished the race in duo following issues experienced by Sébastien Le Grelle on his own machine.
For the #101 HCR Ducati Lux clan, composed out of Didier Jadoul, Marc Fissette and Stéphane Mertens, the start was tricky, a fuel leak obliging the popular trio into making a mad climb back up through the pack. By mid-race the team were still within the top 20, finally finishing the event in a strong 7th place.
The #137 Trax Racing of Niels Hattas, Dennis Vermoesen and Ben Stuyck, the #97 ADSS 97 of Craig Watson, Chris Platt and Mike Booth, as also the #132 J&I Racingteam of Ives Aerts and Sander Claessen completed the overall top 10.
In the different categories, worth noting the success of the #158 HRT of Brecht Hollebecq, Kim Detollenaere and Ruben De Gols in 1000 Amateur, the victory of the #20 ARTEC of Vincent Rutkowski and Lionel Bergeron in Trophy Amateur, not forgetting the winning sprint of the #74 Jamotobis Junior Team of Quentin Aussems, Thibaut Delforge and Romain Louppe in 600 Amateur, up against the ‘seniors’ of the #141 Jamoto Racing Team of Jimmy Ovaere, Cédric Dejeux and Jimmy Lafineur.
As for the ‘girls in the race’ of the #100 TeamThuyRacing, namely Béatrice Girard, Gaëlle and Natacha Remy, they enjoyed the pleasure of completing the podium in Trophy Amateur!
Among some of the great stories of this wonderful race worth noting the presence at the finish of Jeofrey Bonafede, called upon at the last minute to replace the unlucky Vincent Van Melderen – injured during practice – riding the #96 KM Moto Lontzen. In the company of Raphaël Gerein, Bonafede completed the adventure through to the end.
As for Cédric Fievet, one of the three riders of the #111 Team 111, he proved his diehard spirit, refusing to throw in the towel following several issues, to finally finish the race in solo, without his teammates!
The 6 Heures Moto 2021 came to an end with a wonderful festive podium ceremony, bringing to a close an event held under perfect conditions, and characterised by a more than smooth running event, without the slightest major incident. In the DG Sport ranks they can but congratulate themselves on the successful return of the event, which bodes well for many more on the motorbike endurance scene at Spa-Francorchamps…
