The 2009 World Endurance Championship concluded on November 14th with the Doha 8 hour race at Losail circuit in Qatar. After a podium finish in 2008 the Slovak BK Maco Racing team had high expectations, and hoped to impress new sponsors CFE.
With the regular rider line up, Jason Pridmore (USA) Dani Ribalta and Victor Carasco (Spain) the team wanted to score points and improve upon their Championship position following the bad luck suffered at the Bol D’Or. The team were very competitive from the off with front running performances in free practice and qualification, topped off with Jason qualifying 3rd in Superpole.
Dani Ribalta started the race and was in the leading pack when after just a few laps he pitted with a problem with the rear spindle assembly. After the faulty parts had been changed Dani rejoined the race and with seven and a half hours to go a good finish was still a possibility.
Pridmore took the next rota, and had moved up to 15th position before inexplicably high siding heavily at turn 4. Jason broke his right collar bone and left thumb in the tumble and was taken directly to the medical centre for attention.
For the Slovak team the race was over after just one and a half hours. The team were sad and disappointed. The poor luck which has dogged the BK Maco Racing Team this season had struck again, causing the team to finish the season in a disappointing 15th place in the championship. The team had shown great potential with podium finishes in their sights more than once during the year but good fortune, which plays its part in this motorcycle sport, deserted them on more than one occasion.
Denisa Grešková, Team Manager:
Another season passed. The result we have gained is not satisfactory. This year we have been in the best form ever when talking about riders, material and the team format. Everybody gave 100% to their job. Unfortunately, the result showed something different but our performance in particular races has confirmed that we have made a big improvement again and as a private team we have proven ourselves capable of fighting for the podium in EWC.
I want to thank to all, every team member and partners for support in the passed season and to wish Jason a speedy recovery.