The Slovak motorcycle team Maco Racing, which is also celebrating 25 years of its existence, entered its 21st season at the FIM Endurance World Championship with the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With the desire to achieve the best possible result Team went to France with competitors Anthony West from Australia, Hungarian Bálint Kovács and the team’s home rider Enzo Boulom was already waiting for him on the spot.
The Maco Racing team started the race from the 24th position, but it didn’t take long and by the end of the first hour it was already in the top 10. However, the team’s quite calm drive for another good result was first disrupted by a technical problem and then two crashes, while the Frenchman Bouolom and West were injured with Kovács, they already had the goal of bringing the Yamaha motorcycle to the finish line with the hope of points for the world championship. They managed to do that, even though the Slovak team finished in 32nd place in the race ranking, it is 12 th in the interim ranking of the World Championships.
The second event of the championship will take place again as a 24-hour race on June 17 at the Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.
Martin Kuzma, team owner:
“What to say? I’m sad, but it’s a sport and situations like this belong to it. We failed to qualify, which was driven in variable conditions, so we started from 24th place. Our race lap times were good, so we had the potential to go ahead right after the start of the race, which was also my plan. Anthony started well and after the first pit stop we were fighting for 7th-10th. place, which was good. I have to highlight our pit stops which were some of the fastest.Everything was going according to plan and calm, the conditions on the track were getting worse, it was very cold and wet, so we went for thirteen hours to be safe, we didn’t push the riders, but then we had a technical problem and everything was lost. We got the bike back on the track and started chasing the loss to save the result, but it didn’t work, two big falls followed, Enzo had to go to the medical center and then he was taken to the hospital in Le Mans.So we went further only to gain points for the EWC championship. Anthony and Bálint continued, but then another technical problem appeared, caused by a heavy fall, and this stopped us from a possible upward progress. We were just waiting for the finish line to end our misery.I have to highlight the pace and work of the riders, who always gave 100 percent, as well as all the mechanics for the pit box and for the whole week’s work in the cold weather. Also great Duchy24 catering for above-standard catering service. Many thanks to our partners and fans.”
