The second event of this year’s FIM EWC Endurance World Championship took place at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit on Saturday. The Slovak team Maco Racing, which is in its 24th season in the world championship, also took part in the 8-hour race.
Martin Vugrinec (Croatia), Michal Prášek (Czech Republic) and Dávid Juhász (Hungary) took turns on the Yamaha Maco Racing team motorcycle, just like in April at Le Mans. For Prášek and Juhász, it was their first start on this circuit, so they initially had to focus on getting to know the new track. After starting from 26th position, the team eventually managed to finish 24th overall and thirteenth in the EWC class, despite Vugrinec’s injury, which means 14th place in the championship standings after two events.
Martin Kuzma, team owner:
“Since Prášek and Juhász were unfamiliar with the Spa track, they dedicated the initial training sessions to getting to know this seven-kilometer circuit. Unfortunately, it was all on a wet track. The first qualifying session was on a dry surface for the first time, so it was not easy for them. However, Vugrinec also had a problem when, on his fastest lap, he found himself in a mass crash of eleven riders due to oil on the track. Qualifying was interrupted, Martin brought the motorcycle to the pits and after repairs we were able to continue. Prášek went next, who was basically struggling on the dry track, but improved with each subsequent lap, and the same was true for Juhász.
The bike was fine, we continued to the second qualifying, which is a big responsibility for the racers in Spa, since both qualifying sessions are held on the same day, so they cannot risk big crashes so that their teammates have something to go on. The plan was to improve the times and move up on the starting grid, but it started to rain and Vugrinec didn’t even go out on the track. Prašek had at least a bit of dry space on the track, so he managed to improve his time, Juhász had even better conditions and he also improved. We were in 26th place on the grid.
The strategy for the race was determined by the weather. Vugrinec started, his stint went according to plan, followed by Prášek, who was faster again as he got to know the track, then Juhász went and at the end of his stint it started to rain. Vugrinec followed, doing two stints, which teams usually use when the weather changes, because the driver knows what the conditions are on the track, so you try to keep him there. Then Prášek went, Juhász again and Vugrinec followed again on a wet track, and when he finished the stint, the track started to dry out and he said that it was for slicks. He agreed to continue also in the next stint, but we had a starter failure, so he went back to the pits, but after a short change he continued. The conditions were difficult, only the track was dry and Martin fell, injured his hand, but still managed to bring the bike to the pits for repairs, which he did, and in the end Juhász went, bringing the bike to the finish in 24th place overall and thirteenth in the EWC class. It was the maximum that could be achieved in this race.
Thank you to the whole team, the riders and I wish Martin a speedy recovery. Thank you to all the fans and partners for your support.”
