Race #4 in Croix

Last weekend it was time Endurance4Fun Race #4. This time in France, on the short but challenging track of Croix-en-Ternois. There were two races on this weekend, counting as one result for the championship.

Both bikes were ready to race.

The riders for bike #19 were Dianne Geesink and Ine Kockelbergh.
For bike #98 we had lined up team Germany: Annika Kamps und Saskia Schulenburg.

On Saturday morning we started our fist training at 9:40h. The riders could use this training for getting used to the track and make some adjustments on the bike. No big issues and it was time for the qualification.

Result: #19 place 10 on the start grid and 98 place 13 on the start grid in the 600cc class.

The race started at 16.30h. Ine started on the #19 and Saskia on the #98. We planned to do one pit stop to hopefully gain some places.

Everything was going well. Laptimes were very consistent and the girls were doing well. After 45 minutes we first did the pit stop for the #19. Ine handed the bike over to Dianne and she was going for another 45 minutes.

Immediately after this pit stop it was time to stop for the #98. The bike got refuelled and Annika was ready to race to the finish flag.

Everything was going well. Laptimes were going down, but then suddenly we saw yellow flags! 

Unfortunately Dianne decided to do another gravel exam and discovered that the grind in Croix is bigger than in Assen and Zolder. #Rider OK#. The bike was pushed back to the paddock and quickly fixed.

After 19 minutes the bike was ready to go out again and Ine was back on track to finish the race.

Annika was still doing her laps, though was getting tired. Laptimes were going up, but it was still fast enough to finish the race.

Finally at 18h there was the finish flag. The first race this season we ended with two bikes at the flag, but still not completely according to plan.

End result:
#98 P13, fastest laptime: 1:06:4
#19 P14, fastest laptime: 1:02:8
In the evening bike #19 was checked thoroughly and was ready for day two.
Sunday morning we had the same schedule as the day before. On bike #19 was some adjustments done on the suspension to make it easier to ride for the girls.
End result of qualifying: #19 P7 and #98 P14 in the 600cc class.

In the afternoon it started raining. First small drops, then larger drops, then no drops. All the teams were getting nervous and everybody was checking out the strategies of the other teams.

We decided 15 minutes before the start to change on rain tyres. When the tyres where on and we were on the starting grid it was not raining anymore. Did we make the right decision?

Almost all the teams were on rain tyres, so if we had to change the wheels, it would be the same for all the teams.

Startriders: #19 Ine Kockelberg and #98 Saskia Schulenburg.

The German team decided to do two pitstops. Annika`s muscles were sore from the day before, so the plan for her was to do only a 30 minutes stint on the bike.

Everything was going well during the race and laptimes were improving. The girls were getting more and more confident on the rain tyres.

End result:
#19 P10, fastest laptime: 1:05:3
#98 P11, fastest laptime: 1:08:3

And most important: two bikes at the finish, without crashing!!!

There is still a lot of work to be done to improve ourselves. But we are making progress! See you next race!
​
And again many thanks to our sponsors!!
*Motorsportschool Zolder *TAMRON *GROTE *Bauunternehmung D. Carl *Het Palet *Hyperpro Sales B.V. *Moto-Master Brake Systems *MPA Team Wear *Korner Metalltechnik *Otobar Circuit Zolder *Pluggerz Earplugs *Fotografie Pers Racing L&S