Team Suzuki Press Office – September 21.
The opening round of the 2019-2020 Endurance World Championship at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France has been put on hold until 06:00 hrs tomorrow after treacherous weather conditions today forced the stop on safety grounds.
Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) had taken the lead and were holding second position at the time of the red flag because of heavy rainfall and high wind at the 83rd Bol d’Or in the south of France.
An official statement tonight issued by the FIM EWC stated:
“After being interrupted at 6pm because of rain and severe weather conditions on the Paul Ricard circuit, the Bol d’Or will restart at 6am on Sunday.
“Having suspended the race at 6pm on Saturday to ensure the safety of the riders competing in the Bol d’Or, the FIM race direction, the race organiser, Éditions Larivière and Eurosport Events, the promoter of the FIM EWC, have decided to prolong the suspension of the race until 06:00hrs on Sunday morning.
“The Bol d’Or was suspended three hours into the race because of severe weather conditions, with the bikes put into parc ferme in the pit lane. Teams were given permission to take their bikes back into the pit boxes this evening. The bikes will be brought out shortly before 6am on Sunday for a fresh start behind the safety cars in the same order as the standings at 6pm on Saturday before suspension of the race.”
