Hanika leaves it late to top first EWC qualifying at Spa

Karel Hanika left it late to put YART – Yamaha Official Team EWC on top at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps following an action-packed First Qualifying for the 24H SPA EWC Motos. The Bridgestone-equipped Czech had trailed Florian Marino (Webike SRC Kawasaki France) in the Red Ridersession but snatched first place among the third of four groups on his last lap by a margin of 0.492s around the 6.985-kilometre track, which is hosting the FIM Endurance World Championship for the first time since 2001 this weekend.

Ad/> Hanika’s 2m20.253s eclipsed the fastest times posted in the earlier Blue and Yellow Rider sessions by Josh Hook and Illya Mykhalchyk and continues his strong qualifying form that was much in evidence at the EWC season-opening 24 Heures Motos, where he set a new qualifying lap record on his way to pole position. FIM EWCWho’s on the move in EWC?2 HOURS AGO BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team’s Markus Reiterberger set the early pace among the Blue Riders, slipped down the order before shooting back to the top of the times, ousting Josh Hook in the process.

However, his best lap of 2m19.910s was struck from the records after he was adjudged to have exceeded track limits. That left Hook fastest for F.C.C.

TSR Honda France in a time of 2m20.411s ahead of Yoshimura SERT Motul’s Gregg Black and YART – Yamaha Official Team EWC’s Niccolò Canepa. Randy de Puniet (Webike SRC Kawasaki France) and Xavi Forès (ERC Endurance-Ducati) were next.

Hugo Clere (Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore) headed the Dunlop Superstock Trophy contenders followed by Sébastien Suchet (National Motos Honda). While Reiterberger was penalised in the Blue Rider session, there were no such problems for Illya Mykhalchyk, who took over the #37