Endurance, riders and teams
In certain countries, races of long duration regularly obtain a great success, essentially in France where Endurance is probably the most successful motorcycle sport, with two 24 hour races. But this is not the case everywhere, and history has shown the difficulties of maintaining a Championship with events at the same level. Modern times started with the Bol d'Or coming back in 1969, and the win of the French Michel Rougerie and Daniel Urdich on the brand new Honda CB 750. Then followed the years of Georges Godier and Alain Genoud, the first one French, the other Swiss, who raced first on a Honda, then on a racing-tuned Kawasaki. After their title in 1975, they became constructors of racers with Kawasaki engines, building their own chassis. The European Championship saw the revenge of Honda with four consecutive titles from 1976 to 1979 with Jean-Claude Chemarin and Christian Léon. Then as from 1980 and the World Championship status, the discipline kept on being dominated by French riders – Jean-Claude Chemarin clinched a fifth title in 1982, teaming with Swiss Jacques Cornu on a Kawasaki, followed by the first title for Suzuki thanks to Hervé Moineau, with teammate Belgian Richard Hubin. In 1984, the cubic capacity limit was reduced from 1000cc to 750cc, and Honda, with its V4 machine took three titles in a row thanks to Patrick Igoa and Gerard Coudray. Then Hervé Moineau hit back and won, on a Suzuki, the two following titles, which leaves him with four World titles.
But the number of events was reduced each year, and in 1989 and 1990 the Championship went back to a World Cup status, as the number of events required by the FIM Sporting Code was not reached – this rule would be soon deleted. In 1992, British riders won for the first time since a long time ago Carl Fogarty, who stopped the TT Formula and had not yet become a star in Superbike, won the title together with fellow countryman Terry Rymer on a Kawasaki. The American Doug Toland succeeded them in 1993. Some events had problems to stay in the calendar (Australia, Malysia, Great Britain), but non French speaking riders were taking their place: British Brian Morrison got the title in 1996, Australian Peter Goddard and American Doug Polen in 1997, the same Polen with French Christian Lavieille in 1998, then Terry Rymer again in 1999 together with French Jehan d'Orgeix. In 2000, Swede Peter Linden and Australian Warwick Nowland won what would be the last Individual title for riders – one or two riders are crowned if they have the same number of points earned together.
In 2001, the rule changed with the arrival of a promoter. Endurance became a World Championship for Teams and manufacturers. The calendar included eight rounds: the four Classic, the 24 Hours of Oschersleben and three 6 Hour races: Brno, Brands Hatch and the Nürburgring. A Belgian team, Wim Motors Racing, clinched the title, with three wins (Brno, Nürburgring and Oschersleben), two second places (Brands Hatch and the 24 Hours of Liège) and a fifth place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In Suzuka, it is to be noted the last appearance of the Grand Prix stars: Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards won in front of Tadayuki Okada and Alexandre Barros (both being Cabin Honda teams).
At the end of 2001, the three 24 Hour classic races (Le Mans, Liège and the Bol d'Or) withdrew from the Championship. In 2002, there is only one event called classic in the Championship: the Eight Hours of Suzuka, a circuit where it has been very difficult for the teams running the whole Championship to beat the local heroes. Six events were on the calendar, of which three were 200 Mile races (Imola, Silverstone and Vallelunga), one six hour in Brno, the Suzuka Eight Hours and only one 24 Hour race in Oschersleben. The Chinese team Zongshen entered the Championship with two Suzuki machines. Warwick Nowland was the best rider on the first bike, with a win in Silverstone, and the late Bruno Bonhuil best on the second, winning in Vallelunga. The French team GMT 94 finished third (win in Brno), in front of another French team, Endurance Moto 38, who won the 24 Hours of Oschersleben, and a British team, QB Phase One, winner in Imola. The Endurance changed its face, and short races were not exactly in everybody's taste.
In 2003, the calendar went back to eight races. Great Britain was no longer in it, but the 200 Milles of Assen (Netherlands) came in, like the 12 Hours of Albacete (Spain) and the 6 Hours of A1 Ring (Austria).The British team Phase One, with James Ellison as best rider, won the Championship without any victory, but four second places including Suzuka, and scoring points in all events: Endurance means also regularity. The Zongshen team with Warwick Nowland was second with four wins (Imola, Brno, Albacete and A1 Ring). GMT 94 is third (win in Oschersleben) and another French team, 22 Police Nationale, fourth (win in Vallelunga)
Back to six rounds in 2004, and the title was won by the French team GMT 94, winner in Zhuhai (China) and in Oschersleben, second in Assen, Albacete and Vallelunga, and third in Suzuka. The Suzuki Castrol team finished second, Endurance Moto 38 third, and Yamaha Austria Racing team fourth.
Five rounds were at the 2005 calendar: Assen, Albacete, Suzuka, Oschersleben and Vallelunga. The points system had been changed, the point differences between the rounds of various lengths/duration were reduced. The Suzuki Castrol won, and the Japanese Keiichi Kitagawa scored the most points. The team managed by Dominique Méliand won four events, and finished third in Suzuka. The Swiss team Bolliger was second, Yamaha Austria Racing Team third, and Yamaha Phase One fourth.
Both French Classic races, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Bol d'Or, came back into the 2006 calendar. The Championship regained interest and credibility. The machine of the Suzuki Castrol Team was dominating, only two races escaped them: in Le Mans the Honda National Motos was the winner, and in Suzuka the victory went to the Yamaha Austria team. Assen, Albacete, Zolder, Oschersleben and the Bol d'Or were all first places on the podium for Matthieu Lagrive, Vincent Philippe and Keiichi Kitagawa (who put an end to his career), all with the same number of points. The Yamaha Austria team finished second, after having maintained some suspense until the last event, Yamaha Phase One was third, and Bolliger Team Switzerland fourth.
Last year, another title was added to the others already clinched by French team SERT managed by Dominique Méliand. The promoter withdrew and the FIM runs the Championship in collaboration with the National Federations concerned and the organisers. The Championship has six rounds, the last one in Qatar.
