Brits Endurance success

The British Diablo 666 team are celebrating after claiming a podium finish at the start of their second full season in the World Endurance championship.

The team fielded British riders James Hutchins and Kevin Falcke alongside Dresden-based Steve Mizera at Assen series opener, which was a 500km (130 lap) event. A last-minute schedule change by the organisers saw an extra day of practice on the Thursday before the race weekend, which the Diablo team had to miss.

Despite only having two hour-long sessions to set up the bikes for the race day on the Bank Holiday Monday, the team managed to qualify in 10th place, two places behind partner team Bolliger Team Switzerland.

After the first lap, starting rider Steve Mizera was up to ninth place and pitted after 30 laps. James Hutchins was then able to improve to third by lap 45, behind the Bolliger machine which held second. As heavy rain descended on the track, the British rider pitted on lap 58, as Kevin Falcke took over and maintained his place until lap 93, when Mizera again mounted the Kawasaki ZX-10. Despite a challenge by the Phase One Senior team, who were just one minute behind in fourth, Mizera was able to take the chequered flag and claim the final podium place.

“What a result! The whole team deserved to be up on that podium and it really is a pleasure to be part of such a friendly team and now such a successful team. This is only Diablo’s eighth race in WEC. All we need now is a major sponsor to come on board, to fund development of our bikes,” said Diablo’s Bob Copare.

“What a result, I wouldn’t be riding for Diablo 666 if I did not think this result was possible. The team is one of the best I have ridden for,” said rider Steve Mizera.

Assen final race results:

1. Suzuki Castrol

2. Bolliger Team Switzerland

3. Diablo 666 Kawasaki

4. Yamaha Phase One Endurance

5. Yamaha Austria

6. Team Fagersjo-el.se

7. Shell Endurance Academy

8. Team X-One

9. Team RMT21

10. Team Suzuki Nederland

The Diablo team are currently third in the championship with 16 points, going into the next round at Albacete in Spain on May 21.