ENDURANCE LEGENDS
Endurance Legends returns to Donington with a full weekend of classic action, headlined by a four-hour endurance epic
Compelling machinery, Donington Park and summer sun. It was ace
Screaming fours, thunderous twins, elbow-out antics, crashes, a paddock chock full of desirable machinery, celebrity riders... oh, and a deep tan from glorious summer sun. It’s fair to say that the Endurance Legends meeting at Doington Park in May was something of a success.
Back at the Midlands track after last year’s inaugural event, the main four-hour race is now a round of the European Endurance Legends Cup. Four classes (Legends, Superbike, Classic, Superstock) cover 1969 to 1986, giving a medley of bikes from exotic specialist-framed racers to tuned tourers, hopped-up roadsters and even a Yamaha TZR250.
Mixing classes works – 50 entries packed the grid. Attention focused on the Team Classic Suzuki garage – backed by Suzuki’s Vintage Parts programme, they’re as close to a works team as you get and keen to make a mark after Jamie Whitham crashed on the opening lap last year. This time it was three-times British Superbike champ John Reynolds making a comeback after 13 years to share riding with Steve Parrish and MCN’S Michael Neeves. They were fast all weekend, but retired with a mechanical issue.
With favourites Neate Racing also out, the race was won by Belgium’s Team Force (a Harris Suzuki with Stephane Mertens riding). Guy Martin and Pete Boast were second on the Lincs Classic Suzuki XR69, with French team Motobel just five seconds back on a Guzzi Le Mans. With a round of the Lansdowne series, three GP Originals races, parades and track day riders, the action on track was non-stop all weekend. And, with club displays, sidecar rides, the Suzuki Village and other attractions in the open-to-all paddock, there was plenty to see away from the track, too. Get it in bold in your diary for next year.
‘THERE WAS PLENTY TO SEE AWAY FROM THE TRACK, TOO’