race is not finished until the last lap is complete. Despite running second for all that time and almost tasting the victory champagne, BMW’ s race went up in a puff of blown engine smoke with under half an hour remaining. That resulting DNF gifted the Yamaha-shod Yamalube YART team second place, denying the Suzuki lads the much-desired FIL EWC Championship mantle. It just doesn’ t get any tighter at the top than that. For the Yamalube YART Yamaha team it was a case of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. For BMW Motorrad Motorsport it was more like snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. A great season up to the last 16 laps but it is back to the drawing board for BMW to try for that elusive title. The Suzuki team / teams are expected to be
stronger earlier next season as development on the new model has seen them match the outright pace of their competitors with the renewed direction of Suzuki. Which other classes will also see a re-invigorated Suzuki presence?
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