The French have always been passionate about endurance racing, be it on two wheels or four, but then that’s hardly surprising given the international status of the Le Mans 24-Hour Race. In long-distance motorcycle racing, French riders have dominated the premier series from its inception as the FIM Coupe d’Endurance in 1975 - won by Georges Godier and Alain Genoud on a Kawasaki - through to the Endurance World Championship of today. Japanese manufacturers have been happy to let French satellite or importer teams fly the flag for them in World Endurance, Kawasaki’s long-term representation in the series being the responsibility of Kawasaki France, a member of the C Itoh group of companies. The machine offered here is one of four sent by the factory to Team Kawasaki France for the 1988 endurance racing season, which marked Kawasaki’s return to the series for the first time since 1983. Unlike previous efforts, when riders Georges Godier and Alain Genoud, together with engineer Pierre Doncque, had built and raced their own Kawasaki-engined machines, from now on the factory would retain control of development. This particular machine - ‘ZXR7-008’ - finished 2nd at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1988 ridden by Jean-Louis Battistini/Pierre Bolle/Eric Delcamp and 3rd at that year’s Suzuka 8 Hours when the riders were Pierre-Etienne Samin/Adrien Morillas. It failed to finish at the Bol d-Or. Finished in Kawasaki France’s classic team livery of green and white, the machine is offered with a detailed and illustrated Rapport d’Expertise (appraisal) prepared in November 2000 by Conseil Auto, of Eaubonne, for Kawasaki Motors France authenticating the machine and its competition record, and stating that it has been rebuilt to original specification by KMF technicians. We are advised that the machine was serviced by Kawasaki Motors France mechanics immediately prior to sale in March 2002. A rare opportunity to acquire an historic ex-works, Le Mans and Suzuka endurance racing prototype possessing significant competition history and ridden by some of the World Championship’s star riders.
The French have always been passionate about endurance racing, be it on two wheels or four, but then that’s hardly surprising given the international status of the Le Mans 24-Hour Race. In long-distance motorcycle racing, French riders have dominated the premier series from its inception as the FIM Coupe d’Endurance in 1975 - won by Georges Godier and Alain Genoud on a Kawasaki - through to the Endurance World Championship of today. Japanese manufacturers have been happy to let French satellite or importer teams fly the flag for them in World Endurance, Kawasaki’s long-term representation in the series being the responsibility of Kawasaki France, a member of the C Itoh group of companies. The machine offered here is one of four sent by the factory to Team Kawasaki France for the 1988 endurance racing season, which marked Kawasaki’s return to the series for the first time since 1983. Unlike previous efforts, when riders Georges Godier and Alain Genoud, together with engineer Pierre Doncque, had built and raced their own Kawasaki-engined machines, from now on the factory would retain control of development. This particular machine - ‘ZXR7-008’ - finished 2nd at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1988 ridden by Jean-Louis Battistini/Pierre Bolle/Eric Delcamp and 3rd at that year’s Suzuka 8 Hours when the riders were Pierre-Etienne Samin/Adrien Morillas. It failed to finish at the Bol d-Or. Finished in Kawasaki France’s classic team livery of green and white, the machine is offered with a detailed and illustrated Rapport d’Expertise (appraisal) prepared in November 2000 by Conseil Auto, of Eaubonne, for Kawasaki Motors France authenticating the machine and its competition record, and stating that it has been rebuilt to original specification by KMF technicians. We are advised that the machine was serviced by Kawasaki Motors France mechanics immediately prior to sale in March 2002. A rare opportunity to acquire an historic ex-works, Le Mans and Suzuka endurance racing prototype possessing significant competition history and ridden by some of the World Championship’s star riders.
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.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
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