17 April 2006
Round 1 – Assen, Holland
Diablo 666 Kawasaki have finished 8th in Round 1 of the 2006 World Endurance Championship in Assen, Holland, but only just.

Marko Rohtlaan brought the Diablo 666 Kawasaki ZX-10 home but with only 5th & 6th gears and no clutch after 110 laps of this action packed round.

Marko had started the race from 9th on the grid and at the famous endurance style start had made an electric start and came round at the end of lap 1 in 7th place. One lap later he was up to sixth and soon set the Team’s fastest lap of the race, a 1:47.041, in establishing a good lead over the following riders and catching the two teams ahead.

At the first round of pit stops, partner team, Bolliger Kawasaki lying in 5th, had a problem with their rear wheel sprocket carrier and had to do another stop one lap later costing them valuable seconds, but putting Diablo’s 2nd rider, James Hutchins, up to 5th!

James put in an impressive stint, consistently lapping in the 1:48’s before handing over to new Team recruit, Alex Cudlin, making his race debut for Diablo 666. Again Alex put in some impressive laps during this phase of the race and came in with 25 laps to go to hand over to Marko Rohtlaan to see the Team to the flag.

Alex had been signalling for about five laps that there was a problem with the bike however, and as Marko fired out of pit lane he informed Team Mechanics, Geoff and Doug Randall that he thought the gearbox had been playing up, causing him to slow and allowing Bolliger Kawasaki, No. 8 and Team X-One Yamaha, No. 4, to overtake us in the standings, dropping Diablo down to 7th.

As Marko came round at the end of his first lap he signalled that there was indeed a major problem with the bike but was told to stay out and try to nurse the bike to the flag.

Marko was unable to lap at his normal pace only having at the end 5th & 6th gears and having to slip the clutch just to get round some of Assens new track layout.

As Marko took the flag, the whole Team breathed a huge sigh of relief. Unfortunately, we had been overtaken by RMT 21 in the last 5 laps but still came home in a creditable 8th position.

Team principal, Miles Hutchins, both relieved and delighted added, “What a great performance by all our riders and the whole Team, we finished the race, just by the skin of our teeth but early on proved we can run with the top teams in this series. Geoff and Doug (Randall) have a lot of work to do on the bikes as soon as we get to Le Mans before next weekends 24hrs race”.

Alex Cudlin was really upbeat, “That was brilliant, what an experience, I can’t wait for next weekend”.

Marko Rohtlaan, “What a shame about the gearbox problems but we’ll be there at Le Mans and after the recent test, will be fighting for the podium”.

James Hutchins, “I’m gutted I can’t be at Le Mans, due to my final exams, but I wish the Team all the very best. I know I’ll be getting regular updates”.

Top 10 Provisional race result:

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