20 April 2008
Round 1 – Le Mans 24hrs, France (Result)
Diablo 666 have raced at the Le Mans 24hrs and have never finished this event in the points. In 2006 gearbox problems forced the Team to stop, last year early crashes put the Diablo bike too far down the order to score Championship points.

Race positions were constantly changing during the race with every set of pit stops and nerves began to show in the pits as bikes behind us began to catch us rapidly.

Since the last report with six hours to go, the track has dried to the point where there is now a dry. Diablo 666 had been holding 13th but were passed by the Phase 1 Yamaha, being ridden by James Haydon at a rapid speed of knots, at some 14 seconds a lap faster.

The sky though has been full of rain clouds so there was no telling when rain would lash down again. However with three hours to go the weather dealt its final hand the circuit was bathed in brilliant warm sunshine, well at least for an hour or so!

The Diablo riders had been really struggling with the allocation of tyres and even Bolliger Kawasaki were struggling in the variable conditions and they too were way off their normal fast pace and being amongst the front runners.

With these warm dry conditions though all three Diablo 666 were able to put in some fast competitive laps.

With three hours to go we were locked in an epic battle with the Yamaha No. 57 bike, the Team LTG run bike and as we alternated our pit stops so either bike took the lead in the battle for 14th or 15th place.

The No. 4 Folch Yamaha and No. 3 Phase 1 Endurance Yamaha had moved ahead just that bit much out of range for Diablo 666 to challenge for 12th or 13th position.

As the clock wound down to zero, Diablo 666 crossed the line in 14th place scoring our first ever points at this prestigious event and of course the first of the 2008 season.

The Team were relieved to say the least. Miles Hutchins Team Principle was ecstatic, ?This is still only our third trip to Le Mans and our first points scoring finish. After all that effort by the whole team including our riders Michael, James and Alex, I am truly proud of everyone who contributed. To have come away with no points like last year was just not an option. Hopefully we will be more on the pace at the next round at Albacete in three weeks time?.

The next round is at Albacete in Spain on 10th May. Diablo 666 will be hoping to put in another storming performance then.

Final positions:

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