After a bit more than 7 hours, our team #9 abandons.

It’s not consternation but fatalism that shows on the faces of our team members. Our team, that had everything to end up on the podium, packs its bags. For us the race has ended, and in the most sad way it can happen. Despite the deception everyone stays worthy. No signs of anger, just a very strong feeling of disappointment about missing an opportunity …
Olivier Aerts
« I’ll need a few hours to calm down. I’m so frustrated ! We were perfectly prepared as well back in the workshop as here on track since Monday.
We finally had 3 homogeneous riders and to have to abandon at 22h30, that hurts ! Due to the crash, the water/oil exchanger broke and there was a leak at the carter. The first 7 hours of the race just made the situation worse. There are winners and there are losers who don’t really abandon. And with that positive thought I want to close off this weekend. »
Mario Kupper
« I’m very very very disappointed, but after Olivier’s crash, the outcome was predictable. The state of the bike said enough : the gears were affected, we couldn’t even get into 6th anymore – and some other damages, we just had to call it quits. It really was THE crash we had to avoid because it affected the rest of the troubles.
Despite this, I stay positive : it was a good week and we really made a lot of progress on the bike, and we appreciated Josep’s advise and Arturo’s calm. It was a nice experience, which makes the failure even harder to accept. I really hope that Qatar remains on the programme, we still have so much to prove … »
Christian Jupsin
« I really hoped that I didn’t have to say anything before Sunday 15h00 ! I’m so sad for our team. Everything was there to book good results : a good team spirit, good riders, good settings and good tyres. Everything was there to succeed this 24 hour challenge. I know that’s racing, but it’s hard to accept anyway, so much energy wasted, so much hope broken down.
I want to thank everyone in the technical team, all mechanics, the hospitality staff and the youngsters who always accompany us with lots of passion.
The season isn’t over yet. We will turn this page and concentrate on the next race in Qatar. »
Josep Monge
« Without that crash in the beginning of the race, we would have finished 1st or 2nd in Superstock. We had a good pace and I was very at ease on the bike. This experience with the team DG Sport was a real pleasure because the entire team is very motivated, charming and always smiling.
I also want to thank Michelin for giving me the opportunity to ride with the Team DG Sport, It made me very happy. »
Arturo Tizon
« Of course it’s sad to end this way. We have worked hard during the week to find the best settings for the bike and the warm-up had allowed us to fine tune the settings even further. I’m ready for a new experience with the team DG Sport. »
Olivier Depoorter
« Evidently I’m very very disappointed about our abandon, just like everyone else in the team …
It’s was a problem with the brakes that caused this crash in the beginning of the race and it made us lose lots and lots of time. But continuing wasn’t easy technically : the engine overheated and we had gear troubles. I know I repeat myself, but I’m very disappointed because we had a perfect team and all was there to finish on top of the Superstock category. »