Next week, the world famous Bol d'Or endurance race takes place at the Magny-Cours circuit in France. This fifth round of the QMMF Endurance FIM World Championship is the last 24hr race of the 2007 season and will be particularly important in determining which team will take the title.
In addition to the permanent teams fighting for this year's world championship, the Bol d'Or will welcome the two BMW Motorrad Motorsport teams that finished fifth and ninth at Oschersleben, as well as taking the Open Class victory. Watching from the pit-lane will be endurance racing legend Stephane Mertens. The 48-year-old Belgian was due to race for the BMW factory team this year but was unfortunately injured during a test session on one of BMW's own test tracks in southern France even before the season began.
As a former World Endurance Champion, World Superbike racer and twice BMW Motorrad Boxer Cup champion, Mertens is no stranger to victory. He has won a staggering 87 races and finished on the podium more than 150 times during his long career. In an exclusive interview, Mertens explains why he'll be living each lap with the BMW Motorrad Motorsport team riders next weekend at Magny-Cours
You must be very disappointed to not be racing with BMW this year?
Absolutely. Disappointed and frustrated. It's been a long haul [the accident occurred back in March] but I'm back on the road to fitness and I'm working on this every day. I can drive a car and I probably could ride a motorcycle but certainly not at a competitive level.
The racing world thought you were retiring last year and considering going into team management?
I had decided to retire at the end of last year - I am 48 after all - but then I got a call from Berti Hauser who told me about this new endurance project and this got me very excited. BMW wanted to make use of my experience and motorcycle development skills to help build a new team in the World Endurance Championship, as well as try to develop the new R 1200 S. I have lots of experience in endurance racing at world level and plenty of experience on sports boxers so I was only too happy to help.
So are you performing an 'ambassadorial' role for BMW, as you can't race?
Yes, I'm as much a part of the team as I can be. I was there at Oschersleben and I'll be there at the Bol d'Or too. It's frustrating for me being injured. After all, it would have been my 29th year of racing this year. I'm happy to help out, but obviously I would rather be out on the circuit, so I just have to be patient.
Are you working hard on your rehabilitation?
As much as I can. I had the accident at the first test I did for BMW earlier this year. It was a private test circuit near Marseille and as a result of the crash, I had a fractured pelvis, a broken shoulder and foot. I had to spend nearly two months in hospital and have been on crutches for nearly five months now. As I result I've lost a lot of muscle strength. I'm now attending a special rehabilitation centre in Luxembourg, which is very modern, with good facilities.
You've done all kinds of racing all over the world, but what are the special qualities needed to compete in a 24-hour race?
First, you need to be an experienced rider. It sounds obvious but in endurance, it is very important for the team and the bike to get to the end of the race. As a rider, you have to be able to avoid making mistakes, which is where experience plays its part. The pace is very fast throughout the duration of the race, so mental concentration is very important, especially towards the end of the race. Having a top physical condition is also vital, as it's tough out there and very hard on the body.
When you're out there racing for hour after hour, does it feel as if you're competing against other riders or just against yourself for consistent lap times?
Racing is always easier when you have someone to try and beat, so a visual 'fight' with another rider helps immensely and makes things more enjoyable of course! You can also be really motivated by the information that you read on your pit board, which can help remind you that you aren't out there on your own, although in one sense you are. A rider needs motivation because it's difficult at times when you are alone on the track. He needs to feel that his team is there with him and that he is getting the right information. An hour racing can seem like a very long time when you are getting tired in the middle of the night and your body is telling you that it should be sleeping.