EWC Bol d’Or finale: Former Grand Prix rider makes his 24-hour debut

The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99 will line up with a revised rider line-up for the season finale of the Endurance World Championship (EWC). As Alessandro Delbianco is competing in the Italian Superbike Championship (CIV) at the same time, former Grand Prix rider Bo Bendsneyder will join the regular line-up for the Bol d’Or. The Dutchman will share the Yamaha R1 with French riders Randy de Puniet and Florian Marino. Supersport World Championship rider Lucas Mahias is also returning to the Belgian team as the fourth rider.

For Bendsneyder, the race at the Circuit Paul Ricard will be a first. The 27-year-old, who competed in the Moto3 and Moto2 World Championships for a total of eight years between 2016 and 2023, will be taking part in a 24-hour race for the first time.

Forced break over: Bendsneyder fit for the Bol d’Or

Recently, however, Bendsneyder was forced to take a break. He sustained an injury at the EWC round at Spa-Francorchamps. The Dutchman has now made a full recovery.

“Bo has made a full recovery from his injury at Francorchamps and has fully regained his physical fitness,” confirmed team manager Mario Kupper. “He is 100 per cent fit and ready to take on this new challenge with the team.”

Marc VDS beim Bol d'Or: Mahias, Bendsneyder, Marino und De Puniet

Foto: Marc VDS

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Alessandro Delbianco is actually part of the Yamaha line-up with start number 99. However, the Italian cannot compete in the Bol d’Or as he will be battling for vital championship points at the CIV Superbike in Cremona that same weekend. Delbianco won the Italian Superbike title in 2025 on a Yamaha R1 and is also leading the overall standings this season.

Strong fourth rider: Mahias back on the R1

Lucas Mahias brings additional experience to the team. The Frenchman was already part of the regular line-up in 2023, during KM99’s first EWC season. Mahias was crowned Endurance World Champion in 2016 and currently rides for GMT94-Yamaha in the Supersport World Championship.

“We are particularly delighted to welcome back one of our former riders, Lucas Mahias, to the team,” explained Kupper. “We are pleased with this new rider line-up and look forward to tackling this important event of the season together.”

For Bendsneyder, however, the Bol d’Or is uncharted territory. After many years in the Grand Prix paddock and his move into endurance racing, the Dutchman faces the unique challenge of a 24-hour race for the first time at the Circuit Paul Ricard.