Motorcycle: Uzège silver at the Bol d’Or, KM99, the story of a meteoric rise

Drivers and managers happy with this 2nd place at the Bol d’or with the Yamaha n°99. MIDI LIBRE

Le propriétaire Gaëtan Schyns sur la Yamaha 99, avec le partenaire Luis Nabais et les élus locaux : un podium partagé par toute l’Uzège ! MIDI LIBRE – ALPHONSE GIOVANNINI

Endurance. Gaëtan Schyns, the boss of the Franco-Belgian team, who shone at Castellet with Randy De Puniet, is based in Montaren.

"It's a great source of pride, an achievement for our very young team created last year." The KM99 team came 2nd in the Bol d'Or two weeks ago on the Paul-Ricard circuit in Le Castellet, and the team's boss, Gaëtan Schyns, has reason to be over the moon. The Gard too: the Belgian, an entrepreneur who has always been passionate about motorcycle racing, lives a good part of the year in Montaren, near Uzès.

In 2022, he built his structure from scratch. Two years later, it became the first private team in the 2024 World Endurance Championship, 4th in the standings behind three factory teams.

“A project that is both crazy and achievable”

It was well worth a reception last Tuesday at Luis Nabais, a partner from Uze, in the presence of other sponsors, elected officials and the media. For the Gardois, this team is above all a big family to which he is happy to belong:“I joined four years ago when I met Gaëtan. He told me about his project. I found it both crazy and feasible. I was attracted because I myself love motorbikes. So, I decided to share the adventure and become a partner. It's a great success that we are proud to celebrate today in Uzège".

Silver at the end of the 87th Bol d'Or, then, with former MotoGP rider Randy De Puniet, Florian Marino and Jérémy Guarnoni riding a Yamaha R1. 857 laps and 3,586.5 km on the clock in 24 hours; 2nd out of 48 entrants behind Yoshimura-Sert (Suzuki GSX-R 1000) who won his 16th race and took the world championship title; first private team, first Yamaha, first bike equipped with Dunlop tires.

“We decide to do our race behind the madmen”

Gaëtan Schyns recounts this meteoric rise:“We finished 10th in the World Endurance Championship for our first season last year. This year, we had set ourselves the top 5. The start of the year was complicated and in Suzuka in Japan, it was a wake-up call. We finished 6th. And then we started to dream of a podium, a difficult task behind the factory bikes. At the Bol d'Or, on the Paul-Ricard circuit, we had nothing to lose, everything was possible. Starting in 7th position, we decided to start well, to race behind the madmen. Anything can happen: breakdown, road exit… We are in 4th and then 3rd place after 18 hours, to finish 2nd 7 laps behind the untouchable Black, Masson and Linfoot. And 4th in the final championship ranking".

A collective success, of course: Mario Kupper, exceptional preparer and developer of the Yamaha R1; Fabien Foret, Supersport world champion in 2002, great coordinator; “It's the podium of an entire team, our drivers of course but also all the “hospitality”, those that we don't necessarily see: mechanics, drivers of our semi-trailers, cooks, fitters, managers, partners, continues the Belgian who fell in love with Uzège. There are more than 80 people who travel to three of the four major races: the 24 hours of Le Mans, Liège and the Bol d'Or. For Suzuka, we reduce the number. These four events, we work on them all year long so when victory is at the end, it is magnificent and it is a great reward". Because for the young and ambitious KM99, this 2nd place is worth a victory.

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