- The eighth edition of this unique academic competition, the largest to date, brought together ten teams and more than 140 people at the Circuit de Calafat.
- Second-year students of Motorcycle Racing Mechanics faced a four-hour endurance race as the final exam of their academic training.
- “During the Endurance Race, the students have a fantastic experience in a real competitive environment. Seeing how they approach an endurance race of this nature with such professionalism and passion is, without a doubt, a huge source of satisfaction for the entire school,” says Jaime Serrano, CEO of Monlau Motul.
The Monlau Motul Endurance Race once again demonstrated why it is a unique experience within motorcycle training. The Circuit de Calafat (Tarragona) hosted the eighth edition of this endurance race for educational purposes, which served as the culmination of the course for second-year students of Motorcycle Racing Mechanics at the Monlau Motul Technical School. Over two days, the event brought together more than 140 people and culminated in a four-hour race in which the students put to the test all the work they had developed over months in the Barcelona school’s classroom-workshops.
A total of 55 students, divided into ten teams – two more than last year – participated in the largest edition of the Endurance Race in history. Each team consisted of two riders, a team manager, and between four and five mechanics students, who worked on Honda CBR600RR F26 motorcycles prepared entirely by themselves. The expansion to ten motorcycles also allowed for a reduction in the number of students per unit and increased responsibility for each team member, in a project that faithfully replicates the workings of a professional racing structure.
The Endurance Race also involved other students from the school. First-year students served as race and track marshals, while students in the Master’s program in Motorsport Engineering collaborated on data analysis and the development of pit stop and fuel consumption strategies. All of this was done under the supervision of the faculty at Monlau Motul Technical School.
With ten motorcycles on the track, managing pit stops proved crucial once again in a very close race, where the regulations mandate six pit stops and limit refueling to 4 liters to encourage frequent pit stops . The Vaquilla Racing team (number 15), comprised of team manager Adrià Morera and drivers Diego Pérez and Félix Jerez, secured victory after completing 133 laps and employing a 19-stop strategy. They also recorded the fastest mandatory pit stop in the race’s history, with a time of 2 minutes and 58 seconds.
Second place went to Team Malibú 0,0 (number 26), led by Paco Barber with Alex Rubio and Andreu Estany as riders, while third place was secured by FMTS (number 99), with Albert Ávila at the helm and Miguel Parra and Albert Barranco riding the Honda CBR600RR F26. Both the second and third-placed teams made 15 pit stops. FMTS was also recognized with the Método Monlau award, which distinguishes the work done before and during the competition in aspects such as bike preparation, pit box organization, team organization, and discipline. Meanwhile, pole position went to G9 Racing Team (number 22), comprised of Juan José Molina as team manager and Alex Valls and Daniel González as riders, with a time of 1:29.975. This same team also set the fastest lap of the race, with a time of 1:29.500.
Jaime Serrano , CEO of Monlau Motul Technical School, highlighted the growth of the event and the high level of competition: “During the Endurance Race, students have a fantastic experience in a real racing environment. On the track, they apply everything they’ve learned in class and faithfully recreate an endurance race. This year, we’ve also taken it a step further with ten motorcycles on the track, which demonstrates both the project’s growth and the students’ high level of skill. Seeing them approach an endurance race of this nature with such professionalism and passion is, without a doubt, a huge source of satisfaction for the entire school.”
Carlos López , Director of Studies at Monlau Motul Technical School, emphasized the educational aspect of the event: “The most important thing about the Endurance Race is that students can put into practice everything they’ve worked on throughout the year. They experience a race with a very high level of realism, which helps them gain confidence and experience for their future careers. Furthermore, achieving the largest turnout to date perfectly reflects the consolidation of this project within the school.”
Adrià Morera , team manager of Vaquilla Racing, explained the importance of teamwork in achieving victory: “It was the result of many months of effort and organization. Each member was very clear about their role, and that was key throughout the race. Beyond the win, we gained the experience of having worked as a true professional team.”
For his part, Albert Ávila , team manager of FMTS and winner of the Método Monlau award, highlighted the dedication of the entire team during the project:“For us, it was very important to take care of every aspect of the project, both technically and in terms of organization and order within the pit box. This recognition validates all the work done over these months.”
Once again, the Monlau Motul Endurance Race became a race designed for students to make the difference in pit stops, rather than focusing solely on the drivers’ on-track performance. It was a unique training experience where students put their technical, strategic, and organizational knowledge into practice in a real-world racing environment, demonstrating the high level they have achieved during their training at the Monlau Motul Technical School.
