translated_content>My adventure as a biker during the WERC season at Carole

Two days at Carole, the kind of weekend where you’re treated like a prince, with a bike that promises a lot: the Yamaha FZ8 Road Cup. Nothing to manage, just ride, feel the track under your wheels, and lose a slider in the middle of a turn. Yes, it shakes, it burns adrenaline, and it gives you some nice soreness in your rear. Between riding, qualifying, and an endurance that makes you juggle with rain and trajectories, the WERC season at Carole is high-level sport, without it turning into a cakewalk. It slaps, it’s raw, it’s fun: welcome to the jungle of amateur racers who have what it takes under their helmets.

Discover the dominance of the FZ8 Road Cup on the Carole circuit

On Friday, less than twenty kilometers from home, it’s time to head to the Carole circuit. No question of bringing your personal bike, the star is the Yamaha FZ8 Road Cup 2011, a monster prepared by Yamaha France Racing and pampered by the Thorn Bike team. And when they present you with titanium options, Ohlins fork guides, a Brembo RCS master cylinder, and an AFAM chain, the official partner of the WERC, it’s clear that they don’t joke around with the preparation.

It packs a punch, the handling is as quick as a well-timed throttle, and the engine vibrates more than a 2003 R1. But be careful, this Yamaha beauty pushes you toward the outside on corner exit – a flaw quickly fixed by the team lowering the front end, and bam, it holds the road better. We touch the sublime when we discover that even when aggressively scraping the sliders, it stays glued to the trajectory, a real toy to throw down with style. The braking? Biting like a well-tuned Kawasaki. In short, the FZ8 holds the road and leaves quite a few Ducatis, Hondas or Suzukis dreaming of such agility on the asphalt of Carole.

The ups and downs of riding: lost sliders and sound checks

End of the first session, technical inspection. This is where you realize that your bike can be as temperamental as a BMW Motorrad in trouble. Worn footpegs and lack of drainage at the bottom of the fairing, and there you have the FZ8 failing inspection. Luckily, the Thorn Bike team is there to sort it out quickly, because a bike that doesn’t pass inspection isn’t cool, even if you feel like the king of the world in your leather suit. The double dose of racing options is all well and good, but you also have to think about the details that irritate.

Last session, we test the position on a machine with a straight handlebar – it’s a change from my habits and requires a real throttle management. The sound check (without baffle) exceeds the allowed 102 dB by the FFM: 107 dB, and I’m called to order. When the rain arrives, inspections are suspended... and so is the tension, because riding in the wet with an overly excited bike is a true challenge to survive the session without going into a rodeo.

Qualifying, pre-grid hassles and sprint race

On Saturday, upon waking, a small mechanical challenge with the front wheel heating blanket causes a stir, but it’s back on track after a few tweaks. The problem is the lap times: I feel like I’m pushing, but it remains mediocre. When the weather forces a switch to rain tires, it’s an opportunity for a wet baptism that heats up the lap times and sensations.

The real chaos begins in the pre-grid, when I find myself stuck in the pit lane while my friends settle in the front row. Result, starting from the back of the grid, a hassle that isn’t easily digested. But the first corners in Alpha are a true wrestling match: one rider goes straight, I take the opportunity to grab an FZ6 and pass it. The game of cat and mouse begins, but when the first big guns catch the pack, the pace changes. I finish in 26th position out of 29, but I assure you, I pushed the beast to the limit.

The highlight of the day: organizer's punch and bubbles for the crew

After the tight battle, it’s time for the traditional debrief with Philippe Vasseur, the big man of Bullster and Secdem, who showers the riders with some bubbles and, above all, good surprises to win: ELF oils, Dunlop tires, a true microcosm of amateur racing where mutual support and rivalry mix like fuel and engine oil. In short, we’re not here to just kill time, but to have fun on the tracks and behind the post-race bar.

The true endurance: rain, refueling, and lost sliders

On Sunday, we take it easy with a well-deserved lie-in. The morning briefing is serious: tire choice with uncertain weather, refueling strategy. On the track, it’s the time for the real battle, an intense hour where the rain plays hide and seek with the asphalt.

On the 12th lap, an express refueling that could have turned disastrous: overflowing fuel, quick clean-up, and off we go. Shortly after, paraboloid turn, strange sensation at the knee. And the adrenaline pump goes wild: slider lost! Riding without a slider is like a DJ without turntables: you can always try, but it’s a guaranteed hassle. The last half-hour is a nightmare, the leather catches the curb, but the rider holds on despite a not-so-great position for tall guys.

I finish 24th out of 29, with a sore rear that leaves memories, but above all a huge respect for this discipline where fun rhymes with pain and technical mastery. Among KTM, Aprilia, Husqvarna, and Triumph that sprinkle the grid, it’s clear that the WERC competition is a melting pot of passionate enthusiasts ready to go all in.

Proud thanks and see you at the finale in Vigeant

Big shoutout to the whole Yamaha France Racing team, with José Leloir at the helm, without whom this adventure on the FZ8 Road Cup wouldn’t have been as epic. Thanks also to Repaire des motards, SBR Menuiserie, NGK Spark Plugs, Leader Bikes, and Emprinte for their unwavering support. The season isn’t over, we’ll meet again in early September at the Vigeant circuit to blow out another candle for the Promotion Cup 1000.

For those who want to dive into the joyful hell of the WERC, for true amateur riding or simply the pleasure of feeling the rubber squeal, there’s plenty to check out on this page dedicated to amateur competition.

And yes, you there, the Sunday rider with your CB500 who daydreams in front of your screen, know that the road is for those who dare to open the throttle, test their limits, and live their passion to the fullest, whether on a Ducati that burns the asphalt or a Honda faithful at the post. So, ready to join the pack?

PS: would I buy an FZ8 Road Cup? Not with my money, but if someone lends it to me, I’m racing straight to Valencia, one hand in my pants and a smile on my face.

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