10TH ANNIVERSARY FOR THE MACO MOTO RACING TEAM CELEBRATING WITH WORLD CHAMPION

This year starts already 10th season for Slovak Endurance team Maco Moto Racing Team (MMRT).

What is Endurance? Everybody heard of the legendary 24 hours endurance race Le Mans. Endurance is about much more than 25 lap short circuit sprint. For the competitors there is a significantly greater emphasis on preparation before the event and on strategy and teamwork during the race. Endurance is unique in the reliance it places on team work; arguably more so than in any other form of motorsport. Success on the track is based on more than just the fastest lap times races can be won or lost in pitlane with a badly timed fuel stop or botched tyre change removing any lead that the riders might have built up. By eking out the last litre of fuel capacity during every session of a twenty-four hour race a team might avoid an extra pit stop before the end of the race, giving themselves a thirty seconds advantage that could be enough to take victory. Of course, if their calculations are wrong and the rider has to push a dead bike for half a lap, all that effort is wasted. But in the endurance races, especially on 24 hours race just the finish could be consider as great success. The MMRT is the only Slovak team, which not only complete 24 hours race but have had qualitative results.

During the ten years of competing on these prestige races the team MMRT have gained precious experiences and from initial "outsider" have become the team, which got to the total 22nd place from permanent teams and 4th place in their category Superproduction. In Japanese Suzuka the team stand on podium and got 2nd place in category SPP.

Last year in World Endurance Championship were competing teams in 4 categories - Superbike, Superstock, Superproduction and Prototype. This year international motorcycle association FIM changed the regulations and teams will be divided only in 3 categories - Superstock, Formula EWC and category Open. The category Formula EWC, in which MMRT is competing, is combination of the categories Superbike and Superproduction. In this category is allowed to use only the standard engines but everything else is adjusted for Endurance race - lightweight materials, newest and most modern technologies can be found on whole bike.

As the owner of the team Martin "Maco" Kuzma said the new Yamaha 2008 is prepared and have been tested for the season: "Last week we had chance to test absolutely new Yamaha YZF R1 2008, which our team was preparing during the winter. We have used the new technologies from the companies such as Öhlins, Beringer, PP Tuning or MG Competition. I have to say, that I am very happy with the results we had on training and after the small tuning we are prepared for this season."

From the words of the team manager Denisa Gresko, which is managing the team for already five years and has great merit on the success of the team can sense optimism: "Yes this year we are expecting to be the special and for the jubilee 10th season we are prepared as never before. Last year we have got great results but unfortunately throughout the season we had a little bad luck with the different technical faults. On the beginning of the season we had to fight with the problems with tyres and engine, which had majority of the teams. As well the communication with the Czech and Slovak Yamaha importers didn't get well. But last year we have established tight cooperation with the Yamaha factory in Japan, which gave us complete care and help us in maximum. These relations are even more consolidated so the communication with the Yamaha representative is on the highest level and previous problems with acquiring of engines, spare parts and answers to the technical questions are already history. Another bonus for us is the connection with the Swedish company Öhlins the leader on the world market with the performance suspension products. As well the Dunlop Company engaged to provide maximum support and communication directly in the pit box and to deliver tyres of the best quality. We could say that we did everything possible to become this year victorious for us. Of course, just the effort and complex technical preparation is not enough to win the races and the people in the team are very important. For all our fans we have prepared big surprise and I am very happy and pleased to let them know that our team will join the world champion in endurance motorcycle racing Warwick Nowland. Warwick, born in Australia gained since year 2000 for his teams' excellent results. I hope that he will feel in our team comfortable and will be able to offer to him maximal hospitality and technical needs so he would be able to reach great results. In this moment we are negotiating with other great pilots as Jason Pridmore /USA/ and Dave Stanton /USA/. Martin Kuzma is as well prepared to give maximum."

So the team MMRT is prepared for the new season and look forward to first race in Le Mans on 19th of April 2008. Martin Kuzma: "I am looking forward to first race of this season. Bike in addition to best technical accessories has new black design, which we have tested last year in Qatar. I can't wait for the cooperation with Warwick and expect maximum. As well I am happy that our sponsors are still with us and gave me opportunity to fulfil my targets and to show, that even the small country, as Slovakia is able to prepare the team for the world most prestigious motorcycle races.

Endurance calendar for the season 2008
- 19-20 April - Le Mans/France 24 hours
- 10 May - Albacete/Spain 6 hours
- 27 July - Suzuka/Japan 8 hours
- 9 August - Oschersleben/Germany 8 hours
- 13-14 September - Bol d´Or/France 24 hours
- 8 November - Doha/Quatar 8 hours

Motorcycle Yamaha YZF R1 08
- Capacity after adjusting: 190 - 195 hp
- Wheel discs: Marvic 16,5
- Front tire: DUNLOP 125;130/80/16,5
- Rear tire: DUNLOP 200/75/16,5
- Front and rear shock absorber: ÖHLINS
- Holders, pedals, handlebars: PP TUNING
- Brakes: BERINGER
- Radial brake pump: BERINGER
- Tank: Aluminum 24 litres with two openings for fast gas filling
- Front clamps: extended by 28 mm for fast tire changing
- Wheel fork: modified for fast tire changing