Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore insists it will head to Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps for round two of the 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship firmly intent on hitting back from its 24 Heures Motos exit last month.

After winning the 2022 FIM Endurance World Cup, the Yamaha-powered French squad had high hopes of more EWC success when the 2023 season got under way in Le Mans.

But a crash for new recruit Enzo de la Vega in the fourth hour cost the outfit 18 laps in the pits while repairs were made. Although de la Vega, Axel Maurin and Philipp Steinmayr gave everything to recover the lost time, the team’s exit was confirmed after 349 laps of running.

“It's with a heavy heart that we leave Sarthe but we'll be back strong in the second round at Spa in June,” a Facebook post from the team read.

The 24H SPA EWC Motos takes place from 16-18 June.