The FIM Endurance World Championship returns to the Le Mans circuit for the 47th edition of the 24H Motorcycles. During the first sessions of the weekend, Yart-Yamaha and Yoshimura SERT Motul competed for the top spot. However, it is this Saturday that things count, since the start of the race was given at the beginning of the afternoon.
Before we begin, here is a table that summarizes the known facts:
|
24H Motorcycles |
2023 |
2024 |
| Free Trials |
1'35.964 – BMW Motorrad World – n°37 |
1:35.348 – Yart-Yamaha – n°1 |
| Qualifying Practices 1 |
1'37'.53 – Yoshimura SERT Motul – n°12 |
1'34.868 – YART-Yamaha – n°1 |
| Night Free Trials |
1'36.236 – FCC TSR Honda France – n°1 |
1'36.237 – Yoshimura SERT Motul – n°12 |
| Qualifying Practices 2 |
1'37.153 – Yoshimura SERT Motul – n°12 |
1'34.868 – YART-Yamaha – n°1 |
| Course | FCC TSR Honda – n°1 | |
| Best lap | 1'35.751 – BMW Motorrad World – n°37 |
EWC – 24H Motorcycles
From the start of the second hour of racing, the No. 12 led by Etienne Masson took back the lead, dragging Karel Hanika's Yart-Yamaha in its wake.
However, while he mastered his subject, Gregg Black fell, and then took the track the wrong way. The Yamaha No. 1 of the Yart is therefore back in the lead. After passing the baton to his teammates, Karel Hanika once again leads the way aboard the Yamaha.
Fall of the lead motorcycle #12 of the @Yoshimura_SERT !
Driver ok ✅#24hmotos #FIMEWC pic.twitter.com/V5q8buNTPY
— 24 Heures Motos (@24heuremotos) April 20, 2024
Behind, the No. 5 Honda, although well back after its first fall, repeated its experience in the gravel trap. This time the machine suffered a double puncture and the return to the box is all the more perilous. The machine remained in its box for a long time before returning to the track more than 25 laps from the lead. She is currently in 42nd position.
The Japanese manufacturer's woes do not end there. Shortly before the third hour of the race, the No. 333 suffered a technical breakdown a few hundred meters from the pits, resulting in a considerable loss of time.
Superstock
In Superstock, the No. 9 took advantage of the racing events, and grabbed places overall. As the 4 hours of racing approach, Hannes Soomer is in 6th place, well ahead of Sebastien Suchet and the #55.
Experimental
In the last category entered in the 24H Motos, the n°45 moved back in front of the n°3. Ludovic Rizza is currently in 41st place in the general classification, 25 laps from the lead.
24H Motos 2024 (/24): General classification:
