[EWC] 24H Motos: Update at 16 p.m.

Yamaha created a surprise by stealing pole position at Kawasaki by replacing its Japanese rider Takuya Fujita with German Max Neukirchner.

The average of the best times, recalculated with the performance of Max Neukirchner alongside Broc Parkes and Marvin Fritz, was YART Yamaha on pole. On the other hand, Michael Dunlop, called home for family reasons, was replaced at R2CL by Gwen Giabbani. Injured during testing, Manuel Poggiali, the double GP125 and GP250 World Champion, gave way to Pierrot Lerat-Vanstaen.

At the time of departure, the air temperature was 28° and that of the track 37°. Randy de Puniet was the fastest to set off.

Behind Randy, Kenny Foray preceded Vincent Philippe, Freddy Foray, Julien da Costa, Grégory Leblanc and David Checa. Kenny Foray took command on the fifth lap, ahead of Randy de Puniet, Freddy Foray, Vincent Philippe and David Checa.

The #3 Kawasaki and the #63 Yamaha fell separately, without gravity. The #13 BMW (then eighth) fell shortly after. Julien da Costa took fifth place from David Checa. Corentin Perolari on the Kawasaki 33 and Axel Maurin on the #333 Yamaha respectively occupied the first two places in the Superstocks at the end of the first half hour. The Tati Team Beaujolais Racing Kawasaki 4 was brought back to its stand with the assistance of a breakdown truck.

The Safety Car entered the track after 32 minutes, while the BMW of the NRT48 team driven by Kenny Foray led the race in front of the Kawasaki 11 of Team SRC Kawasaki.

As the first hour approached, the BMWs were the first to refuel. Mathieu Ginès fell without gravity when leaving the pits.

Ranking at the end of the first hour:

 

Photos © ACO and fimewc.com / David Reygondeau