Five-time French Superbike champion and four-time defending champion, Kenny Foray, approaches the 2026 season with clear ambitions, although the competition is closing in dangerously. At Le Mans, during the opening round of the FSBK season, the Frenchman missed the podium for the first time since 2024 in Race 1, before bouncing back and fighting for victory right down to the final corners in the second race of the weekend.
During this meeting, Paddock GP was immersed within Team Tecmas. This provided an opportunity to discuss with Kenny Foray the challenges of his FSBK campaign, as well as his upcoming participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans as part of the Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC).
Hello Kenny Foray, it's a pleasure to see you again at Le Mans for the first round of the 2026 FSBK season. As a four-time defending champion, how are you approaching this new year?
“I never arrive with the desire to crush everyone. When I start a season, I go into it as if I've never won before. That's been my motto for quite some time. I think that's what allows me to maintain this longevity. Nevertheless, it's not easy. When you're the guy to beat, it remains quite complicated.”
Do you feel in the paddock that you're the man to beat?
“When I say ‘the guy to beat,’ it’s a bit of a harsh term. It’s all in good fun. But when you win the title four times in a row, you can imagine that people want your status. Lots of people have bought the same bike as me. I think it’s great for BMW that people understand we have a very good bike.”
Race 2 went rather well, with a good battle for the win and an encouraging second place finish. However, Race 1 was more difficult. After winning 12 of the 14 races in 2025, it seems the current campaign is shaping up to be more challenging?
“Yes and no. We know the championship always starts at Lédenon or Nogaro. Le Mans is a circuit everyone knows very well. Now, it’s clear it will be more complicated. I don’t think we’ll be able to beat 2023 in terms of the level of competition, but the championship is very competitive and I think we’re going to have a lot of fun. It’s great to ride and see everyone battling each other. However, I think the gaps are too big. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen such large gaps in FSBK, with such strong competition.”
What went wrong for you in Race 1?
“From the moment you don’t have the right tires, you always have doubts. I’m not saying I would have been much faster than the others if I’d had the same tires. I might not have won. But at least I would have felt like I could fight. So, I didn’t feel like I could give it my all. And that’s what bothers me most. It’s not being able to give it my all. When you feel it, after 3-4 laps, you think: ‘This is going to be tough.’”
How can you manage a performance gap that comes from the hardware?
“When you’re riding, you observe others a lot, you observe those who have Pirellis, it might be other tires, but you always observe them. So you see everyone’s strengths and weaknesses. We know our strengths and weaknesses, and as we go along you see those who improve, so development is ongoing. For the moment, we see that it’s working very well with our competitors. It might be surprising for people to see a sudden change, but we’ve been expecting it for a while.”
Does it impact your motivation?
“No, it was definitely tough, but my experience reassures me. After Race 1, I realized that it wasn't just a question of driving skill. There's an element that we can't control.”
Let's move on to Endurance racing. This year you're back with BMW on the #6 ERC Endurance bike. Can this weekend serve as a "dress rehearsal" for the 24 Hours of Le Mans? What can you use here to prepare for Le Mans?
"It's primarily about the driving. But on the other hand, we already know the circuit so well. Besides, it's not a big deal if you don't know it. It's a bit of a rehearsal, and I think driving here this weekend is definitely an advantage. But we drive on this track so much that at some point you already know it very well."
What conclusions were you able to draw from the pre-Le Mans tests organized from March 31st to April 1st on the circuit?
"Those were good tests, even though there were a lot of people on the track. It was a lot to manage. It was a little more complicated. We'll see how it goes at Le Mans. We know it was 15 degrees there. We might arrive at Le Mans and it will be 25. It might even rain. We don't have much to compare it to."
This year, you have new teammates…
"Indeed, Marcel Schrötter. He's the new one who's replacing Ilya Mykhalchyk."
How do you work to welcome a new driver into the team, and to recreate a certain cohesion within the group?
“I have faith in my guys. I don’t know them personally, though. Or not for very long. But during the winter, I see how they work, I see that they’re confident guys, you see that everyone is motivated. For me, that’s enough. You know, sometimes it’s not possible to always have the best. And it’s the same for me. Sometimes I won’t be the best. But if I’ve given it my all, that’s the main thing. I’d rather have someone who finishes 3rd and gave 150% than someone who finishes 2nd and didn’t give 100%.”
In a sport where you are fighting for the same goal, is it necessary to build a friendly relationship with your teammates?
“Yes, I do like having a friendly relationship with my teammates. But the thing is, you try to work with them. We can’t let things get too casual, etc. Besides, I have a lot of former teammates I’m still friends with. It’s almost easier to be friends when it’s over because there’s less of a professional relationship. However, I have to admit it’s still cool to have mechanics you like too. As for teammates, if you get along really well with them, that’s definitely much better.”
Is communication more important there than elsewhere?
“Indeed, you have to gauge when things are good and when they aren’t. When things are good for you, you have to be aware that it might not last very long. And when your teammate is doing a little better, you shouldn’t tell him, ‘Oh, I want a different bike.’ No, you have to be balanced.”
What are your expectations for the upcoming endurance season?
"I'd like to get two podium finishes overall. If I could get at least one podium in a 24-hour race, that would be cool. Two 24-hour races would be perfect."
Because 24 Hours is the format you prefer?
"That's a pretty tough question. Nothing can replace the 24 Hours of Le Mans or the Bol d'Or. But the 8-hour race is still a lot less tiring."
What would be the ideal start to the season for Le Mans?
"A podium finish."
Aren't you thinking about victory?
"I think we have more than enough to beat, but we're not a factory team yet, so we have to be realistic. If we win, it will be because we've had a lot of favorable circumstances."
That's all we wish for you.
"Thank you! Of course I want to win. But for me, we're more capable of a podium finish than a win at the moment. Realistically."
