This weekend, the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans will host the 24 Heures Motos, the first round of the 2021 FIM Endurance World Championship. The race is set to be a thriller, with new line-ups and favourites among both the factory teams and the increasingly ambitious privateer teams.
The official teams include familiar outfits such as YART Yamaha, who are fielding the same line-up – Karel Hanika, Marvin Fritz and Niccolò Canepa – that won the runner-up spot last season.
Webike SRC Kawasaki France Trickstar, the 2018-2019 FIM EWC champions, will also be chasing the title with the same line-up comprising Jérémy Guarnoni, Erwan Nigon and David Checa.
Japanese team F.C.C. TSR Honda France, the winners of the 2020 24 Heures Motos and the 2017-2018 FIM EWC champions, have recruited Yuki Takahashi alongside Josh Hook and Mike di Meglio.
As for BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, who were very impressive during the test with the new M 1000 RR, the Spanish rider Javier Forés has joined Markus Reiterberger and Ilya Mikhalchik. Kenny Foray is the 4th rider of the BMW team who are chasing a dual goal of a first 24-hour race win and a first world title.
ERC Endurance-Ducati have exactly the same ambitions. The Panigale V4R will be entrusted to Mathieu Gines, Louis Rossi and Etienne Masson (world champion last season with SERT), with Sylvain Barrier as back-up rider.
Yoshimura SERT Motul in particular are eagerly awaited on the track. This new alliance between two legendary outfits is a dream team. Yoshimura, Suzuki Japan and reigning champions SERT have tied up to go after another world title.
Gregg Black and Xavier Siméon will be joined in the saddle of the GSX-R1000R by Sylvain Guintoli, MotoGP test rider and 2014 Superbike world champion, and back-up rider Kazuki Watanabe.
Some privateer teams are capable of taking on these factory teams. Challengers who stood out last season include Poland’s Wójcik Racing Team, French teams VRD Igol Experiences and 3ART Best of Bike and Slovakian team Maco Racing. Bolliger Team Switzerland is another contender to keep an eye on.
A newcomer in the EWC class, Moto Ain, two-time winner of the Superstock World Cup, also has big ambitions with riders Roberto Rolfo, Robin Mulhauser and Randy de Puniet.
The first official practice sessions for the 24 Heures Motos will get underway on Thursday, and offer early insights into the new pecking order in the world endurance championship.
Due to Covid restrictios, the R2CL team, featuring Dan Linfoot, James Westmoreland and Danny Kent will not be competing.
About the track
The ACO organised its first bike race in September 1912, well before the birth of the Bugatti circuit, which was inaugurated in September 1966 with an initial track of 4.422 km. The first Endurance bike race, “The 1000 km”, was contested on the Bugatti circuit in September 1969. The Bugatti track has been modified over the seasons. The current track of 4.185 km has been in use since 2008.
Few circuits in the world can boast of having hosted so many forms of competitions up to the highest level: Formula 1, Grand Prix Motorbikes, F 3000, Formula 2, Formula 3, Endurance motorbikes for the Bol d’Or and the 24 Heures Motos, 1000 km Motorbikes, 24 Hours Trucks, Kart 250, 24 Hours on foot, on bicycle, on roller skates and in dragsters as well as all the car and bicycle promotion events.
Records
Lap record 1’36.408 - Team SRC Kawasaki France - Randy de Puniet in 2017
Pole record 1’35.730 – Team SRC Kawasaki France – Randy de Puniet in 2017
