After a hotly disputed second qualifying session at Le Mans, YART Yamaha wrested pole position ahead of Yoshimura SERT Motul and BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team.

After a first qualifying session topped by a whisker by Yoshimura SERT Motul, the Franco-Japanese team lost out by a slight gap to YART–Yamaha Official EWC Team. The Austrian factory team was the only one to have all three riders within 1:35. Karel Hanika, who remained the fastest on track with a 1'35.732 lap, Marvin Fritz and Niccolò Canepa were practically within the same tenth of a second in the saddle of the R1 #7.

YART–Yamaha Official EWC Team, who have pocketed the five points awarded for pole position, will start from first place on the starting grid ahead of Suzuki Yoshimura SERT Motul (Gregg Black, Xavier Simeon and Sylvain Guintoli) and BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team (Markus Reiterberger, Ilya Mikhalchik and Javier Forés).

Tati Team Beringer Racing kept up their efforts. The Kawasaki-mounted independent team (Alan Techer, Sébastien Suchet and Julien Enjolras) are 4th on the grid.
Another independent team stood out today. The VRD Igol Experiences Yamaha is 5th on the grid thanks to Florian Alt, Florian Marino and Nico Terol.

These two bold teams did better than three factory teams, F.C.C. TSR Honda France, Webike SRC Kawasaki France Trickstar and ERC Endurance-Ducati, slowed by crashes this morning.

Moto Ain and 3ART Best of Bike round off the Top 10 at the start of the 24 Heures Motos.

The team missing from the leading pack are Wójcik Racing Team, who are trying to recompose a three-rider line-up in the absence of Gino Rea and Sheridan Morais, unable to be there because of health restrictions, and of Randy Krummenacher, who is competing in World Supersport in Misano.

There was a pitched battle in the Superstock class too. In the end Team 18 Sapeurs-Pompiers CMS Motostore carried the day ahead of Wójcik Racing Team 2, RAC41 ChromeBurner, Team 33 Louit April Moto, No Limits Motor Team, BMRT 3D Maxxess Nevers and National Motos. These teams are grouped together in 11th to 18th place on the grid.

On a cooler track than yesterday afternoon at the Bugatti circuit, the second qualifying was hotly disputed and all the teams improved their performances, which heralds a thrilling race for the opening of the 2021 FIM EWC season.

The 24 Heures Motos will be flagged off at midday tomorrow (Saturday) at Le Mans.

2021 Le Mans 24-Hour qualifying result

1 7 YART - Yamaha Official Team EWC HANIKA Karel * FRITZ Marvin CANEPA Niccol  Yamaha EWC 1:35.732 1:35.849 1:35.831 1:35.804 -
2 1 YOSHIMURA SERT MOTUL BLACK Gregg * SIMEON Xavier GUINTOLI Sylvain Suzuki EWC 1:35.915 1:35.793 1:36.145 1:35.951 0.147
3 37 BMW MOTORRAD WORLD ENDURANCE TEAM REITERBERGER Markus * MYKHALCHYK Illya FORES Javier BMW EWC 1:35.984 1:36.056 1:36.257 1:36.099 0.295
4 4 TATI TEAM BERINGER RACING TECHER Alan * SUCHET S bastien ENJOLRAS Julien Kawasaki EWC 1:35.885 1:36.149 1:37.632 1:36.555 0.751
5 333 VRD IGOL EXP RIENCES ALT Florian * MARINO Florian TEROL Nicolas Yamaha EWC 1:36.628 1:36.564 1:36.923 1:36.705 0.901
6 5 F.C.C. TSR Honda France HOOK Josh * TAKAHASHI Yuki DI MEGLIO Mike Honda EWC 1:36.556 1:36.977 1:36.835 1:36.789 0.985
7 11 WEBIKE SRC KAWASAKI FRANCE TRICKSTAR GUARNONI J r my * NIGON Erwan CHECA David Kawasaki EWC 1:36.744 1:36.993 1:37.571 1:37.102 1.298
8 6 ERC Endurance Ducati GINES Mathieu * ROSSI Louis MASSON Etienne Ducati EWC 1:36.896 1:37.414 1:37.583 1:37.297 1.493
9 96 MOTO AIN ROLFO Roberto * MULHAUSER Robin DE PUNIET Randy Yamaha EWC 1:38.114 1:37.314 1:36.484 1:37.304 1.500
10 36 3ART BEST OF BIKE ESCUDIER Nicolas * LAGRIVE Matthieu BERCHET Morgan Yamaha EWC 1:38.304 1:38.457 1:37.933 1:38.231 2.427
11 18 TEAM 18 SAPEURS POMPIERS CMS MOTOSTORE CLERE Hugo * NIGON Johan LUSSIANA Matthieu Yamaha SST 1:38.158 1:38.808 1:38.334 1:38.433 2.629
12 14 MACO RACING Team LEBLANC Gr gory * BOULOM Enzo LAMBRECHTS Bram Yamaha EWC 1:37.141 1:37.563 1:40.616 1:38.440 2.636
13 777 W jcik Racing Team 2 SZKOPEK Marek * TOURNE Florent FILLA Michal Yamaha SST 1:38.012 1:38.941 1:38.598 1:38.517 2.713
14 41 RAC41-CHROMEBURNER FASTR  Gr gory * TESSELS Wayne LEESCH Chris Honda SST 1:38.877 1:38.493 1:38.186 1:38.518 2.714
15 33 TEAM 33 LOUIT APRIL MOTO GAMARINO Christian * SANCH S David PEROLARI Corentin Kawasaki SST 1:38.515 1:38.863 1:38.340 1:38.572 2.768
16 44 No Limits Motor Team SCASSA Luca * MASBOU Alexis CALIA Kevin Suzuki SST 1:38.791 1:38.997 1:38.136 1:38.641 2.837
17 24 BMRT 3D MAXXESS NEVERS LOISEAU Anthony * HARDT Jonathan PILOT Julien Kawasaki SST 1:38.848 1:39.137 1:38.254 1:38.746 2.942
18 55 National Motos EGEA St phane * ANTIGA Guillaume TRUEB Kevin Honda SST 1:38.874 1:37.761 1:39.739 1:38.791 2.987
19 8 Team Bolliger Switzerland #8 BUHN Jan * PELLIJEFF Jesper JEZEK Ondrej Kawasaki EWC 1:38.368 1:38.850 1:39.352 1:38.856 3.052
20 90 Team LRP Poland VINCON Dominik * KRZEMIEN Kamil LEWANDOWSKI Bartlomiej BMW EWC 1:37.794 1:38.231 1:41.024 1:39.016 3.212
21 77 W jcik Racing Team BARRIER Sylvain * MORAIS Sheridan WIELEBSKI Artur Yamaha EWC 1:37.791 - 1:40.430 1:39.110 3.306
22 72 JUNIOR TEAM LMS SUZUKI RENAUDIN Martin * RAYMOND Guillaume SUCHET Valentin Suzuki SST 1:39.025 1:39.094 1:39.669 1:39.262 3.458
23 66 OG MOTORSPORT BY SARAZIN HEDELIN Camille * PERRET David PLANCASSAGNE Alex Yamaha SST 1:38.931 1:38.826 1:40.098 1:39.285 3.481
24 45 METISS JBB PONS Gabriel * RIZZA Ludovic CHARPIN Mathieu Metiss EXP 1:38.686 1:39.576 1:39.919 1:39.393 3.589
25 119 Slider Endurance CORTOT Charles * MARMONT Clement BUISSON Dylan Yamaha SST 1:38.889 1:40.142 1:39.796 1:39.609 3.805
26 101 Team Aviobike BOSCOSCURO Andrea * AUBRY Jean Edouard KEMMER Christopher Yamaha SST 1:38.640 1:41.083 1:39.279 1:39.667 3.863
27 121 FALCON RACING CHEVALIER David * EISEN Theo MILLET Lo c Yamaha SST 1:39.937 1:39.820 1:39.460 1:39.739 3.935
28 86 PITLANE ENDURANCE - JP3 PELLIZOTTI Maxim * SARRABAYROUSE Alex PARASSOL Adrian Yamaha SST 1:38.961 1:39.732 1:40.563 1:39.752 3.948
29 34 JMA MOTOS ACTION BIKE CARRILLO Cyril * BONNET Julien CUDEVILLE Maxime Suzuki SST 1:39.201 1:40.051 1:40.557 1:39.936 4.132
30 65 Motobox Kremer Racing #65 DEHAYE Geoffroy * STR HLEIN Stefan COLLIAUX Benjamin Yamaha EWC 1:39.144 1:40.700 1:40.640 1:40.161 4.357
31 91 ENERGIE ENDURANCE 91 NAPOLI Christian * NAPOLI Federico CHOY Martin Kawasaki SST 1:39.774 1:41.553 1:41.037 1:40.788 4.984
32 15 TEAM LE MANS 2 ROUES BOUE Marco * PARISSE Emmanuel DUPUY Eddy Aprilia SST 1:41.120 1:41.173 1:40.167 1:40.820 5.016
33 94 TEAM LH RACING FONTANELLE Benjamin * CRONIER Nicolas GELAS Pierre Yamaha SST 1:40.654 1:40.526 1:42.153 1:41.111 5.307
34 156 PLAYERS DE KIMPE Arnaud * THIBAULT Matthieu AYNIE Axel Kawasaki SST 1:41.699 1:40.854 1:40.922 1:41.158 5.354
35 23 TEAM Univers racing/ACRacing MEUNIER Leo * MEUNIER Lucas QUETEL Jimmy BMW SST 1:39.129 1:43.090 1:41.443 1:41.220 5.416
36 30 gt endurance LAGEON Camille CROIX Karl * DUFOUR Paul Yamaha EWC 1:41.943 1:40.410 1:41.542 1:41.298 5.494
37 20 Moto sport endurance #20 SIMON Anthony * LE BRAS Youenn OLLIVIER Jimmy Yamaha SST 1:40.452 1:41.477 1:42.532 1:41.487 5.683
38 53 Mana-au Competition RICHARD J r me * POTILLION Simon CHEVALLIER Aurelien Suzuki SST 1:41.275 - 1:42.048 1:41.661 5.857
39 35 TMC 35 AGOGUE Alan * JOUBERT Florian DIARD Maxime Yamaha SST 1:41.095 1:41.702 1:42.464 1:41.753 5.949
40 40 FAST TEAM RACING BOUVIER David CHERON Herve * DAGAULT Manu Kawasaki SST 1:41.101 1:41.691 1:42.659 1:41.817 6.01
41 27 TRT27 BAZAR 2 LA BECANE ERUAM Cyril * BRUNET-LUGARDON Cyril GIRARDET Hugo Suzuki SST 1:42.806 1:41.429 1:41.424 1:41.886 6.082
42 73 team space moto BRARD Christophe * LOUAULT Olivier ROCHE Charles Suzuki SST 1:41.937 1:41.401 1:42.632 1:41.990 6.186
43 85 TEAM RACING 85 JACOB Kevin * HERAULT Jeremy BACHELIER Marc Kawasaki SST 1:42.079 1:41.274 1:43.004 1:42.119 6.315
44 71 Z RACING BRUYAT Gabin BONIFACIO Nico ECCHELI Davide * Suzuki SST 1:41.924 - 1:42.537 1:42.230 6.426
45 116 Kingtyre Fullgas Racing Team DEJEAN Arnaud * HENRIQUES David HAUSER Ludovic Kawasaki SST 1:42.798 1:43.195 1:42.463 1:42.818 7.014
46 51 MOTOSTAND ENDURANCE REGOUBY Baptiste * NOEL Fran ois HUGUEVILLE Alexis Kawasaki SST 1:42.317 1:43.385 1:42.806 1:42.836 7.032
47 22 TEAM 202 PARRET Florent * CREUSOT Amandine Yamaha SST 1:43.069 1:43.635 - 1:43.352 7.548