24h Motos
The first qualifying session for the 49th 24 Heures Motos unfolded under ideal conditions for the 60 riders entered. The reigning world champions stamped their authority on the Bugatti Circuit, but BMW is applying pressure (provisional 2nd and 3rd positions), while Suzuki remains in ambush. Further back, Kawasaki and Honda currently sit in 7th and 8th places.
Qualifying for the 24 Heures Motos is split into two sessions, each divided into four 20-minute segments for the three or four riders entered per bike.
Hugo Clere (Honda #4) managed to set a competitive time before crashing at the Musée corner, at the same moment as Robin Mulhauser (Yamaha #36). Meanwhile, world champion Karel Hanika set the pace aboard his Yamaha YZF-R1 (1:34.576). In Superstock, Japan’s Hikari Okubo put the #25 Team Étoile BMW at the top of the category (1:37.116), closely followed by Hungary’s Soma Görbe on another BMW M 1000 RR (#9 Team Tecmas – Minerva Oil), just 16 thousandths behind. More competitive than last year, the Production category features 11 entries, with Jordy Manneveau setting the fastest time on the Le Mans circuit: 1:40.677. Notably, the #55 National Motos Honda FMA (Valentin Suchet) did not set a time in this session.
The blue armbands handed over to the yellow armbands, and the chase for lap times resumed, still led by the reigning world champion Yamaha. Marvin Fritz had just enough time to complete his first flying lap before red flags were shown. Race direction reset the session, and the German quickly laid down a benchmark: 1:35.256. Étienne Masson (Suzuki #12), Steven Odendaal (BMW #37), and Corentin Perolari (Honda #5) gave chase, but Fritz responded with an even faster 1:34.778.
In Production, Alexy Négrier (Kawasaki #42) dominated the field, setting a clear fastest time of 1:41.107. In Superstock, after Jan Bühn crashed at the double right-hander of the raccordement (#38), another BMW moved to the front, with Christophe Ponsson (#9) posting a 1:36.862.
All 60 bikes returned to the pits. Riders exchanged brief feedback with their teams—discussing feeling, setup, and track conditions—while mechanics checked the machines, refueled, and prepared for the next run. Then it was time for the red armband riders to take to the track.
Corners flowed into one another, straights were devoured, and lap times kept dropping on the Bugatti Circuit. Spain’s Isaac Viñales stood out by putting the #4 Honda Tati Team Ava6 Racing at the top (1:35.676), before being successively beaten by Michael van der Mark (BMW #37) and Alessandro Delbianco (Yamaha #99). In the closing moments, Hannes Soomer secured third place in the session (BMW #76). Once again, a BMW topped the Superstock category, this time through Kaito Toba (#25 Team Étoile), while Anatole Beaupère (Honda #144) led the Production class.
As shadows lengthened over the Le Mans track, the final group headed out. For reserve riders (EWC), the goal was to get—or regain—their bearings in case they are called upon during the race. For others (fourth riders in Superstock and Production teams), this marked their first true qualifying outing.
Behind the scenes, tension built as timesheets were analyzed and conclusions drawn: Yamaha holds provisional pole in the premier class (#1), ahead of BMW #37 and #76. The afternoon ended slightly later than planned after another interruption in the final session due to oil on the track. At the chequered flag, BMW held provisional control of the Superstock category, while Yamaha led in Production. The sole Experimental entry, Metiss, posted an average placing it in the upper half of the standings.
Provisional Pole Position (EWC):
1. Yamaha #1 YART-Yamaha Official EWC Team – Karel Hanika / Marvin Fritz / Leandro Mercado – 1:34.677
2. BMW #37 BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team – Markus Reiterberger / Steven Odendaal / Michael van der Mark / Jérémy Guarnoni (reserve rider) – 1:34.709
3. BMW #76 Autorace Ube Racing Team – Naomichi Uramoto / Sylvain Guintoli / Hannes Soomer / Jérémy Guarnoni (reserve rider) – 1:35.356
4. Suzuki #12 Yoshimura SERT Motul – Gregg Black / Étienne Masson / Dan Linfoot – 1:35.440
5. Yamaha #99 KM99 – Randy De Puniet / Florian Marino / Alessandro Delbianco / Bo Bendsneyder (reserve rider) – 1:35.617
Provisional Pole Position (Superstock):
1. BMW #9 Team Tecmas – Minerva Oil – Soma Görbe / Christophe Ponsson / Chris Leesch / Guillaume Antiga – 1:36.825
2. BMW #25 Team Étoile – Hikari Okubo / Motoharu Ito / Kaito Toba / Rei Toshima – 1:36.849
3. BMW #38 Champion-HERT Powered by MRP – Bálint Kovács / Jan Bühn / Loris Cresson / Máté Számadó – 1:37.252
Provisional Pole Position (Production):
1. Yamaha #96 Legacy Compétition – Jordy Manneveau / Pierre Gelas / Ludovic Hauser / Jonathan Hugot – 1:41.108
2. Honda #144 ETH by 2V Racing – Jérémy Hérault / François Noël / Anatole Beaupère / Lylian Fontaine – 1:41.172
3. Kawasaki #42 Green Team 42 Lycée Sainte-Claire – Julien Bonnet / Alexy Négrier / Jules Blanc / Corentin Garcia – 1:41.348
Experimental:
• Metiss #45 Metiss-JBB – Ludovic Rizza / Clément Chevrier / Joe Akroyd / David Henriques (reserve rider) – 1:38.755
The final hierarchy will only be confirmed after the second qualifying session, scheduled for tomorrow morning (Friday) from 10:20. Before that, competitors will take part in night free practice this evening from 20:30 to 22:00. Check out highlights from this opening day in the gallery below.
