Le Mans (AFP)
The start of the 43rd edition of the 24 heures Motos was given on Saturday at 12 noon in front of empty stands, on the dry track of the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans but under a threatening sky, with 38 motorcycles at the start of a race which promises to be disputed. .
Despite the closed door imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, the pilots took the traditional start, running across the track to join their mounts.
Part 3, the Suzuki N.2 of the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT), leader of the world championship, took the lead from the start, driven by Frenchman Gregg Black.
He was followed after one lap by Mike Di Meglio's Honda N.5, which passed him at the very start of the second lap.
Starting from pole position, the Yamaha N.7 of the Austrian team YART was only 7th after one lap, and the Ducati N.6 driven by Randy de Puniet, part 5th, was only 19th.
The start was given by Dominique Méliand, known as "the leader", founder and manager for nearly 40 years of SERT, with which he won 10 times the 24 heures Motos and fifteen world titles.
Official starting grid for the 43rd edition of the 24 Heures Motos, run from Saturday (start at 12:00 p.m.) to Sunday, on the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans (4.185 km), after qualifying practice on Thursday and Friday:
1. Karel Hanika (CZE) - Marvin Fritz (GER) - Niccolo Canepa * (ITA) - YART Yamaha (N.7 / EWC) in 1: 36.706
2. Kenny Foray * (FRA) - Illya Mykhalchyk (UKR) - Markus Reiterberger (GER) - BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team (N.37 / EWC) at 0.193
3. Etienne Masson * (FRA) - Gregg Black (FRA) - Xavier Simeon (BEL) - Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (N.2 / EWC) at 0.631
4. Josh Hook (AUS) - Freddy Foray (FRA) - Mike Di Meglio * (FRA) - FCC TSR Honda France (N.5 / EWC) at 0.746
5. Randy de Puniet * (FRA) - Julien Da Costa (FRA) - Louis Rossi (FRA) - ERC-Ducati (N.6 / EWC) at 0.823
6. Florian Alt * (GER) - Florian Marino (FRA) - Nicolas Terol (ESP) - VRD IGOL Pierret Experience (Yamaha N.333 / EWC) at 0.913
7. Jérémy Guarnoni (FRA) - Erwan Nigon * (FRA) - David Checa (ESP) - SRC Kawasaki (N.1 / EWC) at 0.954
8. Alan Techer * (FRA) - Sébastien Suchet (SUI) - Julien Enjolras (FRA) - Tati Team Beaujolais Racing (Kawazaki N.4 / EWC) at 1.280
9. Gino Rea * (GBR) - Axel Maurin (FRA) - Broc Parkes (AUS) - Wojcik Racing Team (Yamaha N.77 / EWC) at 1.464
10. Stéphane Egea * (FRA) - Valentin Debise (FRA) - Guillaume Antiga (FRA) - National Motos (Honda N.55 / EWC) at 1.528
11. Christian Gamarino (FRA) - Kevin Manfredi * (ITA) - Kyle Smith (GBR) - Team 33 Coyote Louit Moto (Kawasaki N.33 / Superstock) at 1.711
...
Editor's note: 39 registered crews, 38 starters
* pilot who will take the start
© 2020 AFP