Paris (AFP)
The 24 Heures Motos, scheduled for the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans (western France) on April 17 and 18, will be raced behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic, organizers announced Thursday.
"Given the current health context, travel restriction measures between certain countries and gatherings in force in France, the 44th edition of the 24 Heures Motos (...) will be played behind closed doors", as in 2020, writes l 'Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), "in agreement with the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the Fédération Française de Motocyclisme (FFM) and Eurosport Events, promoter of the FIM EWC World Championship (motorcycle endurance, ed. ) ".
"We deemed it preferable with the ACO to keep the 24 Heures Motos on its April date so as not to destabilize the rest of the calendar which will also take place behind closed doors if sanitary conditions require it", indicates for his part François Ribeiro, who runs Eurosport Events.
It is also about "supporting the teams competing in the motorcycle endurance world championship", indicates the FIM in its own press release.
The 24 Heures Motos is due to be the first round of five of the 2021 season and one of its two 24-hour races, with the Bol d'Or in Le Castellet (south of France) on September 18 and 19.
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2021 Motorcycle World Endurance Championship (EWC) calendar:
April 17-18: 24 Heures Motos (Le Mans, France) IN CAMERA
May 23: 8 Hours of Oschersleben (Germany)
July 18: 8 Hours of Suzuka (Japan)
September 18-19: Bol d'Or (Le Castellet, France)
October 16: 12 Hours of Estoril (Portugal)
© 2021 AFP