The machine from the Japanese manufacturer, victorious in 2020, has completed more than 130 laps and is one lap ahead of the Yamaha of Yart, on pole on the grid and the Suzuki of SERT, title holder at Le Mans and world endurance champion. motorcycle 2021.

Under the Sarthe sun, the Honda N.5 was able to carve out a place in the lead thanks to the setbacks of its competitors: a completely failed start for the Austrian Yart team and out of gas for the Suzuki N.1, brought back in his pit while running by the French driver Sylvain Guintoli.

The first motorcycle in the Superstock category is the Yamaha N.18, three laps behind the leader.

Fifty two motorcycles divided into two categories, the Endurance World Cup or "EWC", vastly improved and very expensive motorcycles and the Superstock or "SST", machines closer to production motorcycles, took the start of this edition which welcomes approximately 50,000 spectators, back after two editions which took place behind closed doors due to the health crisis.

52 riders take the start of the 45th edition of the 24h Motos, on April 16, 2022 on the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER AFP

The start given by the French swimmer, five times world champion Camille Lacourt, had been marked by an accident between motorcycles 96 (Yamaha/EWC) and 74 (BMW/SST) and the immediate intervention of the safety car to neutralize the positions.

After the shock, the Moto Ain team's 96 motorcycle was forced to retire and its British rider Bradley Smith, who had come from the motorcycle Grand Prix and whose condition was not a cause for concern, was transferred to a hospital. Le Mans to take additional exams.

British driver Bradley Smith is evacuated on a stretcher, after an accident between his Yamaha and a BMW, at the start of the 24h Moto, on April 16, 2022 on the Bugatti circuit of Le Mans JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER AFP

The 24h Motos also open the season of the world endurance championship which will also be contested on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium (from June 2 to 5), at Suzuka in Japan in August and at Le Castellet during the centenary of the Bol d gold in September.

© 2022 AFP