The race to win the 2025 FIM Endurance World Championship got off to a dramatic start at Le Mans this afternoon with changeable weather conditions leading to an action-packed opening to the 24 Heures Motos.
At the completion of eight hours of intense action, Kawasaki Webike Trickstar holds the advantage over Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team following a thrilling battle between the pacesetting duo, which culminated in Román Ramos passing Jason O’Halloran for first place at 22h44 local time. But in another twist, Marvin Fritz fell shortly after replacing O’Halloran on the #7 Yamaha, with more than two minutes lost while he pitted for repairs.
BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team is in third after twice stopping in the pits following falls, first for Sylvain Guintoli and then for new recruit Steven Odendaal. ERC Endurance and F.C.C. TSR Honda France completed the top five at the eight-hour mark, followed by National Motos Honda FMA, which tops the Dunlop-equipped Superstock category order.
Flagged off by official starter, the French actor Mathieu Kassovitz, the 48th edition of the 24 Heures Motos was less than a lap old when Fritz, who set a Circuit Bugatti record on his way to pole position on Friday, crashed at the final corner.
His misfortune left Gregg Black clear in the lead only for the reigning world champion to fall at La Chapelle after 10 minutes with almost five minutes lost while repairs were made.
With Black and Fritz delayed, Sylvain Guintoli mastered the slippery conditions in impressive fashion and was close to completing a double stint out in front for BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team when crashed at Chemin aux Boeufs after 1h43m of racing. “I was feeling good, not cruising but the rhythm was good,” Guintoli, the 2021 EWC champion said. “But I just got caught with a backmarker. He was slower than I thought, and I had to go in the wet part of the track. It is what it is.”
F.C.C. TSR Honda France was the next team in front with Alan Techer at the helm. Despite falling shortly after taking over from Techer, team newcomer Taiga Hada remained in the lead before being overtaken by O’Halloran, making his debut for the YART Yamaha squad, as the rain returned.
Fritz was back on the leading Yamaha when he was forced to make an unscheduled pitstop to change a damaged tyre, leaving Mike Di Meglio in first place on his maiden appearance for Kawasaki Webike Trickstar, which had been delayed earlier in the race while his team repaired a fuel pump issue.
But Fritz, who turns 32 tomorrow, was able to battle back and reclaimed the lead shortly before 20h00 local time with the Austrian outfit remaining in front until Kawasaki Webike Trickstar made its move shortly before 23h00.
After eighth hours, MAXXESS by BMRT3D Pirelli Motul is seventh followed by Team18 Sapeurs Igol CMS Motostore, Dafy-RAC 41-Honda and TRT27 AZ Auto.
Team Super Moto Racing heads the FIM Endurance World Trophy for production-based machinery but, having dominated qualifying, Green Team 42 Lycee Sainte Claire has retired following a heavy crash at 17h20.
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