YART Yamaha has secured pole position for the highly anticipated 2025 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, setting a new lap record during the qualifying sessions held on April 18, 2025. The team, featuring the dynamic trio of Marvin Fritz, Jason O'Halloran, and Karel Hanika, showcased their prowess with an impressive average lap time of 1m34.664s, placing them ahead of their competitors.
Fritz, the standout performer, recorded a blistering lap of 1m34.489s, shattering the previous benchmark set by Yoshimura SERT Motul's Gregg Black just moments earlier. Black's effort of 1m34.551s had temporarily claimed the top spot, illustrating the fierce competition among the elite teams in the FIM Endurance World Championship.
As the clock ticks down to the start of the race, which kicks off at 3 p.m. local time on April 19, anticipation builds not just for the competitors, but also for fans eager to witness the endurance battle unfold on the iconic 4.185-kilometre Bugatti Circuit.
YART Yamaha's performance was nothing short of remarkable, claiming back-to-back pole positions at Le Mans and marking their sixth pole in seven attempts. Fritz expressed his excitement, stating, "It’s amazing of course, first race of the year and first pole position of the year. The team did an amazing job, the bike worked great, the Bridgestone tyres were amazing. And all of us could make this lap time or even faster." He acknowledged the strong competition they will face, especially with rain expected during the race.
Yoshimura SERT Motul, the reigning world champions, will start from second position, closely trailing YART Yamaha with an average time of 1m34.869s. Black, reflecting on the intense qualifying session, noted, "It was a great qualifying for us. We didn’t get pole position but the last time we got pole position here it didn’t end well on the first turn. The level of the competition is really high, and you can see the race pace out there is really fast, it’s incredible and it’s nice to see for endurance.”
Tati Team AVA6 Racing, riding high on their impressive qualifying performance, secured third place as the top independent team with a commendable average time of 1m35.127s. This year, the team consists of riders Hugo Clere, Martin Renaudin, and Randy Krummenacher, who are eager to make their mark in the race.
The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team improved their standing to fourth place, followed closely by ERC Endurance, F.C.C. TSR Honda France, and Kawasaki Webike Trickstar. The top seven was rounded out by ELF Marc VDS Racing/KM99 and MAXXESS by BMRT Pirelli Motul.
In the Superstock category, the Hungarian Endurance Racing Team by Moto-Jungle topped the order with a BMW, showcasing their talent and determination. The team, comprised of Bálint Kovács, Dávid Juhász, Máté Számadó, and Soma Görbe, expressed their excitement about starting from pole position, a significant achievement for the squad.
As the race approaches, teams are preparing for the unpredictable weather conditions forecasted for the event. Rain is expected to play a crucial role in the race strategy, adding an extra layer of challenge for the riders. Fritz mentioned, "It looks like we’ll have some rain in the race, but it’s the same for everyone and we’re well prepared."
With a record 53 teams participating in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, the atmosphere is electric. The event promises to deliver thrilling action as teams battle for supremacy on the track, and the stakes have never been higher.
The 48th edition of the 24 Heures Motos will commence on April 19, 2025, at 3 p.m. local time, and conclude 24 hours later, on April 20, 2025. Fans and teams alike are gearing up for what is expected to be an unforgettable race.
As the countdown to the start continues, warm-up sessions will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on race day, providing teams with one last opportunity to fine-tune their machines before the green flag drops.
With the excitement building, all eyes will be on the track as YART Yamaha, Yoshimura SERT Motul, and Tati Team AVA6 Racing lead the charge into this legendary endurance race. Will YART Yamaha maintain their momentum, or will another team rise to the occasion? Only time will tell as the 24-hour battle unfolds.
