24 Hours of Le Mans (motorcycle race)

The 24 Heures Motos (often called in English the 24 Hours of Le Mans motorcycle race) is a motorcycle endurance race held annually since 1978 on the Bugatti Circuit, Le Mans, Sarthe, France. The race is organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) and is part of the Endurance FIM World Championship.

When the Bol d'Or moved from Bugatti Circuit to Circuit Paul Ricard at the end of 1977, the ACO created the 24 Heures Moto.^[1] The race became one of "the classics" of endurance racing along with the 24 Hours of Liège, the 8 Hours Of Suzuka, and the Bol d'Or.

At the end of 2001, the three 24 Hour classic races (Le Mans, Liège and the Bol d'Or) withdrew from the Endurance World Championship to create the Master of Endurance. Le Mans returned to the Endurance FIM World Championship in 2006.

Thursday

Free practice sessions, 1st qualifying practice sessions (in groups) and night practice sessions

Friday

2nd qualifying practice sessions (in groups), superpole

Saturday

Warm-up session. 3.00 pm Le Mans start. NOTE: The traditional Le Mans start, abolished in 1970 for automobiles, is still used for motorcycles.

Sunday

3.00 pm, finish of the race followed by the prize-giving ceremony

• FIM Endurance World Championship

• Official website
• Suzuki GSX-R Endurance Model Range
• Kawasaki ZXR-7 Model Range explanation