YART Yamaha goes back-to-back as Le Mans delivers another 24-hour thriller
The 2026 edition of the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans once again proved why it is one of endurance racing’s most unpredictable and demanding events, as Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team claimed victory, leading a strong showing from Bridgestone-supported teams in the season opener.
Following their triumph in 2025, the Austrian squad made it two wins in a row at Circuit Bugatti, but this time, the path to victory was anything but straightforward.
A fierce fight from the very start
The tone for the race was set in qualifying, where YART secured pole position by the narrowest of margins. Karel Hanika’s record-breaking lap of 1’34.267 put the #1 Yamaha just ahead of the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, with only a few thousandths separating the two title contenders.
Despite starting from pole, YART struggled off the line and quickly dropped out of the top five, while F.C.C. TSR Honda France seized the early initiative. Close behind, KM99 Yamaha also showed strong early pace, before the first twists of the race unfolded. An engine failure for KM99 quickly reshuffled the order, while YART began working its way back through the field.
Strategy vs speed: YART and BMW go head-to-head
Four hours in, YART had taken the lead, but the battle was far from decided. The Yamaha’s outright pace came at a cost, with higher fuel consumption forcing shorter stints. In contrast, the BMW M 1000 RR ran longer 37-lap stints, allowing it to regain track position through strategy.
By the eight-hour mark, BMW had moved into the lead, securing maximum intermediate points and maintaining control deep into the night. Even after 16 hours, the German machine remained at the front, holding a narrow advantage over the chasing YART.
Both teams demonstrated strong and consistent pace on Bridgestone tyres throughout the changing race conditions.
Behind them, the fight for the podium intensified. Yoshimura SERT Motul stayed within striking distance despite early electronic issues, while Kawasaki Webike Trickstar delivered a composed and consistent performance to remain in contention.
Dawn drama turns the race on its head
As has so often been the case at Le Mans, the decisive moment came in the early morning hours.
After leading for much of the race, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team saw its challenge slip away in quick succession. A fall involving Michael van der Mark, dropped the #37 machine out of contention.
YART seized the opportunity, moving back into the lead and managing the race through the final hours. The Austrian team kept everything under control to seal a commanding victory.
SERT and Kawasaki capitalise
Behind the dominant YART machine, Yoshimura SERT Motul delivered a strong recovery ride to secure second place. Despite earlier setbacks, including electronic issues and traffic challenges, the team demonstrated its trademark resilience over the full 24 hours.
Third place went to Kawasaki Webike Trickstar, whose disciplined and reliable approach paid off. By staying consistent and avoiding major incidents, the team capitalised on the misfortunes of others to claim a well-earned podium finish.
All three podium finishers were equipped with Bridgestone tyres, underlining their performance and consistency over the full 24 hours.
A race of attrition and missed opportunities
Elsewhere, the race proved unforgiving.
F.C.C. TSR Honda France showed strong early pace and ran at the front before a nighttime collision forced a lengthy repair stop. Dropped far down the order, the team mounted a determined comeback to finish 12th and salvage valuable championship points.
“It wasn’t the result we’d hoped for,” said Alan Techer. “We proved that the bike could be fast and consistent. Unfortunately, we had a small crash, but we had to finish and pick up the points.”
AutoRace Ube Racing Team impressed on its full-season debut as one of the Bridgestone-supported teams, consistently running among the front runners and demonstrating its potential against more established teams.
Meanwhile, KM99 Yamaha showed strong early pace before retiring, underlining how even minor issues can disrupt a promising run at Le Mans.
A statement victory
In the end, YART’s victory was a masterclass in endurance racing – combining speed, recovery, and race management when it mattered most.
From a difficult start to complete control in the closing stages, the reigning world champions once again proved their ability to deliver under pressure. The win also marks Yamaha’s sixth victory at Le Mans.
Looking ahead
With the opening round complete, the 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship is already shaping up to be another fiercely contested season.
The championship now moves to the 8 Hours of Spa Motos in June, where the Bridgestone teams will look to build momentum or to come back even stronger. If this season opener is anything to go by, the road ahead will be anything but predictable. 🏁
