At the 24 Heures Motos, the grid is determined after two qualifying sessions, based on the average of the two best lap times set by each team—whether competing as a trio or a quartet—in the Superstock and Production categories. Tomorrow at 3 p.m., the #1 Yamaha YZF-R1 of YART-Yamaha Official EWC Team will start from pole position. The Austrian squad is the defending winner of the Le Mans classic as well as the reigning champion in the FIM Endurance World Championship.

What stands out after qualifying is just how close the field is: the top five are covered by only six-tenths of a second. The first six machines are equipped with Bridgestone tyres. The #4 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade from Tati Team AVA6 Racing, in seventh place, runs on Pirelli tyres. Dunlop will rely on the #6 BMW M1000RR from ERC Endurance #6, ninth on the grid, to represent its interests.

The leading Superstock machine, the #25 BMW M1000RR entered by Team Étoile, qualified in tenth position. This marks the Japanese team’s third appearance. It is aiming for both victory and the title in the FIM Endurance World Cup. With three M1000RR machines in the top three, BMW clearly stands out as the fastest bike in this class. Notably, the #55 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade from National Motos Honda FMA—winner at the Circuit Bugatti in 2025—sits 25th on the grid. It is likely that the team managed by Stéphane Haddadj chose to focus on race preparation rather than chasing outright lap times.

The sole entrant in the Experimental category, the #45 Metiss, will start from 27th place on the grid, among the Superstock machines, with an average lap time of 1:38.668.

Just 0.053 seconds! That’s the gap between the #144 Honda CBR1000RR from ETH by 2V Racing, which set the fastest time in the Production category, and the #42 Kawasaki ZX-10R from Greenteam 42 Lycée Sainte-Claire, in second place. With the #96 Yamaha YZF-R1 from Legacy Compétition in third, three different manufacturers occupy the top three spots. In this category, consistency and error-free riding will be crucial—but fuel consumption will also play a major role in the fight for victory. The Production class is the most accessible category at the 24 Heures Motos, featuring bikes that are close to production models. These machines must retain many original components, such as electronics and fuel tanks. The key difference is that refuelling is carried out by swapping the tank during pit stops using a secure quick-connect system, rather than filling it directly.

Which machine brings up the rear of the grid? It is the #13 BMW S1000RR entered by Flying Buffs M3 Racing in the Production category. This Polish team is making its debut at the 24 Heures Motos after competing in the 8 Hours of Spa Motos last season.

Find the full starting grid for the 49th edition of the 24 Heures Motos—the opening round of the FIM Endurance World Championship 2026—and book your tickets now through the event’s official ticketing platform.