Paris, 8 September: The 37th 24 Heures Moto (20-21 September) was presented last Thursday at a press conference held by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest in Issy-les-Moulineaux in the Moto Journal headquarters, the club’s partner.
The Moto Journal magazine, the media partner of the 24 Heures Moto hosted the presentation of the 2014 24 Heures Moto, which will take place in two weeks on Le Mans Bugatti circuit. It was presided over by Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest in the presence of Jacques Bolle, President of the FFM, Paul Duparc, Coordinator of the FIM Road Racing Commission, Bruno Dussourt, assistant general manager of Motor Presse France (the group on which the Moto Journal depends) as well as different sports people.
Two things are at stake! Victory in the most prestigious endurance event on the calendar and clinching the world title in the final race after the Bol d’Or, the Suzuka 8 Hours and the Oschersleben 8 Hours.
To win outright the entrants have but a single ambition – beat Kawasaki!
Since 2010 the green bikes have been on the topmost step of the podium. This year the SRC Kawasaki team represented at the conference by its team manager, Gilles Stafler, will try and continue its domination of 24 Hour races and achieve a feat that only Honda accomplished in the past – 5 wins in the Sarthe classic!
The domination of the green make has made it difficult for those aiming for victory and the world title starting with Yamaha. The GMT 94 team will arrive at Le Mans leading the championship although seven teams can still win the 2014 title mathematically speaking.
Honda Racing, back this year, won the Oschersleben 8 Hours the last race run before Le Mans, as well as Suzuki and the team spearheading its attack, the SERT, will all be there to go for it.
During the press conference the different shows put on by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest to entertain the public and make the 24 Heures Moto an even greater festive occasion were also mentioned. It all kicks off on Friday evening with the Mechanical Show followed by even more support races (seven), exhibitions of historic motor bikes that have raced in the event, concerts with LeSpark, les Plasticines, and The Jim Jones Revue topping the bill. The pit lane will also be open to the public with an autograph session, and there are more new restaurants. All this entertainment will be highlighted by the presence of the Play-Boy girls during the event.
Two of them came along to fever up the ambiance at the press conference. At Le Mans they will parade on the grid, and they will go to meet the public. After the concerts they will spice up the night on the same stage to the rhythms of DJ Mike Rock!
Pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie was absent as he was detained in Brussels for the final of the Diamond’s League, but he sent a video in which he expressed his love for the 24 Heures Moto and the fact that he couldn’t wait to race in it for the second time.
The opening practice sessions for the 37th race will start in two weeks for the 56 crews who will be on the grid.
38th 24 Heures Moto
18-19 April 2015
Pierre Fillon, President of the ACO gave a scoop by announcing the dates of the 24 Heures Moto in 2015. The 38th event will take place on 18-19 April. This time the race will be back at its original dates after being held in September for four years. “With our friends from the Larivière organization, the organisers of the Bol d’Or, who I’d like to say hello to, we have listened to our fans. Their opinion is unanimous: to return to the situation prior to 2011 and organise the 24 Heures Moto in April again. We reached an agreement with the FIM and the FFM.
“For all lovers of two wheels this return to April will enable them to perpetuate a tradition that’s firmly anchored in the past: namely, to go for their first outing after the winter to enjoy this festive, convivial sporting event that is the Le Mans 24 Heures Moto. It’s a great opportunity for the 24 Heures Moto and also for endurance racing as a whole.”
24 Heures Moto 2014
37th event
4th round of the 2014 FIM World Endurance Championship
Dates : 20 – 21 September
Circuit : Bugatti (4,185 km) at Le Mans.
General enclosure ticket: 50 € in pre-reservation until 7th September: 63 € afterwards.
ACO members: 48 €.
Free for under 16-year-olds (born after 22nd September 1998)
Start of the 37th 24 Hours for Motorbikes: Saturday 20th September 2014 at 15 h 00.
Informations : www.24h-moto.com
WebTV : www.lemans-tv.com
Facebook : 24 Heures Moto – ACO Official
Twitter : @24heuresmoto Hashtag : #24Hmoto