24 HEURES MOTOS
PHOTO ESSAY
Pace versus patience: The challenge of racing through dusk and dawn
The 24 Heures Motos is a contest of passion and persistence at one of the most iconic race venues on the planet: Le Mans, France. Riders and pit crews run day and night on adrenaline and competitive spirit in hopes of merely reaching the checkered flag, in first if they’re good—and lucky—enough. Because if the racing wasn’t challenging enough, a superbike contest of this duration means that crashes, unpredictable weather, mechanical gremlins, and moment-to-moment changes in strategy are all but inevitable.
This year’s race was the 45th running of motorcycles at Le Mans, the second time the event has acted as the Endurance World Championship season opener, and thanks to COVID, the first time in two years that the race was run in front of spectators. It didn’t lack for drama; only moments after the green flag, an incident involving ex-MotoGP rider Bradley Smith brought out the safety car. Smith suffered no serious injuries, and the race quickly resumed. Two laps around the clock and 840 laps around the Le Mans Bugatti circuit later, we had a winner.
Michael Gilbert
