Podium for SERT at 24 Hours of Le Mans

The Yoshimura SERT Motul team finished on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, claiming the runner-up spot to mark a solid start to the 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship.

 

SERT, the most successful team in endurance racing history, qualified in sixth, but Gregg Black made one of his trademark starts and was second by the exit of turn one.

 

From there, Black and his teammates, Etienne Masson and Dan Linfoot, consistently battled inside the top four, despite a minor technical issue to overcome with the ECU.

 

Consistent stints through the night and SERT had moved to second place by Sunday morning, and from there they held the position to the chequered flag, ensuring a strong points haul and a solid start to their title campaign.

Black said, "It is always great to be on the podium here in Le Mans. Last year was a bit more difficult for us, so we're happy. Of course, we'd like to win the race, however, our on-track performance was sound. It was quite difficult in the start of the race, in the hot conditions, and we lost a bit of time in the pits because we had a few electronic issues. But then in the evening we felt comfortable on the bike."

 

Masson added, "I’m pleased with this result. The race was tricky at times, with 60 competitors on the track and a few minor technical issues, but this is the 24 Hours of Le Mans – a race that comes down to consistency and endurance. We’ve made it onto the podium. And, in three weeks’, time at Suzuka, we’ll be testing the new bike, which they’ve been working on over the last few months and the initial feedback from the test riders is positive."

 

Linfoot commented, "I did enjoy the race. It's two years since I’ve raced here in Le Mans. As usual, the team worked really hard and they gave us a good base for the race. We had a strong race, despite losing time in the box. We are happy for our second place. It's a lot more points than this time last year and we can move on to the next three races."

Team manager, Damien Saulnier, summarised the weekend, saying, "We finished second, and even though we wanted to win, it’s a very, very good result. I’m happy and the team is pleased with the outcome. Last year, we finished sixth on this circuit and missed out on the title by a single point.

 

"The championship has got off to a much better start than last year. So overall, I’m extremely pleased with the weekend. The team is bringing trophies home, which is obviously a delight. It’s been a brilliant weekend.

 

"We had a few minor issues, which perhaps cost us the win. Nothing too serious, and the whole team will be working flat out in Japan with Yoshimura and Suzuki to find solutions. After all, that’s racing. I’m happy with the result."