After an intensive schedule of pre-season testing, the Honda Endurance Racing team is well prepared and looking forward to face the opening round of the 2016 Endurance World Championship, which takes place this weekend (9-10 April) with the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans in France.

Endurance specialists Freddy Foray, Julien da Costa and Sébastien Gimbert are back with the Honda squad for a third consecutive year, competing aboard the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP. British rider Kyle Smith will join the team at Le Mans as reserve rider.

All three riders are looking forward getting back on board the CBR in a competitive setting and seeing the hard work the team has put in over the winter in practice. Undoubtedly the goal for the season is to secure the 2016 EWC title, but for now the entire focus is the formidable task of the first 24-hour battle and the target of overall victory.

The 24 Heures Motos begins at 1500 CEST on Saturday 9 April. For more information and updates on the team throughout the 24 Heures Motos, follow @HondaRacingCBR

Watch the Honda Endurance Racing season preview here: https://youtu.be/jsrTGAQ1-so

24 Heures MotosPractice and race schedule

Thursday 7 April:1530 – 1720 – Qualifying 1 (20 minutes per rider)2030 – 2200 – Night practice

Friday 8 April:1000 – 1150 – Qualifying 2 (20 minutes per rider)1800 – 2000 – Pit walk

Saturday 9 April:0945 – 1030 – Warm up1500 – Race begins

Sunday 10 April:1500 – Race finish

Neil Tuxworth Team Manager

I’m really pleased with the work the team has done this winter, the CBR’s are better prepared than they have ever been, following the tests we received encouraging feedback from Freddy, Julien and Sébastien. It was great to hear that the riders are confident and feel after the tests they are ready to race. The 2016 EWC season has changed a little as the 24 Heures Motos is now the only 24-hour race this season, with the Bol d’Or now falling into the 2017 calendar, so this makes the event more important than ever. We all of course are aiming for a win, but if we are strong and finish on the podium this would be a fantastic start to the season, I’m excited for Le Mans and look forward to seeing how we get on.

Freddy Foray

I’m really excited that the start of the EWC season is now here; the winter break is a long time. We enjoyed good pre-season testing in Spain and the team has worked hard and has done a great job preparing the CBR for us, so I’m very happy. Over the winter to prepare for the season I have been out on my MX bikes, but happy to be reunited with our Fireblade and especially with the positive changes. We need results this year and I’m confident with the package we now have that we can be strong, the team and everyone has worked so hard so now it’s down to us to ride well during the race.

Julien Da Costa We enjoyed a good test last month in Spain and also at the pre-Mans test, the Fireblade looks similar but everything works better and I’m confident for the season ahead and coming to Le Mans this weekend. We have collected a lot of data from 2014 and 2015 and this has been helpful with the development of the machine over the winter. The goal for the season of course has to be for us to become world champion, but honestly to be on the podium would be great for everybody in the team.

Sébastien Gimbert

I’m very happy and quietly confident going to Le Mans this weekend. As a race it is very important for the team as in 2016 it is the only 24-hour race on the calendar, so we need to make sure we are strong and able to collect as many all-important points as possible, and of course a win or podium would be nice too! Everyone has worked so hard over the winter from the team preparing the Fireblade and myself, Freddy and Julien, we are all ready for the 2016 challenge.