YART Yamaha kicks off the 2025 EWC season with a dramatic victory at the 24 Heures Motos, overcoming crashes, rain, and fierce competition to win their first Le Mans race since 2009.
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What do you get when you mix torrential rain, over 200 crashes, and a 24-hour rollercoaster ride at Le Mans? If you’re YART Yamaha, you get one unforgettable victory—and the perfect start to the 2025 FIM Endurance World Championship.
In a race that had more plot twists than a Netflix drama, Marvin Fritz, Karel Hanika, and Jason O’Halloran pulled off an absolutely heroic win at the legendary 24 Heures Motos. From crashing on the first lap to lifting the winner’s trophy 782 laps later, the Yamalube YART EWC Official Team delivered a masterclass in grit, strategy, and speed.
A Nightmare Start, a Fairytale Finish
The race hadn’t even started, and the drama was already brewing—heavy rain was forecast, and the track was slick with oil from a support race. Fritz, starting from pole position, crashed on the final corner of lap one. Ouch. From 1st to 21st in just a few minutes.
But YART doesn’t back down. Fritz mounted a jaw-dropping recovery, clawing his way back into the fight. Hanika kept the heat on with flying laps, and newcomer Jason O’Halloran—competing in his first-ever 24-hour race—stole the show by taking the lead within hours.
Everything That Could Go Wrong… Did
YART’s race was the definition of high-stakes endurance.
A rear puncture? Check.
Another crash? Check.
Rain, dry spells, more rain? Absolutely.
A last-minute visor issue that forced an emergency rider swap? Yep, even that.
At one point, they were two laps down. But thanks to relentless pace, sharp strategy, and sheer determination, they reeled the leaders back in. Then, with just an hour left and the skies opening up again, they nailed their tyre change—seconds before the leaders crashed. Talk about timing.
The Final Stretch
With a two-lap lead and one final scare in the pits, Fritz jumped back on the bike and brought it home. Victory after 16 years, and on his birthday, no less. Talk about cinematic.
- Marvin Fritz: First German winner at Le Mans since his crew chief, Max Neukirchner, in 2007
- Karel Hanika: First Czech rider to win the 24 Heures Motos
- Jason O’Halloran: Rookie in endurance racing, now a Le Mans champ
“Like a Movie You Wouldn’t Believe”
Team boss Mandy Kainz called it: “If someone asks me in twenty years how we won this race, they won’t believe me.”
And how could they? Crashes, comebacks, rain, heartbreak, and a finish straight out of a Hollywood script—YART Yamaha earned this one the hard way, and it made the win all the sweeter.
Points on the Board, Eyes on Spa
YART walks away with 63 out of 65 possible points, kicking off the season in style. From the front row to the back of the grid and back again, they’ve already proven they’re in it for the long haul.
Next stop? Spa-Francorchamps. And if Le Mans was anything to go by, we’re in for one hell of a season.
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