Belgian motorcycle racer Xavier Siméon wins second year in Le Mans: "I am very proud"

"I'm very happy. We've had almost no problems throughout the race. I'm very proud, also of my teammates," said Belgian motorcycle racer Xavier Siméon (Suzuki GSXR 1000), after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the second year in a row with the French Gregg Black and Sylvain Guintoli.

The Suzuki team was one lap ahead of Czech Karel Hanika, German Marvin Fritz and Italian Niccolo Canepa (Yamaha). Australian Josh Hooks, Briton Gino Rea and Frenchman Mike Di Meglio took third place with a Honda.

The Le Mans event marks the start of the 2022 season of the motorcycle Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC), the main motorcycle endurance racing championship.

This year, the 24 Hours of Spa Francorchamps (4-5 June) returns to the calendar. "That will be a special match for me," says Siméon. "I grew up in the shadow of that circuit. It is a very long and challenging course. It will be a difficult, tiring race, but I hope to be able to fight for the win there too," he adds.

Siméon can follow in the footsteps of his father Michel Siméon in Spa-Francorchamps, who won the Liège 24 Hours in 1987 and 1995.

(THL / DCM ) (VIV)

© Belga Photo (JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER / AFP) (L/R): French rider Gregg Black, French rider Sylvain Guintoli, Belgian rider Xavier Simeon and Team Manager Damien Saulnier celebrate with their trophy on the podium after victory, on April 17, 2022.