On the left, Hugo Clere, 24, who rides for Junior Team Le Mans Sud Suzuki in the FIM EWC Endurance World Championship and in the French Superbike Championship. He already has four 24 Heures Motos appearances under his belt, the highlight being a second-place finish in the Superstock category in 2017 on a Yamaha for the Moto Ain Racing Team. On the right, Romain Leloup, 26, the Le Mans-born rally-raid biker, 60th overall in Dakar 2018 and fifth in the “malle-moto” (without assistance) class. The ACO brought the two athletes together to give them a chance to find out more about each other’s discipline... And swap machines for the day!

On the Bugatti circuit

It is common knowledge that Dakar adventurers are hardly an impressionable bunch. And yet, after receiving a few tips from Clere and his team manager Damien Saulnier, Leloup’s expression betrayed more than a little apprehension. The Le Mans-born biker’s previous experience of riding his local circuit amounted to a mere 20 minutes.

While Clere took to the Junior Team Le Mans Sud Suzuki GSX-R, Leloup straddled a Honda CBR belonging to Le Mans Driver, the ACO’s school. The pair sped out on to the Bugatti circuit. After a few laps, Leloup began to improve his times, setting a mark of 2:02. “As I’m rather tall, I couldn’t find a comfortable position on the bike to begin with. I also had trouble finding the braking points and selecting the right gear in the turns. You get caught up in the game of trying to go faster. The bend before the Dunlop chicane is something else,” Leloup said, showing off the sliders of his leathers marked by the friction with the track. “I almost pulled a wheelie,” he laughed. Clere offered some reassuring words: “Your position on the bike was right. You read the lines well. It was great! Well done! The pressure is on me now for the rest of the day!”

On the motocross circuit

The “rest of the day” to which Clere was referring took place at the Vaas motocross circuit 30 minutes away. It was now his turn to leave his comfort zone and show signs of unease. “I sometimes do some motocross and enduro between races, but it’s totally different from speed racing. My small size doesn’t help,” Clere pointed out. “Some of the Dakar winners have been no bigger than you!” Leloup replied.

The 2016 France Supersport champion took a deep breath and mounted the KTM 450 which Leloup rode in Dakar 2018. They covered all the aspects of the rally-raid discipline, from reading the roadbook and simulating a start, to tricky winding sections and jumps. Clere proved to be quite at home and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. “He quickly got to grips with the bike and followed me. He really impressed me,” Leloup acknowledged.

Two different disciplines

The day brought it home to Clere and Leloup just how different their disciplines are. “I used to think that speed was easier than rally-raids. Now, I’m not so convinced. I’ve realised that, in speed racing, a second’s lapse can be very costly,” Leloup admitted.

For Clere, the Dakar competitors show “a lot of guts”. He said: “They are true adventurers. If they fall off, they get back up and carry on. Physically and mentally, rally-raids are very tough and the Dakar lasts ten days!”

So does Leloup dream of competing in the 24 Heures Motos? Can Clere see himself on the starting line of the Dakar? How do the two riders analyse a track? The answers to these questions can be found in further features on this encounter that will be published before the 40th Dakar rally-raid gets underway on Sunday 6 January 2019.

Did you know?

The race-winning #5 Honda fielded by F.C.C TSR Honda France covered 3,527.955 km in the 2018 24 Heures Motos. From 6 January, the Dakar rally-raid bikers will travel 5,541 km over ten stages. A marathon 839-km stage (including 317 km of “special section”) is scheduled for 13 January.

In the 24 Heures Motos, a stint lasts between 50 and 60 minutes. Each rider completes a total of eight stints. In the Dakar, a stage generally lasts between four hours (for the quickest competitors) and eight hours.