André Lussiana, "Dede" as he is called in the bike world, has raced for many years. The young will know him through his current team racing in European Superstock Championship, the older fans will be familiar with his long career and his many endurance races.

At just 55, André Lussiana has a dream come true this year by participating in the Le Mans 24 Hours with his sons. He and his three sons, Yann,  Matthieu and Fabien, all racers or former racers, as the crew of the team Lussiana’s Défi (Lussiana's Challenge) MCS 93 on the #93 BMW in a distinctive zebra paint job...! This machine could not be confused with any another. André, who had not raced for 11 years is at the heart of this project and 2011 was the last year possible. Regarding his sons, the youngest Fabien, raced to a very good level of 125 cc, Yann was one of the major players in the Supersport in France, especially in 2005. Only Matthew, a former winner of the Pirelli 600 Trophy is still racing today in the European Superstock 1000 Championship. This adventure is a family effort, as stated by André himself ...

André Lussiana, you are unknown to most of the public but you have a vast experience of endurance racing, your participation in racing the 24 hours are counted in tens? Your last race dates back to when?

"If I remember correctly, I think I did seventeen 24 Hours Moto, fifteen Bol d'Or, seven 24 Hours of Spa and once at the Suzuka 8 Hours. My last race was in eleven years ago. It was in 2000 for the first Bol d'Or, which was no longer at the Ricard circuit, but at Magny Cours. "

When do you first want to race with your sons at the 24 Hours Moto?

"For ever! For as long as my boys began to race! I have four sons, the eldest Loïc who did the enduro for fun and sometimes we did together, but he never enjoyed speed. He will still be in the team, with my wife Patty also of course. The other three, however, have the racing bug. What we have done has never been done except by Duhamel, (note: Yvon Duhamel, excellent French-Canadian driver, shined mostly in the seventies with his two sons in the Bol d'Or in the early eighties). "

Why this year then?

"Because it's the last year that it is possible without becoming complicated. I turned 55 in August and it is the maximum age allowed by the regulations. After that you need to appy for a waiver that is is never sure to get. "

How has the project progressed to make this happen?

"We knew we could do it about three months ago. We looked for partners and knew this could happen. I have my old friends who have always followed me, including Pierrot Cascarino of the 'Moto Club Cournevien' with whom we set up the team and Philippe Mouchet a great rider with whom I raced. It's a little family too. "

What are your goals for the 24 Heures Moto?

"The primary objective as with all endurance races are always the same: to start and to finish! This may seem obvious but it's a challenge. We are competitors and I have my 'warriors' with me, so we also want a good placing at the finish."

Karine Avon

Photo : CIRCUIT DU MANS, SARTHE (FRANCE), 30th AUGUST 2011. Zebra stripes adorn André Lussiana , his bike and three sons who comprise 'Lussiana's Défi'.