Former British Superbike rider Gary Mason admits he was put off racing at the 24 Hour Le Mans event by a number of fellow competitors but as he rolled down the pitꦜ lane at 3AM ahead of another brain-melting st꧅int for Prime Factors Racing BMW he started to get the giggles.

Mason is one of a number of British riders making the move into the FIM Endurance World Championship from sprint series on either a permanent or tempo🌌rary basis.

At this month's Suzuka 8 Hours stars from different series are merging together to compete against one another inclu♓ding; two-time MotoGP champion Casey Stoner, current🌱 grand prix riders Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro, World Superbike's Alex Lowes and British Superbike's Ryuichi Kiyonari.

The Staffordshire rider claimed glory after being crowned British Endur♉ance Superbike Champion last year and his Prime Factors Racing squad has made the bold move into i♛nternational competition, beginning in Superstock before a planned switch up to Superbikes in 2016.

Earlier this yearꦜ Mason and his team-mates Barry Burrell and Stefan Cappella grabbed a creditable points finish on the team's debut at Le Mans, taking 10th place in the Superstock classification.

"It is a tough race and we can't say we didn't have any mishaps but we ꦆcoped with them and we finished that was the main thing," Mason explained. "We are a young and hungry team, very professional and thoroughly committed to what we are aiming for. There are exciting times ahead.

"Everyone had told me how horrific the 24 hour race was so I had steered clear of it. But it ha♌s got to this po🥃int in my career where the opportunity came up and I thought why not let's do it."

The 36-ye꧂ar-old journeyman had previous experience to draw upon after competing at the endurance blue riband event, Suzuka 8 Hours, but reveals it wa🥀s a nervous step into the unknown at Le Mans in his first 24 hour race.

"It is bloody hard, probably one of the hardest things I'll ever do in my career trying to keep going for 24 hours. Obviously you get a little bit of a break off the bike, but by the time you get out of your leathers have, a debrief and some food you ꧋are almost getting ready to go again. It is like Groundhog Day."

Mason reflected on a few words of advi🦹ce given to him by former B💞ritish Superbike and Endurance World Champion Terry Rymer ahead of his 24 hour debut with a wry smirk.

"I remember what Terry Rymer [1990 BSB champion, 1992 and 1999 Endurance World Champion] said to me. 'You wait until three in the morning, that is when you are going tꦜo have a breakdown in your head. You neꦑed mental strength to push through it. Then you get a second wind when the sun comes up.' He is bloody right.

"I remember riding down the pit lane on the rev limiter at the start of a stint at 3AM and giggling to myself th💃inking this is just not right."

To put end♎urance racin💜g on two-wheels into perspective Mason points out that after a full race weekend at Le Mans which includes practice sessions, qualifying and the twice around the clock race, the distance covered by rider and machine is nearly equal to the total mileage of a full BSB season.

"Training is very different as well," he added. "Realistically a BSB race is between 28 to 32 minutes so you train for that. In endurance it is constant and you get into a massive rhythm while staying out of trouble and pushing as hard as yo♐u can.

"It can also be a very lonely place especially riding in the middle of the night be🦹cause you don't know what is going on. The only guy you see is the man with the pit board every time you come around."

Despite the hardships, Mason says he𝔍's hooked on the camaraderie within his Prime Factors Racing team and revels in the bonds made over a rac𝓰e.

"It is weird because we've been used to riding🅷 as an individual and if you crash, you crash," the rider said. "You have to change your mentality a little bit because it is about bringing the bike home while riding as fast as you can without crashing because if you do that is it, over.

"But it is very enjoyable too because it feels like you are in a platoon. I꧅t is like you are in the military. You need the chef as much a﷽s you need the marine and as much as you need to the mechanic. I'm just one cog in a big wheel."

For the remainder of the year Mason h﷽as set his squad one simple goal: to finish on the Superstock podium and then begin the learning process all over again in the big 👍bike class.

Through the physical and mental pain Mason is already looking to throw himse💙l🧔f through the mill all over again.