Team Étoile is preparing to embark on its second season in the FIM Endurance World Championship in 2025 with the Superstock title its target and the development of more young riding talents from Japan a key focus.
A new and exciting addition to the EWC ranks in 2024, BMW-powered Team Étoile followed up its maiden pole position in the Dunlop-supplied FIM Endurance World Cup in the 8 Hours of Spa Motos last June with a breakthrough category podium in the 45th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race the following month.
While highly experienced and accomplished racers Hikari Okubo and Kazuki Watanabe continue to ride the #25 Team Étoile BMW in the EWC, Motoharu Ito gets his first opportunity to compete for the Japanese squad, which operates from a base in France during the EWC season. And having performed reserve rider duties during the 2024 season-opening 24 Heures Motos, Kyosuke Okuda will carry out the same role in 2025.
Team Étoile owner Takashi Ichikawa (below) said: “I’m extremely excited to embark on another new adventure with Team Étoile for the 2025 season. This challenge is possible not only thanks to the tireless efforts of our riders and staff but also the unwavering support of our fans. This year, we will come together as one team and do our utmost in the world’s premier endurance races. We sincerely hope for your continued support. Let’s take on this journey together and make it a season to remember.”
Voted by a panel of EWC media experts as their Superstock Star of the Year for 2025, Okubo, 31, helped Team Étoile finish a fine fifth in the 2024 FIM Endurance World Cup for Teams.
“I am pleased that I will once again compete in the FIM Endurance World Championship Superstock class with Team Étoile,” Okubo (below) said. “First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to director Takashi Ichikawa, all the team staff, our sponsors, and the fans who have been supporting us. Last year, even though it was our first season, we came very close to becoming world champions. However, we still have the challenge of completing a 24-hour race, which remains a key milestone for us. This year, our goal is to deliver strong results as a united team, starting with the opening round at Le Mans. Ultimately, we aim to claim the title, and we will give it everything we have.”
Watanabe, 34 (below), brought EWC podium pedigree to Team Étoile last season. He also has MotoGP experience and a strong record in his domestic championship.
“I am thrilled to continue racing with Team Étoile for the 2025 season and am already looking forward to the opening round at Le Mans,” he said. “The 2024 season was a significant challenge for us as a newly established team taking on the EWC. Thanks to the tremendous support and cooperation from so many people, we found ourselves contending for the championship in the final round.
“This season, we aim to capture the title that narrowly slipped through our fingers last year. We will focus on achieving results step by step, aligning our goals as a team, and fighting as one unit.”
Motoharu Ito (below) said: “I am truly honoured to have been invited to join this new team. I can sense Takashi Ichikawa’s unwavering passion in this 10-year project, aimed at establishing Team Étoile as a top contender in the EWC. Building on the experience I gained as part of the team staff last year, I now hope to learn as much as I can from my senior riders in my new role. I believe this team has the potential to create opportunities and possibilities that can only be discovered here. For now, I am simply looking forward to the joy of racing at Le Mans.”
Kyosuke Okuda (below) added: “Last season, I had the opportunity to participate as a substitute rider in the opening round at Le Mans and later worked behind the scenes as part of the race staff. During that period, my desire to return to the track grew stronger, so I am truly delighted to have been selected as the fourth rider for this season.Having already raced at Le Mans and Bol d’Or, I am determined to deliver an even better performance than last year. I will give it my all.”
FIM Endurance World Cup calendar 2025
Round 1: 24 Heures Motos, Le Mans, France: 17-20 April
Ticket sales: https://ticket.24h-motos.com/content
Round 2: 8 Hours of Spa Motos, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium: 6-7 June
Ticket sales: https://www.spamotos.com/en/ticketing/
Round 3: 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race, Suzuka Circuit, Japan: 1-3 August
Ticket sales: Information coming soon
Round 4: Bol d’Or, Circuit Paul Ricard, France: 18-21 September
Ticket sales: https://boldor.com/billetterie/
Original Source [ FIM EWC ]