22 February 2024
FIM Endurance World Championship rider Cocoro Atsumi is heading to Suzuka early after he landed a wildcard entry for the All Japan Road Race Championship season opener next month.Suzuka will host Japan’s round of the EWC in July and Atsumi, who was announced as Yoshimura SERT Motul’s reserve rider for the upcoming EWC season, is getting some early practice during the Suzuka 2&4 event from 9-10 March.The 28-year-old will compete in the JSB1000 category aboard a Yoshimura-tuned Suzuki GSX-R1000R. And his domestic series holds special memories for Atsumi, as he explained.“My start [with Yoshimura SERT Motul] was as a reserve rider at the Bol d'Or last season, and it gave me an opportunity of a wildcard entry at the All Japan Road Race Championship and occasions of local tests,” Atsumi said. ‘My understanding of the GSX-R1000R and Bridgestone tyres has been improving and also the teamwork has deepened. I hope to learn a lot from the team and my three strong team-mates this season, which will help me grow as a racing rider. I will do my best to achieve our goal to win each race and to get the EWC champion title. Of course I will standby for [when I am needed to race].”
21 February 2024
Marking its 120th anniversary in 2024, Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) has released a unique film documenting its 12 decades in existence and its ground-breaking advances in the world of motorcycling.They extend far beyond competition into areas as diverse as safety, technology, the environment, sustainability and inclusivity, according to the FIM Endurance World Championship’s governing body.Presented by Swiss actress and model Lauriane Gilliéron who wears period-appropriate clothes in each of the six scenes, FIM 120 Years was premiered at the weekend’s 2024 FIM Commissions Conference in Lyon, France, to rapturous audience applause. Illustrated with superb period photographs and rare vintage video, in a little more than eight minutes it documents 120 of progress, achievements and passion.Click HERE for more information and click HERE to watch FIM 120 Years.
20 February 2024
Wójcik Racing Team has added to its FIM Endurance World Championship line-up with the addition of Hungarian rider Bálint Kovács.The 22-year-old will join forces with Polish trio Kamil Krzemień, Jurand Kuśmierczyk and Artur Wielebski as the reserve rider on the #77 Wójcik Racing Team Honda for the three European-based rounds.Kovács is no stranger to Wójcik Racing Team having raced for the squad in the 24 Heures Motos in 2021 and in the inaugural 24H SPA EWC Motos the following season, where he helped the team finish in fifth position.As well as his EWC commitments, Kovács will contest the Internationale Deutsche Motorradmeisterschaft for the BCC Alpha van Zon BMW team.Photo: Facebook.com/bikebalint
19 February 2024
Riders from the FIM Endurance World Championship will take centre stage in Le Mans on Wednesday 17 April when a traditional activity building up to the 24 Heures Motos returns to the schedule.For the first time since 2019, the Place des Jacobins du Mans will host a feast of activities and attractions designed to give a flavour of what fans planning to attend the 47th edition of the 24 Heures Motos from 18-21 April can expect.Through the efforts of event organiser the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, fans will get the opportunity to meet the EWC stars contesting the season-opening race, get up close to Formula EWC and Superstock machinery, savour an official presentation of the competing teams, view the winners’ trophy and purchase merchandise and tickets. Fans will also be able to enjoy a drink and a bite to eat from numerous refreshment stalls.
18 February 2024
Team HRC with Japan Post proved unbeatable during a thrilling third round of the 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship as FIM Superbike World Championship star Xavi Vierge helped the outfit to victory in the 44th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race, which took place at the iconic last Japanese venue last August.Its second Suzuka victory in as many years followed a lengthy delay for Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team and an early setback for F.C.C. TSR Honda France, all of which meant the EWC title chase would go down to the wire during the season-deciding Bol d’Or.For Spanish ace Vierge, however, the focus was firmly on his debut EWC win alongside Japanese riders Takumi Takahashi and Tetsuta Nagashima, who recovered from a foot injury to take part having not raced since the previous April.“For me it’s amazing because it’s the first time I made this amazing race and to get this win just feels incredible,” Vierge (pictured left) said. “I need to say thank you so much to my team and also to my team-mates, they did an amazing job. I learn a lot from them during all of the week and finally we are able to have a good pace. It has not been easy because in my second stint I had the safety car and I was one of the last in my group [when the race restarted] and it was so difficult to overtake without making mistakes. And the last two hours for them were really difficult with the rain. But they just made the correct decisions in every moment. It was a perfect strategy, it’s such a pleasure and I’m so happy.”
17 February 2024
Corentin Perolari is making the move from Yamaha to Honda power by joining Tati Team Beringer Racing for the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship.The French youngster’s arrival, which coincides with the extension of Tati Team Beringer Racing’s partnership with IT company AVA6, completes its EWC line-up following on from earlier signings, Hugo Clère and Randy Krummunacher.“I am happy to join the Tati Team Beringer Racing for the 2024 season for several reasons,” said 25-year-old Perolari, who previously raced for Team Moto-Ain in the EWC. “First, for the team, for their results and their state of mind. They are one of the best private teams on the set. In recent years, the team has often been in front of the official Kawasaki, whether in qualifying or in the race. The technical team is therefore solid. Regarding the riders, Hugo Clère has a big experience in endurance and Randy Krummunacher I know well, since we were riding against each other in World Supersport. The new Honda CBR 1000 RR-R is also a big source of motivation. Finally, to finish, I am happy to continue endurance.”Tati Team Beringer Racing head Patrick Enjolras said: “We are happy to welcome Corentin. He is a young ride certainly but he is at the same time fast, reliable, and begins to have a good experience in endurance. With Randy and Hugo, they have more or less the same riding style and the same size. This will help us in the development of the Honda. “Then we are really satisfied to continue our collaboration with AVA6. This will be our fifth season together. It is always very important for a team to have partners. AVA6 has the same objectives as us: duration performance and reliability.”The 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans opens the 2024 EWC season from 18-21 April.