News
From trackside race reports to team and partnership news — follow everything Team Étoile.
2026 FIM EWC Round 3 — Suzuka 8 Hours | Race Report (5 July) · 2nd in SST Class
A safety car at the first rider change cost half a lap, but steady riding and flawless pit work brought Team Étoile back to a Superstock podium on home soil.
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2026 FIM EWC Round 3 — Suzuka 8 Hours | Qualifying Report (2–3 July) · SST Class Pole, Two Years Running
Team Étoile took SST-class pole for the second year running. Kaito Toba set the class-fastest 2:06.117 in Q1 and Hikari Okubo a 2:06.302 in Q2 — a grid-deciding two-rider average of 2:06.210, 0.9s clear of second, with 5 championship points banked in qualifying.
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2026 FIM EWC Round 3 — Suzuka 8 Hours | Official Test Report (30 June–1 July)
The official test right before the race. In DAY1's FP4 qualifying simulation Hikari Okubo crashed, but an all-hands overnight rebuild had the bike back out on DAY2 morning. In the dry, all three riders lapped consistently in the 2:08–2:09 range, and the afternoon rain added valuable wet-weather running ahead of race weekend.
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2026 FIM EWC Round 2 — 8 Hours of Spa Motos | Race Report (6 June)
Starting fifth in class, Team Étoile fell to the back after an early crash — then fought through eight hours with one of the class's lowest pit-stop times to finish 4th in Superstock.
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2026 FIM EWC Round 2 — 8 Hours of Spa | Private Test Report (June 4)
A rain-tossed opening day of free practice with low track temperatures. Despite two crashes, all riders were unhurt, and by late in the day the team reached its semi-long runs — confirming a solid base in the bike it brought this year.
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2026 FIM EWC Round 3 — Suzuka 8 Hours | Test Report (May 12–13)
Two clear days, all six sessions completed. In the final FP6, Kaito Toba and Hikari Okubo both broke into the 2:06s to top the SST class and close out the test on a high.
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2026 FIM EWC Round 1 — 24 Hours of Le Mans | Race Report (18–19 April)
Starting from SST class pole position, the team battled through two mechanical issues and crossed the line together for a 13th-place finish in class.
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2025 FIM EWC Round 4 — Bol d'Or 24 Hours | Race Report (20–21 September)
Riding on its fuel-economy strength, Team Étoile led the SST class with the championship coming into view late in the race — only for an engine failure at the 11-hour mark, the second year running, to force a heartbreaking retirement. The team closed its second season 5th in the series.
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2025 FIM EWC Round 4 — Bol d’Or 24 Hours | Private Test Report (September 16)
The Bol d’Or, the final round of Team Étoile’s second season. The team got going from the pre-race-week private test, running two bikes to gather their first feel for Paul Ricard.
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2025 FIM EWC Round 3 — Suzuka 8 Hours | Race Report (3 August) · SST Class Victory
Pole position in qualifying, victory in the race, and a full 35 points. Through a data-driven strategy, flawless preparation and a final battle decided by stamina, Team Étoile claimed a long-awaited SST class win after finishing second last year.
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2025 FIM EWC Round 3 — Suzuka 8 Hours | Second Test Report (July 30)
The official test wrapped up in race-like temperatures. The three riders’ directions and average times all aligned, and with the fastest pace in class the team grasped a real sense of a win. The target: pole position.
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2025 FIM EWC Round 3 — Suzuka 8 Hours | First Test Report (June 18–19)
Two hot days mirroring race conditions. With Ito, Okubo and Watanabe straight from Spa, all three posted consistent times as preparations moved steadily forward.
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2025 FIM EWC Round 2 — 8 Hours of Spa | Race Report (7 June)
A fourth-place finish marred by mistakes and a crash — a second straight year without a Spa podium, but seven pit stops and rookie Ito's strong pace showed the team's growth.
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2025 FIM EWC Round 2 — 8 Hours of Spa | Private Test Report (June 5)
An opening day tossed around all day by Spa’s notoriously unstable weather. Crashes and trouble limited the running, but the team — pole-sitters here last year — pressed on with preparations for qualifying.
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2025 FIM EWC Round 1 — 24 Hours of Le Mans | Race Report (19–20 April)
Six crashes but never giving up, Team Étoile reached its goal of finishing the 24-hour race, taking fourth in the SST class and 29 points — and at last completing the 24-hour distance that had eluded the team a year earlier.
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2025 FIM EWC Round 1 — Le Mans 24 Hours | Private Test Report (April 15)
The opening week of Team Étoile’s second EWC season gets underway. In the pre-race-week private test the bike already looked better than a year ago, with Okubo and Watanabe refining setup and Ito building familiarity.
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From Setback to Comeback — Team Étoile Ready for Le Mans after a Successful Test
One year on from a heartbreaking retirement, Team Étoile completes its Le Mans 24 Hours test in full readiness — determined to go beyond the finish this time.
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2025 Motegi Winter Test — Report (February 21–22)
Ahead of the Le Mans season opener, Team Étoile ran a two-day winter test at Mobility Resort Motegi in around 6°C — closely evaluating cold-condition tyre performance and pit work, and coming away with an encouraging start.
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2024 FIM EWC Round 4 — Bol d'Or 24 Hours | Race Report (14–15 September)
So close yet so far — leading the SST class with both the win and the title in sight, Team Étoile was forced to retire with just 4.5 hours to go.
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2024 FIM EWC Round 4 — Bol d’Or 24 Hours | Private Test Report (September 10)
First running at Paul Ricard, venue of the season finale. Though it was a debut there for Kamei and Kawasaki, the team made a strong start from day one, the newcomers building pace with help from the data of Bol d’Or-experienced Watanabe and Okubo.
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2024 FIM EWC Round 3 — Suzuka 8 Hours | Race Report (21 July) · 2nd in SST Class
Third time's the charm after Le Mans and Spa — 2nd in the SST class! A superb podium finish at the team's home race.
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2024 FIM EWC Round 3 — Suzuka 8 Hours | Second Test Report (July 17)
In the final test right before race week, Team Étoile set the fastest time in the SST class — holding its average pace even in the heat and continuing the setup progress made the previous month.
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2024 FIM EWC Round 3 — Suzuka 8 Hours | First Test, Day 2 Report (June 20)
The two-day Suzuka 8 Hours test is complete. On day two the team improved its lap time, recording a best of 2:09.771, and also progressed long runs and used-tyre checks — closing the test on a good feeling.
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2024 FIM EWC Round 3 — Suzuka 8 Hours | First Test, Day 1 Report (June 19)
For the Suzuka 8 Hours the team fielded the BMW M1000RR prepared in Japan, fitted with the Suzuka-spec Dunlop tyres that differ from the European rounds. Roberto Rolfo returned to Suzuka for the first time in 21 years, and the team progressed its setup without trouble from day one.
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2024 FIM EWC Round 2 — 8 Hours of Spa | Race Report (8 June) · 6th in SST Class
Sixth in the SST class, with the goal of finishing achieved — and the top result among the BMW teams.
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2024 FIM EWC Round 2 — 8 Hours of Spa | Private Practice Report (June 6)
Around eight hours of running in the all-team private practice. Mixing short stints with long runs, the team refined its setup with qualifying and the race in mind.
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2024 FIM EWC Round 2 — 8 Hours of Spa | Private Test Report (June 3)
Yudai Kamei and Hikari Okubo ran Spa for the first time, while Kazuki Watanabe rejoined the team after a spell away. Repeated red flags limited the laps, but the team built familiarity with the track and bike without a single crash.
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2024 FIM EWC Round 1 — 24 Hours of Le Mans | Race Report (20–21 April)
The season opener at the Le Mans 24 Hours in the team's debut EWC year. After running as high as 10th overall and 3rd in the SST class, two crashes in the night badly damaged the machine, forcing a heartbreaking retirement after 482 laps.
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2024 FIM EWC Round 1 — Le Mans 24 Hours | Private Test Report (April 16)
Debut week for the EWC newcomers. In the pre-race-week private test all four riders put in laps, and by the afternoon — 12th overall and near the top of the SST class — the setup had steadily moved forward.
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