2026 FIM EWC Round 4 — Bol d'Or 24 Hours | Race Report (19-20 September) · Retirement

"It was a very difficult race week. We broke so many engines that I don't even want to put it down to 'that's racing' — there were simply too many irregularities this time. Even so, I cut my own track time so that the three young riders could get as much running as possible. Thanks to that, Rei and Motoharu both improved their average lap times, and Kaito took a big chunk out of the SST class lap record, so I feel I did my job as the senior rider. I also improved my own time by 1.2 seconds compared with last year and put together a lap quicker than the previous record in very limited running, so I think I have grown as a rider."

"We finished our third year without winning the championship again, which is frustrating. If we don't change something we will end up with the same result, so we want to work together as a team towards next year. I want to thank everyone who supported us throughout this season."

"It ended so early that I don't even feel frustrated — I just feel sad. I am sure everyone feels the same, especially Ichikawa-san. It was our third year as a team, and this is the end of Team Étoile's season, so it is a race that leaves a lot unfinished."

"I had hoped that we could at least gather data to build on, or make a fresh start from here, but we could not even do that. Whether this experience turns into something useful for Team Étoile is up to us — we have to make it count, so that next time we can take the chequered flag. All we can do is come back and take it on again together. Thank you very much."

"There was no way to avoid the crash. I could see the rival rider coming up the inside, and even though I braked a little earlier, I could not avoid it and we both went down. I picked the bike up and rejoined straight away, but the repairs took a very long time."

"We went back out after that, but then the engine broke and our race was over at a very early stage, so I don't really know what to say. It is disappointing that it ended as quickly as this."

"A crash and a machine problem left us with a retirement. Including myself, three of us finished without riding a single stint. This week started with trouble and ended with trouble, which is a real shame, and I had been looking forward to this race so much that it hurts. I am sure it was even harder for the team."

"At Le Mans and the Bol d'Or I was able to learn a huge amount, and I feel I have grown both as a rider and as a person. I have nothing but gratitude for Ichikawa-san, everyone at Team Étoile and all of my team-mates. Thank you very much."

"Early on we were fighting at the front when the #49 machine fell on the inside and took us with it. How that impact affected the bike cannot be stated for certain until we strip it down. That said, the same symptoms we saw on three engines on the first day of the week appeared on the fourth one as well, so I find it hard to see the crash as the direct cause."

"The fact that three engines failed in the same way on day one is something we are still asking ourselves about, starting from why it happens at all. Unlike the EWC class, we are not in a position to build the machine ourselves — we can only use what we are supplied with, and this is what ends up happening. It leaves me with feelings that cannot be put down to bad luck in a single word."

"This season we took a podium with second place at Suzuka, but neither of the two 24-hour races, Le Mans and the Bol d’Or, gave us a result. I have nothing but gratitude for the mechanics and staff who did everything they could in the time available, and for the riders who fought their way through a difficult week. To everyone who supported us throughout the year, thank you very much."