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.
Team Étoile Begins Opening Week for Its Second Season in the EWC
Although the race week itself has yet to start, Team Étoile headed into the opening round of its second EWC season by joining a private test session on Tuesday—an opportunity available to teams competing in the EWC.
Each day featured two riding sessions, each lasting 2 hours and 55 minutes. The final session was interrupted by a red flag, but an additional 15 minutes were granted. The team had already advanced their machine setup significantly during the Pre-Le Mans test on April 1–2, so they entered this session with a strong baseline in place.
The bike is already in better shape compared to last year’s Le Mans 24-hour race, and its fundamental setup is nearly complete. During this test, the team focused on further refining the setup by making detailed adjustments to the bike’s electronic controls.
Hikari Okubo and Kazuki Watanabe primarily focused on fine-tuning the bike. Since Kyosuke Okuda competed with Team Étoile last year, he used this chance to re-verify the machine, while rookie Motoharu Ito devoted his time to getting comfortable with both the course and the bike.
A night of rain left the track wet on Tuesday morning, creating wet or half-wet conditions. The team recorded a lap time of 1:41.674, placing 10th in the SST class (23rd overall) during the morning session. Conditions improved by the afternoon, and the team posted a 1:37.736, taking the top spot in the SST class and 10th overall—a promising start in their pursuit of the championship.
On Wednesday, the agenda includes scrutineering, a parade, official photo sessions, and briefings. Although there is no on-track riding, it is a day when the riders will appear before the fans.
Rider & team principal comments
Rider
Hikari Okubo
“Today’s track conditions were tricky, but in terms of testing, it was great to experience riding in rain, half-wet, and dry conditions. We especially wanted Motoharu to see different track states, so this was very positive for the team. I didn’t get much time on the bike myself, but in the afternoon session we managed to break into the top group, and I think we’ll be able to deliver a strong performance together as a team.
Compared to last year, the atmosphere within the team is noticeably better, and our mutual trust has grown. It’s been a great way to start our race week. Our setup is probably around 80–90% complete, so I feel confident about the bike. I plan to discuss everything with the mechanics tomorrow so we can perform even better in qualifying and the race.”
Rider
Kazuki Watanabe
“It’s always satisfying to be in ‘Position 1,’ no matter the timing. We set that top time without forcing it, even with a full fuel load in a race-ready configuration, so I feel the entire team can sense we’re really coming together well.
Last year, I couldn’t take part in this race due to injury. Now, with the team in its second year, we’re aiming to make the championship a reality. Above all, we need a solid finish in the opening Le Mans 24-hour race, and we’ll push for the highest possible placement. We still have free practice and qualifying ahead of us, and we’ll use that time to methodically build toward the race—staying absolutely focused, consistent, and steady.
We had already established a decent baseline for the bike in testing, but today we fine-tuned it to a higher level, even diving into detailed electronic controls, and found a good balance.”
Rider
Motoharu Ito
“This morning started with a wet track, so we had a session where tire choice was heavily dependent on the weather. In the afternoon, raindrops were still falling on the windscreen, yet I managed better overall pace than in the pre-test. I think the challenging conditions actually helped deepen my understanding of the bike.”
Rider
Kyosuke Okuda
“We had good weather during the test, but today’s conditions shifted from rain to dry. I ran briefly on rain tires and quickly switched to intermediates, and it was helpful to get a feel for both. In the afternoon, I was able to do a 20-lap run, which was great.
The strong wind did affect how the bike felt, so I’d like to confirm everything again in Thursday morning’s session before heading into qualifying. Hikari and Kazuki are taking the lead on setup, and I’m noticing the same things they are, which is a positive sign. I’m focused on adjusting myself to the bike as much as possible, and I’ll keep fine-tuning to get more comfortable.”
Team Principal
Takashi Ichikawa
“Morning rain, afternoon sun. It was completely the opposite of what we expected, but we’ve reached the point where we can handle these shifts without trouble. I think it’s a sign that our team’s overall experience has really grown.
On the riding side, Hikari and Kazuki worked on refining the machine setup first. We already had a strong baseline from the Pre-Le Mans sessions, so we focused on adding more detailed adjustments to the electronic controls. By the afternoon, we felt a real improvement, and Kazuki topped the SST class timing. Pulling off that kind of pace with the ‘heavy’ race-ready spec is a big confidence boost.
In the afternoon, Kyosuke did a long run. He completed the planned number of laps and gathered solid data. His feedback was positive, and he seems to gel well with the bike. Motoharu rode in all kinds of conditions and got more comfortable with both the track and the machine. In fact, the mixed weather might actually have worked in his favor.
The bike is clearly in better shape than it was on the first day of Le Mans last year. We’re about 80–90% of the way there with our setup. Now it’s a matter of fine-tuning everything for qualifying and the race in the coming days. Everyone played their part, making for a solid first day overall.”
Photo gallery
