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.
The race commenced under overcast skies with intermittent sunshine, leaving the track half-wet at the start. Hikari Okubo served as the starting rider, but the motorcycle was inadvertently left in neutral, causing a delayed launch.
As the racing line quickly dried, the leading SST class teams maintained a rapid pace, while Okubo held to the team's target lap times throughout his stint. Following rider changes with Kazuki Watanabe and Motoharu Ito, the team sat fifth after all three riders had run. They advanced to fourth during the fourth stint, positioning themselves to challenge for a podium.
However, as tyre degradation increased and the weather deteriorated, Watanabe suffered a crash. The machine repairs in the garage cost significant time, dropping the team back to fifth — but they pressed on without giving up.
Several positives emerged: rookie Motoharu Ito's impressive pace earned him a double stint, and the team completed the race with seven pit stops — one fewer than their rivals. In the end, Okubo took the checkered flag to secure fourth.
While the team fell short of their targets of pole position, a podium and victory, they met their goals of a second straight finish and scoring points. With 29 + 22 for 51 points, the team held fourth in the championship standings.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the many fans who followed the broadcast, the team live streams and our social media. We finished second at the Suzuka 8 Hours last year — please join us at the circuit as we go for the win.
Rider & team principal comments
Rider
Hikari Okubo
"The motorcycle was in neutral at the start, so I couldn't make a proper launch. From there I held the team's target average lap times, but the cars around us were running significantly faster, making for a tough race. I was able to manage the race through tricky, on-and-off rain, but with my teammate's crash and various troubles, it was disappointing that we couldn't ultimately fight our way up to the podium."
"Completing the race under these conditions and scoring points is a valuable asset for the team. Both the team and we riders have things to reflect on, so if we apply those lessons at the next round, the Suzuka 8 Hours, I believe we can fight for the win."
Rider
Kazuki Watanabe
"I ran the second stint, and while my pace wasn't bad, it wasn't enough to close on the cars ahead, which made things difficult. As the weather changed and the track got wet, I had to ride on worn rain tyres. I tried to hold on, but hydroplaning caught me out and I crashed."
"I'm sorry and regret causing the team trouble, but I think I did my job in my other stints, and the team did theirs well. Heading to the Suzuka 8 Hours, I want us to come together once more and give it our all."
Rider
Motoharu Ito
"Our average lap times were close to our targets even in the dry, which was good. That said, I could have managed my overtakes better, and I ran wide when the rain started — those are my points to reflect on. Fortunately our pit timing worked out well and we closed the gap to the front."
"I don't consider myself especially strong in the wet, but I was entrusted with a double stint. I went in determined to be fast and saw it as necessary to build experience and improve, and I ran it through. Finishing fourth without a podium is frustrating, but the top three were comprehensively faster, and even without Kazuki's crash it would have been a hard fight. Our initial goal of victory was quite a tall order."
"Suzuka Circuit is the only track on the EWC calendar I've raced before, so I'm looking forward to racing in front of everyone and showing what we learned at Le Mans and Spa."
Team Principal
Takashi Ichikawa
"We're truly grateful to the many fans who supported us through the live streams and social media. The result was fourth, but we fought through tricky conditions as one team. Motoharu Ito's stable pace during his double stint, in particular, was an outstanding ride that belied his rookie status. The riders' determination to keep the relay going even after the crash was also striking. This experience will certainly serve us at the Suzuka 8 Hours. Having finished second at Suzuka last year, this time we want to lift the winner's trophy. We look forward to your passionate support at the circuit."
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