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.
Two rounds of the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) done, Team Étoile has begun preparations for Round 3, the Suzuka 8 Hours. The team couldn’t take part in the joint 8 Hours test on June 4–5, which clashed with the Spa 8 Hours race week, but from the first Suzuka Circuit-organised test session on June 19–20 it began running alongside domestic teams and many full-season entrants.
The BMW M1000RR used at Le Mans and Spa is kept at the team’s European base, so for the Suzuka 8 Hours only it uses a machine prepared in Japan. It’s the bike with which the team did a private test at Mobility Resort Motegi in winter, and this is its first time running at Suzuka. To get used to the different Dunlop tyre specification from the European rounds, day one was spent on bike and tyre setup.
Also, as Suzuka’s rider line-up is Yudai Kamei, Hikari Okubo and Roberto Rolfo, particular focus went on Rolfo getting reacquainted with Suzuka Circuit for the first time in 21 years.
Running two 45-minute sessions, one 75-minute session and a 70-minute night session, the team managed to progress the setup without any major problems.
The day-two schedule is one 70-minute session in the morning and one 80-minute session in the afternoon.
Rider comments
Rider
Yudai Kamei
“It’s my first Suzuka 8 Hours in two years and it’s been a while since I came back to a hot Suzuka. The BMW is a bike I’m used to, but since the Suzuka 8 Hours uses a different Dunlop tyre specification, we’re redoing the setup, and I’m glad we found a good setup in the final run.”
“My best time is off the top, but the average times are there. It’s a good flow and we’re progressing nicely, so I want everyone to keep working hard on day two as well.”
Rider
Hikari Okubo
“The bike’s characteristics were different from the one in Europe, so I struggled at first, but the mechanics did their job and we fixed it quickly. This time the setup is being progressed around me, and I could get to work on that very early, so things are moving ahead of schedule and it’s a really good flow.”
“There’s still a problem with the front feeling. There are two types of front tyre delivered, so I’ll try the other one on day two. The setup is at a good point, but I want to take it one more step up.”
Rider
Roberto Rolfo
“Overall I’m satisfied. The bike has got faster and I think it’s a very good bike. The BMW is completely different from the bikes I rode before, and after the first session the feeling improved a lot. As for the Dunlop tyres, I still need to understand the front feeling a little more, but it’s improving. I’m very happy with my feeling.”
“I hadn’t ridden here for a long time, so the Suzuka feeling — for the first time since 2003 — was good. The course has changed a bit, so I’m not fast in those places yet. I need to improve, so I’ll check the data too. The other places still seem good, and I’ve always had good results here, so I’m very happy to be back.”
“The whole team has a great atmosphere, everyone’s friendly and working hard. As an organisation it’s really top-class, just like a factory team. I’ve felt good from the start, and I have to thank the whole team.”
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