A new strategic partnership between championship frontrunner KM99, the top independent outfit in 2024, and the highly experienced Marc VDS Racing Team will headline Dunlop’s involvement in the top class of this season’s EWC. It’s joined by two other leading privateer teams, ERC BMW Endurance Team and Team LRP Poland, both of which are switching to Dunlop rubber to grip their 2025 campaigns.
Dunlop has supported KM99 throughout the Belgian team’s EWC tenure and now, for its third season, the Yamaha-powered squad counts on the support of Marc VDS plus strengthened relationships with both Dunlop and Yamaha. The result is an operation which aims to fight for overall wins this season against the factory teams. This goal isn’t too far out of reach: KM99 finished 2024 on a high with a second-place finish in the Bol d’Or.
Randy de Puniet, Jérémy Guarnoni and Florian Marino (below) return as riders with Alessandro Delbianco recruited as the team’s reserve. The Yamaha expert is already familiar with the Dunlop KR racing slick tires through his time in the Dunlop Campionato Italiano Velocità, where he won three races in 2024.
Familiar faces, new partners
The news surrounding what will now be branded as ELF Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99 is just one of many exciting developments for Dunlop in the EWC this year. Two new high-profile Formula EWC teams have made the switch to Dunlop for the 2025 season: ERC BMW Endurance Team and Team LRP Poland.
ERC BMW Endurance Team (below) makes its return to the championship after a one-year break, competing with BMW power after four seasons running Ducati motorcycles and with Dunlop tyres. The experienced line-up includes David Checa, Kenny Foray, Illya Mykhalchyk and reserve rider Julian Puffe. With factory support from BMW Motorrad and guided by team manager and ex-racer Xavi Forés, ERC will be aiming for strong results with its championship-calibre squad. Both ERC and ELF Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99 have already kicked off their 2025 preparations with successful tests at the Autódromo Internacional Algarve near Portimão, setting a strong foundation for their respective campaigns ahead.
Team LRP Poland also returns to the EWC with a formidable line-up comprising Enzo Boulom, Isle of Man TT legend Michael Dunlop, Marek Szkopek and Danny Webb. Running the latest-specification BMW M 1000 RR on Dunlop tyres, the team continues its collaboration with the Wrocław University of Science and Technology, with students playing key roles in the pit crew.
Long-term partners Maco Racing (Yamaha) and Mana-Au Competition (Honda, below) continue to choose Dunlop tyres and support for their top-class efforts, meaning five Formula EWC teams will contest the 2025 EWC season with Dunlop.
The Dunlop-exclusive Superstock Trophy continues into the new season as part of the FIM Endurance World Cup, while Dunlop’s extended and expanded partnership with EWC promoter Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Sports has resulted in Dunlop becoming the exclusive tyre partner for the brand-new FIM Production World Trophy for motorcycles that are even closer to their roadgoing counterparts.
Wim Van Achter, Motorsport Manager, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe, said: “We have lots of new partnerships to look forward to in EWC this season and we’re glad that new teams are trusting to choose Dunlop, which is a testament to the success and hard work of teams like KM99. For them, their new look for 2025 will surely build on an excellent first two seasons where they’ve often outperformed well-established factory teams.”
The 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans in France is up first on the four-event EWC schedule from 17-20 April. Ticket information is available HERE.
Original Source [ FIM EWC ]
