Román Ramos (pictured centre) and his Kawasaki Webike Trickstar team-mates Mike Di Meglio and Grégory Leblanc were on course for a famous victory in last month’s 24 Heures Motos, round one of the 2025 FIM Endurance World Championship. Then it all went wrong for the Spanish rider, who took time out after his late-race heartache to answer five key questions.
What was going through your mind after the race?
“A bit of everything, really. I mean, at one point, the win felt so close – almost in our hands. All we had to do was bring it home steadily, no issues with the bike, nothing going wrong… and we would’ve had it. In the end, we finished second, which – honestly – if you’d offered me that before coming here, I’d have taken it without hesitation. I wasn’t even supposed to race; I’m the fourth rider this season, and I only got the chance because Christian (Gamarino) got injured. So, to end up on the podium? I’m super-happy. But of course, after leading the race for almost the entire time, losing it in the final hour stings a little. That said, I think we did a great job. We gave everything we had to try and win. The good thing is we’re in a position to fight for it, and we’ll see what my team-mates can do in the next rounds. I really think it’s possible to go for it.”
You weren’t originally supposed to race, but you ended up being one of the standout riders. Were you feeling particularly strong or inspired out there?
“Yeah, honestly, I felt really, really good. From the moment I first got on the bike and tried the Bridgestones, it was a complete game-changer. I adapted to them straight away — they made it so much easier to ride fast, and here it just felt natural, without needing to push too hard. I was super-comfortable. Whenever the team asked me to push, I could step it up a bit, but always without taking too many risks. In the final hour, though, we had to go for it because YART was closing the gap fast and really putting on the pressure. They asked me if I wanted to do a double stint, and I said, ‘yes’. But then it started raining. On the first lap, I lost the front end. It’s a corner I’ve gone through so many times in the wet, and I didn’t really do anything different… but I lost it, and that was it. We lost the win, but overall I’m happy.”
The rain really turned the race upside down — we lost count of the number of crashes, though luckily none were serious. How much does such unpredictable weather affect a 24-hour race, and how does a rider mentally prepare to deal with the falls, the recoveries… ?
“This was actually the first time I’ve experienced anything like this. All the endurance races I’ve done before were dry. Last year here it was cold, but it didn’t rain – and in the others, the weather was always good. Depending on the heat, you’d just pick the right tyre, and that was it. But this time, it was a lottery. You’re sitting in the truck and suddenly someone comes in and says, ‘It’s raining. No wait, it’s stopped. You might have to do a double stint…’ – total chaos. You just have to adapt to the conditions as best as you can, and I think we actually managed that pretty well. Mixed conditions like this have always worked out for me – I don’t know why, because I actually hate them! But somehow, I adapt quite quickly, and it turns out they suit me. I managed to make the most of it.”
The 24 Heures race must have been a huge learning experience. What have the past two years taught you about endurance racing? Is this a discipline where you see yourself growing and settling in long term, with real ambitions for the future?
“My first endurance race, the 24H SPA EWC Motos (pictured above), which I raced two years ago, was amazing. I absolutely loved the whole paddock atmosphere – the people, the teams, the way everyone helps each other. I had the chance to sign with Kawasaki after that, and I went for it. But last year was really tough for me. I remember that by the third stint here in Le Mans last season, I was completely exhausted. My whole body ached, I didn’t understand what was going on – maybe I got sick, maybe it was nerves – probably a mix of everything, but I had a really hard time. We finished fourth, but I didn’t enjoy a single lap. Then in Suzuka I nearly passed out… It was a crazy race, with engine failures, technical problems… and I thought, ‘maybe this isn’t for me.’This year, I got the chance to return as the fourth rider for KWT, and I said, ‘yes’ – to help the team, to do some testing and to give it another go. After struggling so much last year, I learned a lot. Things I didn’t want to repeat. I tried to approach it differently this time – to manage it better, and I think we got it right. Especially in this race, which was mentally tough – riding at night, in the rain, trying to read the track and spot where it was dry or wet… It was difficult for everyone, but I learned a lot. And if they’ll have me, I’d love to stick around in endurance racing for a few more years. As long as they let me…”
If someone had told you on Thursday that you’d finish on the podium, in second place in the 24 Heures Motos, you’d have taken it, no doubt. And you said it yourself: it’s a fantastic start to the season. So, how do you approach the upcoming rounds?
“With the ambition that now we know winning is within reach. If Christian recovers, I’ll likely be the fourth rider, but I’ll still do everything I can on the bike to help and fight for the front positions. Winning is never easy, but we’ve shown we have the potential. The goal is clear: to fight for the championship.”
The 8 Hours of Spa Motos takes place at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium from 6-7 June. Ticket information is available HERE.
Original Source [ FIM EWC ]
