Round two of the FIM Endurance World Championship might be scheduled for 16 hours less than the season opener at Le Mans but next week’s 8 Hours of Spa Motos (6-7 June) will be just as tough and intense as the 24 Heures Motos.
While there was no holding back on the Circuit Bugatti last month, the second edition of the 8 Hours of Spa Motos is tipped to be a flat-out sprint from start to finish on Belgium’s ultimate 6.985-kilometre rollercoaster ride.
To mark the occasion, a record 44 teams have entered the 8 Hours of Spa Motos, the highest number set to race at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps since the championship returned to the iconic venue in 2022 for what was then a 24-hour contest.
Counting for the FIM Endurance World Championship for top-of-the-range Formula EWC machinery, the Superstock-based FIM Endurance World Cup and the new-for-2025 FIM Endurance World Trophy for near-standard production motorcycles, the 8 Hours of Spa Motos promises plenty of unmissable moments with the race broadcast live across the globe.
After winning at Spa for the past two seasons, Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team heads to Belgium eying a hat-trick of Spa victories and boosted by its first-place finish at Le Mans. Marvin Fritz, the fastest man on two wheels around Spa following his record-breaking pole position lap in 2024, forms part of the Austrian squad’s attack.
“When I think about Spa I have goosebumps,” said the 32-year-old from Germany. “It’s seven kilometres long and the average speed is around 190kph, so it’s super-fast. We have a special relationship with the track with the victories from the last two years, so the goal is to have a hat-trick this year. We will come to Spa as the winner at Le Mans and that takes away a lot of the pressure. But it’s a full sprint race, you cannot win if you ride around at 95 or 98 per cent. You need to give 400 per cent every lap because the level is going up each year in the EWC.”
Marvin Fritz
Last year’s 8 Hours of Spa Motos quickly developed into a thrilling strategic battle. While the YART team had the ultimate pace, its level of fuel consumption was such that it had to make one more pitstop than its rivals and had to push to the maximum as a result. That kept the victory fight firmly alive until the final hour when Suzuki-powered Yoshimura SERT Motul was effectively forced to concede first place to its rival albeit by a slender margin of 40.145s.
Yoshimura SERT Motul’s Spa podium was one of four it captured as it charged to the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship title with British rider Dan Linfoot, 36, finishing in the top three on each occasion.
Having missed out at Le Mans through injury sustained in a pre-season testing crash, Linfoot returns to EWC action on the #1 Suzuki, which was restricted to sixth place in round one after several falls.
“I have really missed riding with Yoshimura SERT Suzuki,” Linfoot said. “Spa is a track which every rider adores. With the eight-hour format, we will be pushing to recover some points for the championship.
8 Hours of Spa Motos 2024 podium
BELGIUM’S BEST: HOME HOPEFULS CHALLENGE FOR EWC GLORY
BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team and ELF Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99 will fly the Belgian flag in the 8 Hours of Spa Motos and a Q&A with KM99 Team Manager Mario Kupper is available HERE. Meanwhile, home riders Loris Cresson and Luca De Vleeschauwer will race for Maxxess by BMRT3D Pirelli Motul and Pitlane Endurance respectively. Arnaud Dekimpe and David Drieghe, regulars in the 6 Heures Moto de Spa-Francorchamps, form part of the PRD Team CL Racing and Infiniteam FLAM Racing line-ups.
BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team
FORMULA EWC TEAMS OUT IN FORCE AT SPA
Sixteen teams will chase Formula EWC honours in the 8 Hours of Spa Motos. In addition to Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team and Yoshimura SERT Motul, Tati Team AVA6 Racing will bid for back-to-back Spa podiums, while ERC Endurance and Kawasaki Webike Trickstar will go for their second podiums in as many EWC events. F.C.C. TSR Honda France, Maco Racing Team, Mana-Au Competition, Motobox Kremer Racing powered by 321, Team LRP Poland, Team Bolliger Switzerland, Wójcik Racing Team and newcomer JOJ Racing Parts will also be in action.
ERC Endurance
APRILIA-POWERED CALIA TARGETS AN ARDENNES DOUBLE
Having formed part of the Aprilia-powered Team Aviobike by M2 Revo alliance to win the Superstock section of the 8 Hours of Spa Motos in 2024, Kevin Calia is bidding for a repeat victory with the Revo-M2 team and its Dunlop-equipped Aprilia RSV4. However, the Italian outfit faces strong opposition from 2024 FIM Endurance World Cup title-winning National Motos Honda FMA, second in Superstock at Spa last season, Dafy-RAC 41-Honda, 3ART Best of Bike, 2024 Spa Superstock pole-sitting Team Étoile, Team 33 Louit April Motos, Team 18 Pompiers Igol CMS Motostore, returning outfits Champion-MRP-Tecmas and Wójcik Racing Team, plus many more. The full list of Dunlop-supplied Superstock contenders is available HERE.
M2-Revo
DOUBLE THE INTEREST IN ALL-NEW FIM ENDURANCE WORLD TROPHY
The new-for-2025 FIM Endurance World Trophy for Dunlop-equipped production machinery welcomes two new entrants for the 8 Hours of Spa Motos, PRD Team CL Racing and Flying Buffs M3 Racing, plus Motoain Racing Team, which has switched from Formula EWC to the championship’s entry-level category. They will go up against Artec #199, Green Team 42 Lycée Sainte Claire and Super Moto Racing, the class winner at Le Mans.
Team Super Moto Racing
HELP #BEATPLASTICPOLLUTION DURING FIM SUSTAINABILITY WEEK
The fifth FIM Sustainability Week runs from 1-8 June. An international platform aimed at inspiring positive change among all affiliated federations and stakeholders, the FIM Sustainability Week’s goal is to establish a global motorcycling community that celebrates everyday efforts toward environmental conservation. This year, in alignment with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Environment Day on 5 June, the main topic is Beat Plastic Pollution. More information: sustainability@fim.ch
WINS AND A NEW RECORD AS EWC TEAM WÓJCIK REVS UP FOR SPA
Wójcik Racing Team revved up for the 8 Hours of Spa Motos – when it will return to running entries in both the Formula EWC and Superstock categories – with an impressive start to the Polish championship season at Tor Poznań last weekend. Click HERE to find out more.
Loris Cresson
EWC RIDERS SAID WHAT
Quotes from a selection of EWC riders follow:
Gregg Black (Yoshimura SERT Motul): “After the 24 Heures Motos I was able to rest and recover well from the race, but also to analyse it. We saw that we've improved on some of the negative aspects we had in the past. So I'm looking forward to being at Spa to see our progress on this track, where last year we had to settle for second place. It's a track I particularly like for its layout and speed, it's a magical place for us riders.”
Kevin Calia (Revo-M2): “Last year we won the race in Superstock and I think this year we can fight again for the win because we have a good bike and my team-mates are so fast, so the target is to battle for the race win.”
Loris Cresson (MAXXESS by BMRT3D Pirelli Motul: “Because it’s an eight-hour race maybe we can do something more than the top five. But it’s nice to be at home and it’s an amazing track with a lot of fast curves and so long. I’m really excited for Spa and I hope we can deliver a good race for the fans.”
Luca De Vleeschauwer (Pitlane Endurance): “It’s my home race and it’s always nice to have that and always fun to be there. There is always a massive group of my friends there and people close to me. I’m excited because I’m really going to try to make a statement there.”
David Drieghe (Infiniteam FLAM Racing): “I got a message with the question if I would like to ride in the 8 Hours of Spa Motos – I only needed a few seconds to decide.”
Florian Marino
Florian Marino (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99): “Le Mans wasn’t an easy race to handle and we had some ups and downs. Through it all, we never gave up and managed to get back to 13th overall. But Spa is my favourite circuit and the home race for the team.”
Leandro Mercado (Champion-MRP-Tecmas): “I’m really happy to be back in EWC,” Mercado said. “Spa is a beautiful track and I really enjoy to ride there. For me it will be the first experience in Superstock but I’m really looking forward to race with BMW and the team and to make a good job. Racing a BMW in IDM means I have almost the same bike and for sure this will help. The only thing that will be new for me are the Dunlop tyres, so we have to do a really good day of practice to adapt and be ready.”
Markus Reiterberger (BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team): “Spa is one of my favourite tracks. We celebrated victory there in the very first year, in 2022, when the FIM EWC returned to the 24-hour race. That was fantastic, especially since it’s the team’s home race. So I have very fond memories of Spa. And the first time I rode there, I was immediately overwhelmed by this amazing racetrack. I think we have an even better package this year than in the past two years, giving us a real chance to win. That is clearly our goal. We have a strong bike, a powerful engine, good riders, and the grip we need to go up against tough competition.”
8 HOURS OF SPA MOTOS TICKETS
Tickets remain on sale for the ever-spectacular event with more information available HERE.
WATCH THE 8 HOURS OF SPA MOTOS TEASER VIDEO HERE:
PROVISIONAL KEY EWC TIMINGS (CET):
Friday 6 June:
09h00-11h00: Free Practice
13h35-13h55: First Qualifying (Blue Riders)
14h05-14h25: First Qualifying (Yellow Riders)
14h35-14h55: First Qualifying (Red Riders)
16h25-16h45: Second Qualifying (Blue Riders)
16h55-17h15: Second Qualifying (Yellow Riders)
17h25-17h45: Second Qualifying (Red Riders)
17h50: Pole position photo sessions (Pitlane)
18h45-19h45: Pit Walk
Saturday 7 June:
09h00-09h30: Warm-up
10h45-11h15: Pit Walk
12h30: Start of 8 Hours of Spa Motos
20h30: Finish of 8 Hours of Spa Motos
20h40: Podium ceremony
20h50: Post-race press conference (Media Centre)
All timings are CET and subject to change.
8 HOURS OF SPA MOTOS ESSENTIALS
Where: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Location: Rte du Circuit 55, 4970 Stavelot, Belgium
When: 6-7 June 2025
Track length: 6.985 kilometres
Race distance: 8 hours
BEST LAPS:
Qualifying: Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team (Marvin Fritz, 2m18.551s, 2024)
Race: F.C.C. TSR Honda France (Alan Techer, 2m20.166s, 2024)
IN 100 WORDS:
After two memorable 24-hour races at the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in 2022 and 2023, Belgium’s round of the FIM Endurance World Championship ran as an eight-hour contest in 2024, a recognition that three 24-hour races on the calendar in the current economic climate was no longer achievable due to the significant financial investment required. While there was a new event format for 2024, there was no change to the demanding 6.985-kilometre legendary track layout, which was specifically modified for EWC racing in 2021 and remained as intense and spectacular as ever during the inaugural 8 Hours of Spa Motos.
National Motos Honda FMA
FAST FACTS:
The 24H SPA EWC Motos recreated the spirit of the famous 24 Heures de Liège, which counted as a round of the EWC up until 2001, when it ran for the first time in June 2022.
It took place on a track upgraded specifically for the EWC as part of an investment programme costing 25 million euros.
The return of the EWC to Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps was first discussed in 2015, shortly after WBD Sports became championship promoter as part of a long-term agreement with governing body, FIM.
At 6.985 kilometres, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the longest circuit on the 2025 FIM Endurance World Championship calendar.
*After winning the 24H SPA EWC Motos in 2023, Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team triumphed again in 2024 when the event ran for eight hours following a change to the format.
RECENT WINNERS:
2024: Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team (Niccolò Canepa, Marvin Fritz, Karel Hanika), 201 laps
2023: Yamalube YART Yamaha EWC Official Team (Niccolò Canepa, Marvin Fritz, Karel Hanika), 572 laps
2022: BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team (Markus Reiterberger, Illya Mykhalchyk, Jérémy Guarnoni), 508 laps
*Indicates winners of 24H SPA EWC Motos
ENTRY LIST: Available soon at EWC Media Sportity channel, password: 2025EWCMEDIA
RESULTS AND LIVE TIMING: https://www.its-results.com
HOW TO WATCH: Click HERE soon to find out more.
WHATSAPP NEWS CHANNEL
The EWC WhatsApp news channel launched on 1 January 2025 and can be followed here:
FIM ENDURANCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR REFRESHER
24 Heures Motos (Le Mans, France): 17-20 April
8 Hours of Spa Motos (Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium): 6-7 June
46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race (Suzuka, Japan): 1-3 August
Bol d’Or (Circuit Paul Ricard, France): 18-21 September
Original Source [ FIM EWC ]
