BMW Wins Bol d'Or and 2026 Endurance World Championship

The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team has won the 89th Bol d'Or and the 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship. The team's #37 BMW M 1000 RR, ridden by Markus Reiterberger, Steven Odendaal, and Michael van der Mark, claimed both the race victory and the title by a four-point margin, securing the first EWC crown for BMW and for a European bike manufacturer.

Riding the #37 BMW M 1000 RR, the trio completed 742 laps of the Circuit Paul Ricard, setting a new distance record for the event. They finished one lap ahead of the #12 Suzuki of Yoshimura SERT Motul and two laps ahead of the #1 Yamaha of the YART Yamaha Official EWC Team. The win was a redemption for the Belgian-based squad, which had seen a mechanical failure end its title hopes just half an hour from the finish in the previous year's race.

Race Strategy and Rival Battles

Starting from pole position, the BMW was briefly overtaken at the Le Mans-style start by Gregg Black on the Yoshimura Suzuki but regained the lead on the opening lap. The early phase of the race featured a close battle with the #5 Honda of F.C.C. TSR Honda France. BMW's strategy proved superior, with longer fuel stints and efficient pit work. Over the 24 hours, the team spent a cumulative 36 minutes and 26 seconds in the pit lane across 26 stops, the lowest total among the leading contenders. The #37 led both intermediate classifications, earning the maximum 10 points at the eight-hour and 16-hour marks.

The three-time defending Bol d'Or winner, Yoshimura SERT Motul, climbed from fifth to second overnight. Riders Gregg Black, Etienne Masson, and Dan Linfoot finished one lap behind the winners, securing third place in the final championship standings.

The Reigning Champions' Fightback

The reigning champion YART Yamaha team faced a difficult start. Karel Hanika, Marvin Fritz, and Leandro Mercado dropped outside the top 15 on the opening lap. They fought back to run in fourth for much of the race before inheriting the final podium spot when the #5 Honda was delayed by a crash and an eight-minute repair. The third-place finish was not enough to defend their title, which they lost by four points after having won it by a single point in 2025.

F.C.C. TSR Honda France finished fourth, six laps down, with Corentin Perolari setting the race's fastest lap at 1 minute 52.320 seconds. Kawasaki Webike Trickstar completed the top five in the EWC class. Of the 56 starters, 36 were classified as finishers.

Supporting Class Champions

In the Superstock class, the Wójcik Racing Team #77 SST Honda won both the race and the FIM Endurance World Cup. Riders Jordi Torres Fernandez, Milan Pawelec, Mateusz Molik, and Hector Garzo Vicent finished sixth completing 717 laps. They finished ahead of the #36 Yamaha of 3ART Best Of Bike Hamaguchi and the #44 Honda of Honda No Limits.

The Production class was won by Audemar Motoclub Gemenos, which completed 666 laps. A second-place finish for Legacy Competition was enough to secure the FIM Endurance World Trophy. Yamaha won the manufacturers' classification for the Production class.

Final Standings and Quotes

Yamaha topped the 2026 FIM EWC manufacturers' standings with 179 points, followed by BMW with 167 and Honda with 141.

Team riders expressed their joy after the win. Michael van der Mark said the team had "reached the next level" this year. Steven Odendaal called the victory "all the more special" after the heartbreak of losing the title the previous year. Team manager Warner Daemen highlighted the long-term project, stating, We didn't just build the best motorcycle, we also built the best team.

The 2027 FIM Endurance World Championship season will begin with the 24 Heures Motos at the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans from April 8 to 11.