The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, riding on Bridgestone BATTLAX motorcycle tires, has won the 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC). The title was decided on Sept. 20 at the season final, the Bol d'Or at Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, France. Bridgestone Americas announced the result on Sept. 24, 2026, noting that it marks the sixth consecutive year, and seventh time overall, that a Bridgestone-equipped team has claimed the EWC championship.
Redemption at Paul Ricard
The Belgian-based team secured victory in the season’s final race, a 24-hour event that Bridgestone described as filled with dynamic twists and turns down to the final lap. The result carried extra weight: twelve months earlier at the same circuit, the team was less than 30 minutes away from claiming the title when a mechanical failure ended its championship chances.
Returning to Circuit Paul Ricard, riders Markus Reiterberger, Steven Odendaal and Michael van der Mark delivered what Bridgestone called a remarkable performance to secure BMW’s first-ever FIM EWC World Championship aboard the No. 37 BMW M 1000 RR. The team manager is Werner Daemen.
Bridgestone teams fill the top five
All five of the top teams in the final overall standings ran on Bridgestone tires. Behind the champions, the top five was completed by YART Yamaha Official EWC Team (No. 1, Yamaha YZF-R1) in second, Yoshimura Sert Motul (No. 12, Suzuki GSX-R 1000R) in third, Kawasaki Webike Trickstar (No. 11, Kawasaki ZX-10RR) in fourth and Autorace Ube Racing Team (No. 76, BMW M 1000 RR) in fifth.
"On behalf of Bridgestone, I want to congratulate the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team on earning a hard-fought championship victory," said Nico Thuy, Director Motorcycle at Bridgestone EMEA. "To all our partner teams who also gave an extraordinary effort out on the track – we are proud to stand behind you. Reliable tires are a non-negotiable foundation for pushing the absolute limit in a series as grueling as the FIM EWC, and we are deeply honored that so many exceptional teams rely on Bridgestone to perform and endure."
19 teams on BATTLAX in 2026
Bridgestone has outfitted many full-season EWC competitors with high-performance BATTLAX race tires since 2017. In 2026, the company served as the exclusive tire supplier for 19 EWC teams.
The FIM EWC (FIM stands for Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) pushes tires and riders to their limits over non-stop 8- to 24-hour stretches. Bridgestone says its race tires are engineered with advanced compound technology and high-rigidity architecture to deliver maximum traction, predictable handling and long-lasting durability through every stint, regardless of shifting track temperatures, weather changes or variable surface conditions.
From circuit to street
Bridgestone describes motorsports, from world championship endurance racing to grassroots competitions, as a vital proving ground. Through its racing partnerships, the company advances its "From Circuit to Street" concept, testing advanced rubber compounds and structural designs under demanding endurance conditions, including dramatic day-to-night temperature shifts and unpredictable weather. Bridgestone says this allows its engineers to accelerate the development of premium replacement tires. The company’s current street and track motorcycle range is listed on its BATTLAX tire page.
Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Bridgestone Americas is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation and employs more than 45,000 people across its worldwide operations.
