2018-2019 FIM EWC explained
The FIM EWC is an exciting championship in which both the motorcycles and riders (mostly male, occasionally female) are sorely put to the test in races lasting from 8 hours to 24 hours.
The 2018-2019 season will comprise five rounds in France, Germany, Slovakia and Japan. The championship takes place on prestigious tracks like the Paul Ricard circuit at Castellet and the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans in France, and the Suzuka circuit in Japan. The FIM EWC also includes two races in eastern Europe, at Oschersleben in Germany and the very technical Slovakia Ring circuit.
Since Eurosport Events took over as promoter of the EWC alongside the FIM in 2015, the world championship has witnessed a substantial increase in both media coverage, with races being broadcast worldwide, and race attendance figures, as a result of renewed interest in the sport. The championship is also attracting bigger, more international rider line-ups, with an ever-increasing number of new, high-level teams signing up to compete in the FIM EWC each year.
The FIM EWC has some features that really set it apart from other motorsport events. All the races take place partly at night, including the 8-hour races. And the FIM EWC is one of the few world championships in which teams are free to choose their tyres. Another particularity of the FIM EWC is the spectacular Le Mans-style standing start: riders sprint across the track to jump on their bikes.
These long-distance races can be gruelling for both the riders and the machines. Teams are made up of two to three riders, who each ride stints before handing the bike (the race machine is very similar to a road bike) over to one of their teammates.