A year after suffering heartbreak at the same venue, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team has completed its redemption story by winning the FIM Endurance World Championship.
The #37 BMW M 1000 RR completed a flawless 24-hour race at the Bol d’Or, securing the team’s first endurance world title and making BMW the first European manufacturer to win the championship.
BMW Turns Last Year’s Heartbreak Into Triumph
In 2025, BMW was within touching distance of the title before a technical failure less than 30 minutes from the finish ended its hopes.
This year, the team faced no such setback. Markus Reiterberger brought the #37 machines crossed the finish line after 24 trouble-free hours, sparking celebrations on the pit wall.
BMW’s championship success was built across the entire season.
At the 24 Heures Motos, BMW led the race into the early hours before dropping back due to problems. The team bounced back with victory at the 8 Heures de Spa Motos and followed it with a third-place finish at the Suzuka 8 Hours.
The Suzuka podium was particularly significant, as it marked the first podium for a European manufacturer at the Japanese endurance classic.
Heading into the Bol d’Or, BMW trailed YART by 19 points, leaving the team with little room for error.
Pole Position and Maximum Points at Le Castellet
BMW delivered exactly what was required at Circuit Paul Ricard.
Michael van der Mark, racing at the circuit for the first time, topped qualifying. His combined times with Reiterberger secured pole position and five valuable championship points.
During the race, the #37 BMW led at both the eight-hour and 16-hour marks before completing the victory.
The team collected 65 points from the event, while YART finished third and ended the championship four points behind BMW.
Fuel Efficiency Makes the Difference
The BMW M 1000 RR played a crucial role in the team’s success.
Its lower fuel consumption allowed BMW to make fewer pit stops throughout the 24-hour race, helping the team save valuable time over the course of the event.
The combination of performance, efficiency and consistency ultimately proved decisive in the championship battle.
Markus Reiterberger expressed his relief and happiness after finally securing the championship.
He praised his teammates and the entire BMW team, noting that last year’s disappointment had made him nervous during the final stint. With the job completed this time, Reiterberger said he was grateful to everyone involved and ready to celebrate.
Van der Mark Praises Team’s Progress
Michael van der Mark highlighted the progress made by BMW, team manager Werner Daemen and the entire squad throughout the season.
He credited the strong relationship between the three riders—Reiterberger, Steven Odendaal and himself—and pointed to the Spa victory and Suzuka podium as key moments in their campaign.
According to Van der Mark, BMW knew that pole position and victory at the Bol d’Or were essential—and the team delivered both.
Victory Makes Last Year’s Loss Special
For Steven Odendaal, the championship carried extra significance after the disappointment of 2025.
The rider said the team had been working towards the world championship for a long time and described this year’s victory as especially meaningful after losing the title in heartbreaking fashion the previous season.
Odendaal also praised the riders, team and BMW for producing a highly competitive motorcycle and a championship-winning package.
Werner Daemen: Building the Team Was Key
Team manager Werner Daemen described the championship as a rollercoaster of emotions after years of work with BMW.
The project began around seven or eight years ago, with BMW entering the endurance racing scene in 2019. Daemen acknowledged the challenge of competing against Japanese manufacturers with decades of experience in endurance racing.
He said the team focused not only on developing a competitive motorcycle but also on building a strong racing operation around it.
Markus Flasch, Head of BMW Motorrad, congratulated the entire BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team and BMW Motorrad Motorsport.
The championship marks the third World Championship title for the BMW M 1000 RR in three years, following two WorldSBK titles.
More importantly, BMW has now become the first European manufacturer to win the FIM Endurance World Championship, adding another major milestone to its motorsport history.