Live EWC coverage in Japan continues on J SPORTS

April 7th, 2023

The FIM Endurance World Championship is delighted to announce that its broadcast partnership with J SPORTS has once again been extended, a move that will ensure continued live coverage of the EWC in Japan.

A long-term partner of the EWC, J SPORTS offers the best of domestic and international live sports across its various platforms, including its on-demand service.

Starting with the EWC season-opening 24 Heures Motors at Le Mans (15-16 April), J SPORTS will show all EWC rounds live, including the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race in Japan on 6 August.

In addition to its highly-regarded live coverage, J SPORTS will show highlights of all rounds of the 2023 EWC, which will ensure Japanese fans don’t miss out on watching any of the key action, despite the time difference between Europe – where three of the four EWC rounds take place – and Japan.

Jean-Baptiste Ley, the EWC Series Director for promoter Discovery Sports Events, said: “Japan remains a key market for the EWC, either through the participation of motorcycle manufacturers and tyre companies, but also through teams and riders. With the third round of the EWC taking place at the iconic Suzuka Circuit, strong coverage of the championship is essential for raising awareness of the event and growing the fanbase of the EWC and its stakeholders.”

Shinya Yamaki, General Manager of Creative Production Department for J SPORTS, said: “We are proud and delighted to announce this extension and to provide the world’s most prestigious motorcycle racing by bringing the FIM Endurance World Championship to fans in Japan. The value of the EWC, including the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Race which is tremendously popular among Japanese fans, has been increasing year by year in Japan. J SPORTS is willing to contribute to the development of EWC and the growth of its fan base in Japan by delivering all EWC rounds live.”

As well as the EWC world title-winning F.C.C. TSR Honda France and Yoshimura SERT Motul teams, Team Kawasaki Webike Trickstar is now Japanese owned following the recent takeover of Gilles Stafler’s French SRC team by Ryuji Tsuruta. This was done in partnership with the Japanese River Crane (Webike) and Motohouse Co organisations.

Meanwhile, Cocoro Atsumi, Takeshi Ishizuka and Kazuki Watanabe are three riders flying the Japanese flag in this season’s EWC, while Hikari Okubo will contest the 24 Heures Motos for Metiss in the Experimental category.