Ville Valtonen Racing

🏁Endurance world championship, Round 1 Le Mans 2026🏁

The long and hard week of racing is now done and result was great in the end! 😎👏

Endurance race wknd is actually closer to full week, as tuesday is already test-day and then there is a lot of press work, tech checks, actual free practise, parades, meetings and qualis etc etc, so the week was busy and filled with different duties.

We worked really hard thru test sessions and qualis as we had some issues with the bike, which I’m now pleased to say we sorted out, or atleast bike was as its best during the actual race. 💪

I’m most impressed with the attitude of the whole team towards the work on hand.
It all starts on top and chief Kevin is nothing short of great leader 🫡
When ever there is such open minded approach and constructive way to work, there is always space for further growth 🌱
This team is well on the way to higher ground🚀

Tech crew worked flawlessly whole week and our 24h race was nothing short of perfect on my eyes.

We had only one tech issue all race, which was nothing to do with us and even this was fixed really quick despite being quite some work. 👏

My team mates rode the wheels of the big Kawa all week and was pleasure to work with such guys and
The role of the replacement rider is never easy in such event. Again I was faced with new team, new bike, new track (test helped, but not too many laps as there is 4 riders)and also you are faced with expecations of the team, who has worked together for some time and want ofcourse to succeed.
The worst thing one can do is to f**k up at somepoint, which can ruin whole race.
This can happen easy all above things considered.

I did really stellar job with my riding all week and only one night shift was bit poor showing, as I was in difficult situation with safety car and around 40 bikes in same line…

Thru whole maddness that is, was my rock and I’m very gratefull for that ❤️❤️ Love you.

Special thanks also to guru of gurus: for sorting my nutrition perfect! 🦾
Still the boss 😎

Now we head home, rest and get back to work asap

So maybe time for some updates from Le Mans 🇫🇷
We have been chippin away with and today was time for some Quali runs!
We’ve had some handling issues for some time now and seems like we’ve managed to trace it down.
Team is working extra hard to sort them out, but seems there is no easy-fix available…
Lets see what we can sort out.

Despite all, my team mates , and all did very good job on theirs outings and not much more could be asked from my point of view. 👏

Me personally, I’m getting more comfy on Big Kawa and actually was the only one with used race tires to do my Q1. Still high 39’s give more confidence that when it come to race times, I’m thereabouts 💪

As always, step-by-step… my way. 😌

Today still night practise on the agenda. 🥸

Yhteistyö uutisia✅
Huolimatta mistä urheilusta on kyse, on hyvin todennäköistä, että jossakin kohtaa uraa sattuu loukaantumisia, takaiskuja tai vähintään hidasteita joilla on fyysinen muoto. 👨🏻‍⚕️

Olen henk.koht päässyt kaikkien näiden vuosien kanssa aika vähällä, m***a en tietenkään täysin nollilla, joten erinäköiset lääkärit, fyssarit, hierojat, naprapaatit, kirot ovat kyllä ihan tuttuja.

Olen käynyt SPH Sport Medicinin Vesan vastaanotolla jo vuosia aiemmin, pääasiassa selkään liittyvissä asioissa, m***a 2024 sattuneen nilkan kuntouttamisen tiimoilta tuli selväksi, että kyseinen kaveri on aikamoinen helmi näillä nurkilla. 💎
Vesa lupasi silloin, että nilkka saadaan ajokuntoon vielä silloin syksyllä, vaikka ei sillä juosta voinut, (kaaduin varmuudeksi ihan huolella sen päälle viikkoa ennen kisoja) ja näin todella kävikin.😌

Olin varsin kiitollinen ja ajoinkin kaksi viimistä kisaa varsin hyvin olosuhteisiin nähden.

Nyt olen enemmän kuin tyytyväinen, että Vesa on luvannut tukea läpi kauden tarpeen mukaan ja tänään olikin työn alla jo viikkoja kiusannut olkapää.
Diagnoosi tuntui osuvalle ja hoito/kuntoutus ohjeet onkin jo saatu, että tämäkin roikkuva vaiva saadaan pois muutamassa viikossa.

Ensi viikolla on edessä aikamoinen haaste, Le Mans24h kisan muodossa ja selvää on, että kunnossa on oltava!

Voin vilpittömästi suositella 👊
Vesan tavoittaa soittamalla/viestillä 044-0421426

Tai suoraan vello.fi/vesa-helenius

FIM EWC Pre-test in Le Mans compleated ✅
Thankfully weather was well reasonable during two days test and we could rack up some miles in preparation for the race itself in few weeks.

Conditions were not exactly ideal, which led to lot of crashes, but we got some decent track time despite of this.

For me was first time on EWC Formula bike and it’s been a decade, since last rode a Kawasaki.
Truth be told, was not easy transition and we had some issues to iron out as well.

Anyway, worked well and in very good manner, so I believe we made some head way and are in better way, come race week!

I personally need more time on saddle to start pushing for more, but that will sort itself out like always has. 💪

Thanks to test crew on site and we’ll continue were we left of in few weeks. 😌

Photos by and

🏁ESBK 2026 Round 1 Jerez🏁
Race 2 today and hand on heart, I’m really bummed about what happened 😔

Started race real strong with full tank, did constant 42s and felt really good chipping away in P6 with STK leader just in front of me, until I didnt…

Exactly half-race going on to the last corner, left hander, I felt that awefull soft kiss on my knee and about second later I figured the f*cking knee slider was gone! 🤬🤬😩

I cant figure out why I did not stick, as leathers are worn, but not that worn!
Anyone who’s ever had this happens knows how difficult it is to ride with out using you knee as lean angle sensor… It was somewhat ok”ish” for about two corners but then velcro wore out and as leather exposes and that catches asphalt like crazy as friction is just too much.
This then made the front tuck on left handers, if I used my knee at all.

I nursered home with pace as quick as I could but eventually had to succumb to P3. ☹️
Like said, not a happy camper atm but I guess this s**t can happen in race as well.

Despite all of this drama I improved my race time by 3 secs, so tells what could have been…

Overall however the wknd was good for us: new Pb lap, new race record and very constant pace.
Also looks like we in fight for top positions 2026. 💪

We’ll take this to chin 🥊 and move forward.

Thanks to my crew for good work thru wknd! Maccina was running pretty sweet 😎

🏁ESBK 2026 Round 1 Jerez🏁
Race one was a good way to start the season with P6 overall and P2 on STK class‼️

Honestly we were hoping for bit more fight for win, but overcast weather moved to circuit and wind picked up, which gave us bit headache for race.

This was pretty max with package we have, so thats the story really.

Today is Race 2 and let’s see what we can do 💪
Thanks to my crew ❤️

🏁ESBK 2026 Round 1 Jerez🏁
After few days of mixed conditions Quali morning was best we’ve had in few days.
P6 overall and P2 in STK gives a good shot for the races with 1.42.4
Today Race1 at 17.00 local.

Valencia session with now done ✅
As my bike is technically same as last year, there is not much to test, so we can only focus on rider development.
However this seems to be going allright. 🤌
Weather was at times wet and last day complitely lost because of very strong winds 💨🌨️❌

Anyway we are pretty happy where we are at the moment and lost riding time was filled with laughter and funny stories in box38 😄
Looking forward to the next session!

🏁❗️Season 2026 news‼️🏁
After some carefull thought we have decided to continue racing in ESBK series with Team Sensetec. 🇪🇸
Our class will be STK1000 this year, as It gives us a great chance to fight for top positions all thru season as far as we are conserned. 🥇🥈🥉
Tool for the job will remain my trusted BMW M1000RR, which we try to keep fresh and competitive as much as we can.
Series calendar consists 7 races, so looks like bike will stay in south all summer, so unfortunately I cant ride much else with that.
We are willing to do more, but let’s see if there would be a way…

We have some ideas flying around, but let’s see if any of them actually work out. 🔴🟢

Series starts in march in with official test and then race the following wknd‼️

We have some tests planned before this, watch this space. 👊