The new-format FIM EWC 2016/2017 season kicked off on 17 and 18 September 2016 with the Bol d’Or race on the Paul Ricard circuit in Castellet. Four other races will make up the calendar, including an all-new race on the Slovakia Ring circuit. The 8 Hours of Slovakia Ring promises to be a headline event. Located within a short distance of the capital, Bratislava, and the border with Austria, the Slovakia Ring is run by a dynamic and professional team. The races at this fantastic 6-km track regularly draw large crowds of spectators. The 8 Hours of Slovakia Ring is scheduled to take place on Saturday 24 June 2017, from 1.30pm to 9.30pm CET, i.e. a night finish. 

Portimão postponed to 2017/2018
The 12 Horas de Portimão, initially scheduled for mid-March 2017, has been postponed to the 2017/2018 season. This will enable Portugal, and the team at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, to consolidate preparations to host a major Endurance race in 2018.  There was also a risk that the delayed arrival of the new homologated bikes for 2017 would handicap the preparations of some teams.  

2016-2017 FIM EWC final round, 40th anniversary of the Suzuka 8 Hours
So the next round of the FIM EWC 2016/2017 will be the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans on 15 and 16 April. The new date for the 8 Hours of Oschersleben in Germany is 20 May, one month ahead of the 8 Hours of Slovakia Ring on 24 June. On 30 July, the 40th edition of the Suzuka 8 Hours will round off the FIM EWC 2016/2017 in style. In order to ensure that this grand finale takes place in optimal conditions, it has been decided to make a complete control of the first 10 bikes after the finish of the race.

Looking ahead to 2018
Eurosport Events and FIM are is already hard at work organizing a forthcoming wintertime event, scheduled for February 2018 in Asia. This race is being rolled out in collaboration with Suzuka, and will be a qualifier for Japanese teams and squads from elsewhere in Asia wishing to compete at the Suzuka 8 Hours. Eurosport Events will confirm this event on condition that it can offer logistics support to participating European and Asian teams.

2016/17 - full calendar

17/18 September 2016* Bol d’Or (24h) Le Castellet (FRA)
15/16 April 24heures Moto Le Mans (FRA) 
20 May Oschersleben 8 Hours Oschersleben (GER)
24 June 8 Hours of Slovakia Ring Orechová Potôň (SLO)
30 July Suzuka 8 Hours Suzuka (JAP)