The 22nd edition of the “Mote tai” final race, a 7-hour endurance event, was held on August 25 (Sun) at Twin Ring Motegi under clear skies. This year, all 76 cars (with one withdrawal) took their positions on the grid and aimed for the checkered flag 7 hours later with a Le Mans-style start.

The #103 NMC × ATJ Racing, starting from pole position, showed a great start and took the holeshot, quickly establishing a solo lead. Behind them, #34 Mote Kita Friendly Running Club + Hasegawa Rebar ran alone in second place, followed by #8 'Itadaki' First Unit Moto Champ & SE, #9 'Itadaki' Second Unit Moto Champ & SE, and #57 Vesla Racing with Female Brakes. Then, with some gap, came #33 Shin Construction & YMproject, #13 Team KYOEI A Team, #30 ATJ Racing, and #31 Presto, G3 & N-PLAN.

The #103 NMC × ATJ Racing, which leads the race with rider Kazuki Tomita's superior speed, runs at the top. The pair rider had a strategy to increase Tomita's riding time by running shorter. Although they sometimes dropped to second place during pit stops, they quickly returned to the top and continued to lap.

At the halfway point of the race, 3 hours and 30 minutes in, the #103 NMC × ATJ Racing was leading with 87 laps, followed by #57 Vesla Racing with Female Brakes at a gap of 2 minutes and 11 seconds. One lap behind was #1 YSS Racing × MGR. Racing Service, and two laps behind were #33 Shinken Construction & YMproject and #21 NR Project Takahashi RS Gumcho.

The #103 NMC × ATJ Racing had to increase their pit stops by one due to fuel efficiency issues and changed their strategy. Although rider Kazuki Tomita was able to ride longer... there was an overtaking in a yellow flag zone, resulting in a regrettable penalty. They had to serve a 180-second pit stop.

Even so, the race development was still uncertain. With one hour remaining, the top was held by #57 Vesra Racing with Seido Joshi, who had significantly pulled away from second place. At this point, they had refueled six times, and it was closely watched whether they would need one more stop or not. In second place was #1 YSS Racing × MGR. Racing Service, but when they entered the pit for refueling, #103 NMC × ATJ Racing rose to second place. There was a two-lap gap to the leader, #57 Vesra Racing with Seido Joshi. Both #8 'Itadaki' First Unit Moto Champ & SE and #1 YSS Racing × MGR. Racing Service were on the same lap as #103 NMC × ATJ Racing, creating a situation where positions could change immediately if anything happened.

With 35 minutes remaining, #57 Vesra Racing with Seido Joshi made a pit stop for their 7th refueling. #103 NMC × ATJ Racing’s international Rider Naohiro Nakatsuhara pushed hard at this crucial moment. In response, #57 Vesra Racing with Seido Joshi returned to the course still in the lead, with rider Koichi Endo showing determination. The gap was 31.233 seconds. That gap steadily closed to 25 seconds, 23 seconds, and 21 seconds, and with 3 minutes left, it had shrunk to 8 seconds. There were 2 laps remaining. The escaping #57 Vesra Racing with Seido Joshi and the chasing #103 NMC × ATJ Racing created the most exciting moment after 7 hours had passed. This battle ended with #57 Vesra Racing with Seido Joshi holding on to take the checkered flag. #103 NMC × ATJ Racing finished a close 2nd, just 2.465 seconds behind.
"We planned to make 6 pit stops, but unexpectedly poor fuel efficiency forced us to make 7, so it was nerve-wracking. Since Takayuki Miyamoto, who had raced with us until now, passed away from illness in February, the entire team was united with the determination to win no matter what," said Endo from #57 Vesra Racing with Seido Joshi. Meanwhile, Murazawa, the director of #103 NMC × ATJ Racing, who finished a close second, commented, "Fuel efficiency was worse than expected, so we added one more refueling stop. At that time, we changed the fuel map, allowing Kazuki Tomita to extend his stint. It seems that during that stint, there was an overtaking under a yellow flag. Our goal was 172 laps, and although it's all hindsight, I believe it would have been fully possible without the penalty."

3rd place went to 【#8 'Itadaki' First Unit Motochamp & SE】, and 4th place to 【#1 YSS Racing × MGR. Racing Service】, both marking 171 laps, the same as the leader. Following them were 【#13 Team KYOEI A Team】 in 5th, 【#33 Shinken Construction & YMproject】 in 6th, 【#32 team SANMEI】 in 7th, 【#34 Mote Kita Friendly Co-Running Association + Hasegawa Rebar】 in 8th, and 【#31 Presto, G3 & N-PLAN】 in 9th, continuing the WT class. In 10th place, 【#62 CLUB MASSA-R】 rode the NST-R25; 13th place, 【#135 B.S.C with Young machine】 on the NST-G310R; 16th place, 【#61 Nakamura Engine Laboratory】 on the NST-CBR; 23rd place, 【#932 APPRISE Akutsu Motors Yumomi】 on the NST-Ninja250; 28th place, 【#69 Riding Sports Fire 69】 in WT; 35th place, 【#38 Webike + Nabegi】 on the NST-VTR/AS; and 69th place, 【#12 CLUB1.2FK Kushitani Kawaguchi Store】 on BRAVE, each claiming class victories.

This year again, many teams enjoyed Mote tai (Mote endurance) in their own unique ways. The fact that no safety car was deployed is proof of everyone's improved manners. Let's meet again at Mote tai next year!