Japan Enduro Championship R4/5: Suzaki and Baba share Hidaka Two Days wins

The 2025 Hidaka Two Days Enduro in northern Japan delivered contrasting conditions and split winners as Ryota Baba took Saturday’s honours before young Tomoya Suzaki mastered Sunday’s mud.

Around 200 riders – including entries from Sweden and Thailand – lined up for the island-based race, registered as an international event with the FIM. A 125km loop with four special tests set the scene on day one, before overnight rain forced the organisers to shorten Sunday’s route to 50km with three sodden tests.

Day 1

Warm skies greeted the opener as defending champion Ryota Baba (Yamaha WR450F) fought off Takashi Katsuyama (KTM) and Yoshikazu Hosaka (GASGAS) in a tight contest. Despite struggling in slower tests, Baba pulled clear late in the day for victory.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been nervous,” Baba admitted. “The bike is heavy and I struggled in some tests, but I kept it careful and managed to win.”

Day 2

Torrential rain flipped conditions, turning the grass cross test into a swamp and the enduro test into a slippery nightmare. Sherco rider Tomoya Suzaki thrived, using his experience on slick terrain to claim Sunday’s win ahead of Hosaka and Katsuyama, while Baba’s mistakes cost him dearly.

“My Sherco is easier to ride in difficult conditions like today,” Suzaki explained after sealing his first A-class victory.

Elsewhere, Yamaha’s Yusuke Nobehara dominated the B class with a double win, while Ami Tanaka topped the Women’s field both days on her Yamaha TTR125LW.

Results – JEC 2025 R4/5, Hidaka Two Days Enduro

Day 1

A class

Ryota Baba, Yamaha WR450F

Takashi Katsuyama, KTM 500EXC-F

Yoshikazu Hosaka, GASGAS EC250F

Tomoya Suzaki, Sherco 250SEF

Yukihito Ota, KTM 350EXC-F

Ren Ishidoya, Beta RR4T480

B class

Yusuke Nobehara, Yamaha YZ250X

Koji Ikeda, KTM 350EXC-F

Shingo Haneda, Yamaha YZ250FX

Women’s

Ami Tanaka, Yamaha TTR125LW

Akane Yokoshima, Husqvarna TE150i

Momoka Kouda, TM EN250ESFi

Day 2

A class

Tomoya Suzaki, Sherco 250SEF

Yoshikazu Hosaka, GASGAS EC250F

Takashi Katsuyama, KTM 500EXC-F

Yukihito Ota, KTM 350EXC-F

Tomoki Ogami, Beta X-PRO

Ren Ishidoya, Beta RR4T480

B class

Yusuke Nobehara, Yamaha YZ250X

Shingo Mouri, Yamaha YZ250FX

Shingo Haneda, Yamaha YZ250FX

Women’s

Ami Tanaka, Yamaha TTR125LW

Akane Yokoshima, Husqvarna TE150i

Momoka Kouda, TM EN250ESFi

Word Credit: Hisashi Haruki

Photo Credit: Toshimitsu Sato