The 2021 EWC rider lineup has been confirmed for Yoshimura SERT, with MotoGP test rider Sylvain Guintoli spearheading the squad.
The reigning world champions will launch their title defence at the Le Mans 24-hour in April, with Guintoli joining Gregg Black, Xavier Simeon, and Kazuki Watanabe in the team.
While Black and Simeon helped guide SERT to the 2020 world title, Guintoli also boasts EWC experience with both SERT and Yoshimura, while Watanabe also has Suzuka 8-hour experience and has been hard at work as the test rider for the Yoshimura and SERT project.
Guintoli said, "This new challenge is very exciting. I have raced with SERT in the past, at the 8-hours of Doha in 2010, and on three occasions with Yoshimura at Suzuka, so this feels amazing to be able to challenge all together for the full Endurance World Championship."
Black commented, "After winning the world championship in 2020, I am really looking forward to the new season coming up, especially with the strong support from Yoshimura along with Suzuki and SERT.
"Also, we have the new Bridgestone collaboration which will be very interesting. With the new official calendar release we now know the first race will be held at Le Mans in April, so I will continue my preparation to be at 100% for this first event of the season."
Fellow world champion Simeon added, "I’m pleased with the more intensive collaboration between SERT and Yoshimura. For 2021 the target will be to keep this number one on the plate. I feel at home with the team and I’m enjoying riding the GSX-R1000 and I’m also pleased to welcome Sylvain and Kazuki, and with Gregg I’m sure we will make a good team."
Watanabe said, "I’m so proud and excited to be a part of Yoshimura SERT. I have worked a lot to develop the bike for EWC. It was a new experience for me to concentrate to work as a test rider, and I was able to have deeper understanding of the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-1000R. I’m really looking forward to go on the track and would like to hear how my teammates feel with the bike."