Reigning FIM Endurance World Champions, SERT Suzuki, have brought in former MotoGP, World Superbike and British Superbike rider, and current Suzuki MotoGP test rider, Sylvain Guintoli and former BSB star Kazuki Watanabe to join Gregg Black and Xavier Simeon in their 2021 EWC season.

After announcing their tie-up with Japanese firm Yoshimura to form a new team, Yoshimura SERT Motul last October, the team have announced a refreshed rider line up, with Gregg Black and Xavier Simeon being joined by Sylvain Guintoli and Kazuki Watanabe.

The 38-year old Frenchman brings in heaps of experience having ridden at Grand Prix level, as well as competing in several EWC events. He won the 2010 8 Hours of Doha in the saddle of Suzuki Endurance Racing Team’s GSX-R1000 with teammates Vincent Philippe and Freddy Foray, thereby contributing to SERT’s 10th world title win.

Sylvain Guintoli has also become a lead player in the Suzuka 8 Hours. He has participated in the race thrice with Yoshimura Racing. He finished fifth in the last edition in 2019 with teammate Kazuki Watanabe.

Watanabe has an impressive track record in Japan. A leading light of the Superbike JSB1000, he is also a Suzuka 8 Hours specialist. Fifth in the 2019 edition with Sylvain Guintoli, he finished fourth in 2018 and was on the second step of the podium of the 2016 Suzuka 8 Hours.

With Simeon and Black staying put, the addition of Guintoli and Watanabe form a formidable Suzuki force in 2021.

Latest 2021 EWC Calendar

April 17-18 – 24 Heures Motos, Le Mans
May 23 – 8 Hours of Oschersleben, Germany
July 18 – Suzuka 8 Hours, Japan
September 18-19 – Bol D’or, France
October 16 – 12H of Estoril, Portugal

The 2021 EWC season will commence in April with the closed doors event held in Le Mans for the 24 Heures Moto.

Featured image: EWC