12H Estoril – Yamaha winner at 12H Estoril, Suzuki world champion –

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Yamaha winner at Estoril 12H, Suzuki world champion

12H Estoril - Yamaha winner at 12H Estoril, Suzuki world champion -

Despite the victory of Yamaha at the 12H of Estoril, an unprecedented final of the EWC world championship, it is Suzuki who leaves Portugal with a new title of world endurance champion: the 16th !

Fourth place at the start and finish of the 12H Estoril (Portugal) was enough for Etienne Masson, Gregg Black and Xavier Simeon on the No. 2 SERT Suzuki to give the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team its 16th title in the world, this time under the leadership of Damien Saulnier !

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"I have a thought for the former SERT team without whom we would not be here today", recalls the new team manager since: "I am also thinking of who was with us for the victory at the Bol d ‘ But I am also super proud of my new team. The SERT has always been a great human adventure and it is important to me to continue in this line. I also thank all our partners, Dunlop, Motul, Yoshimura and of course all the others who have helped us a lot and with whom the adventure will continue ".

Gregg Black, SERT pilot

“Last year we came close to the title. It’s done in 2020 with a new team. It’s been a complicated year and this last race where we had to manage our championship lead was not easy, no more. But we remained focused on our objective until the end. The SERT is a beautiful united team. I am very happy to be part of it and I hope to live for a long time to come with this family! "

Etienne Masson, SERT pilot

"This title makes me very happy! I’ve been chasing after 2016 since then. The rest was very complicated. We had to get up and fight, every day. We then had to manage the new SERT and start almost everything from scratch. . It was finally necessary to face the and the arrival of one. It was a lot of things but everything worked very well, from the start. The competition is more and more fierce but the SERT never gives up! "

24 seconds apart

First at the finish line and second at the world championship, the Yamaha Austria Racing Team (Karel Hanika, Marvin Fritz and Niccoló Canepa) narrowly won (24.5 seconds!) In front of the No. 5 Honda of FCC TSR Honda France (Josh Hook, Freddy Foray and Mike di Meglio) while the Kawasaki n ° 1, now a former world champion, finished 6th at the finish and 5th in the championship at the hands of David Checa, Jeremy Guarnoni and Erwan Nigon, victims of a chain break.

Mike di Meglio, Honda rider n ° 5

"It was a very intense race, we started with a tire choice that was not ideal for us. Then we managed to pick up a good pace, I think we could have fought for the victory at the end, so the fun would have been even better. But I think you have to accept this second place, it’s a great result. Everyone did a great job and it was only the second race of this bike, so we only get positive results for next year ".

Josh Hook, Honda rider # 5

“We had a good race, the bike was performing well throughout the race and we had the pace to win. It was really difficult during the successive stints towards the end. There are definitely things we need to improve. in the pits, because I think it cost us a hell of a chance to win this race. But we have to be happy with the final outcome, we finished second, our times were good and even if not not a win, it’s a great result. When you have an amazing bike, the end result doesn’t matter. The team has done an incredible job here and I want to warmly thank them and everyone who participated in this job. I’m already looking forward to next year ".

Freddy Foray, Honda rider n ° 5

“Finishing second is not that bad, I want to thank my teammates who finished the race and did an amazing job on a physical circuit like this. I have shoulder problems that rob me of my strength. in the arms, which caused me some difficulties at Le Mans and even more here where you had to have a big rhythm. I will take advantage of the offseason to deal with this problem and I hope very soon to be able to fully enjoy the pleasure again to ride this fantastic motorcycle ".

Finally, let us note the retirement of National Motos (Honda n ° 55), Bolliger Switzerland (Kawasaki n ° 8), Pitlane Endurance (Yamaha n ° 86) and ERC Endurance (Ducati n ° 6).

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