The Endurance category also has its transfer market and it was agitated recently with Guarnoni's move to a BMW. The sign that, at Kawasaki, things were changing and in fact, it is a new trio which will be aligned this season on the ZX-10R of the SRC team. Even David Checa, the four-time winner, is no longer within the walls…
Since we are talking about the unconfirmed, we will also note the name ofErwan Nigon. The boss Gilles Stafler, who is rumored to be experiencing one of his last campaigns, has put together this new team combining experience and youth. Etienne Masson comes from Suzuki where he has built a solid track record with three titles in E.W.C.. Florian Marino will find the green motorcycle while the spotlight will be focused on a Randy De Puniet with whom the relationship with the team did not really end well at the end of 2018.
But the former Grand Prix rider knows that if he wants to do as well as his compatriot Sylvain Guintoli, now World Champion in the category with the Suzuki, we must join the ranks of a structure which has already been titled, and this was the case in 2018/2019.
Randy De Puniet: “ I'm going home to finish writing this story."
“I choose to join Team SRC because I know it very well since Gilles recruited me in 2016 and then completed two seasons in 2017 and 2018 with excellent results but unfortunately without a victory” comments Randy De Puniet. “The team is very competitive, the bike is efficient and should be even more so this season. My teammates are fast with great experience in endurance. The goal is of course to fight for victory and the championship. Somehow, I'm going home to finish writing this story!
The boss Gilles Stafler added : " we will have to work quickly and well. It's a new bike and new electronics but it's equipment that I've been asking for for years so it's up to me to make it work. I'm really happy that Kawasaki is giving us a big helping hand this year. It's a very interesting new challenge with new drivers. We should start riding after mid-January and I'm quite optimistic. On the other hand, the competition is also progressing and anything can happen during an Endurance race, but we will do everything to make it happen from 2022.”
Indeed, the Kawasaki #11 will have the means to fight on equal terms with the official competition thanks to new assets. The machine will thus be equipped in 2022 with Magneti Marelli electronics developed for Endurance which already equips certain top teams.
Etienne Masson said: “It's one of the most successful teams in the paddock, it wasn't that long ago that we were fighting to win the world crown and it was Gilles' team that had the last word. With a high-performance bike and such an experienced team, I think we can start with a lot of peace of mind. »
Florian Marino finished : “First of all, Kawasaki brings back excellent memories. I already have a history with this brand with which I participated in the Supersport world championship in 2013, finishing 3rd the following season. I also think there is a link with my role (test rider) with Alex Lowes within the Kawasaki Racing Team in Superbike, but also the fact that my manager, Fabien Foret, rode for this team in the past, with with whom he maintained close relationships. So I would say that this choice was rather coherent and coincides with a period in my career where I now feel ready to join a team of this quality. »
