The manager of Team Webike SRC Kawasaki France Trickstar had an extraordinary final season by winning the World Champion title with his riders Jeremy Guarnoni, Erwan Nigon et David Checa. This new season got off to a bad start, when Nigon was shot at the Bol by Loris Baz in distress on a pool of oil. Erwan did miraculously well, and the Kawa then finished sixth in the 8 Hours of Sepang.
This team is now tied for seventh in the provisional World Championship standings, while the next race could (?) be the 8 Hours of Oschersleben on June 6.
How is the Webike SRC Kawasaki France Team coping with this difficult period. His boss Gilles Stafler explains it to us here.
“Containment has not changed anything in our daily lives... Since March 7 (back from the Pirelli tests in Alcarras), we have been working hard at the workshop. We have to make up for the delay caused by Malaysia when the shipment of the motorcycles was delayed... Our work schedule is very busy until June...
“On the one hand our engine specialist Bernie received a new engine a few days ago but on the other hand he also has 4 others to overhaul!
“Concerning the cycle part this time, we are working hard on 6 new rear frames. Furthermore, Thomas, my colleague, is composing new beams for the upcoming races and the confinement is putting him ahead of schedule (example: The Bol d'Or beam which will take place in mid-September is already finished while usual, he cannot conceive it before the end of August.)
“The disadvantage, on the other hand, is that we will be delayed in the development of new electronics that we had planned to test dynamically for use during the German World Endurance event. next June. »
“Finally, this may seem secondary, but secondly, we will review so-called secondary peripheral parts such as wheels but also stand coverings and panels, tools, etc.…”
“We were on alert regarding the coronavirus because at the end of February, we were informed of the already very worrying situation through our contacts at the headquarters of our partner Pirelli* in Milan. We are in close contact with the Italian racing service. We therefore anticipated the crisis by placing orders with our suppliers (like composite for example) before leaving for Spain. We received our packages on our return and just before confinement! »
*For your information, Pirelli is owned by the Chinese group ChemChina (45,5% of shares).
“Finally, regarding sporting activity this time, the good news was confirmed to us yesterday by Eurosport Events, the promoter of the World Endurance Championship, all the races will take place this year, with only one postponement to date ( the 24 Hours of Le Mans rescheduled for the last weekend of August). »
Source: Kawasaki
Photos © Good Shoot for Kawasaki
