Alongside Dunlop and Bridgestone, Michelin becomes a major player in endurance by equipping, among others, the Webike SRC Kawasaki France Trickstar, reigning World Champion, as well as Moto Ain, winner of the FIM World Cup and leader current Superstock category.
Michelin left the FIM EWC World Championship in 2014 with a World Champion title with the GMT94 before the arrival of Eurosport Events in the championship. The rise of the championship in recent years under the combined action of the FIM and the new promoter has led Michelin to review its positions.
Michelin will be involved with some of the best teams in the FIM EWC field. Webike SRC Kawasaki France Trickstar, reigning World Champion, will enter the track for the first time at the 24 Heures Motos in Michelin. Michelin also equips the official Ducati team, ERC Endurance. Moto Ain, last winner of the FIM Superstock World Cup and leader of the category, is also one of the most prominent representatives of the French manufacturer.
Michelin's return to the FIM EWC is based on the growth shown by the championship over recent seasons, achieved thanks to the strong involvement of Eurosport Events and the Fédération Internationale Moto (FIM). Another determining element, the evolution of the regulations defined with the FIM on the reduction in the number of tires used in racing has given a new role to the championship, which has today become an even more interesting technological laboratory for Michelin.
Through its return to Endurance, Michelin wishes to demonstrate the qualities of its tires in the context of a very demanding and competitive competition, particularly on two essential areas for the discipline: grip and consistency from the first to the last stint.
In 2020, Michelin will support some of the best teams in the FIM EWC field, such as the Webike SRC Kawasaki France Trickstar. The reigning World Champion has chosen to switch to Michelin tires, which he will use for the first time this season. In the premier category, the French manufacturer also supplies the official Ducati team, ERC Endurance. In Superstock, Moto Ain, last winner of the FIM Superstock World Cup and leader of the category, is now a standard bearer for Michelin.
Teams in the EWC and SST categories will use Michelin Power Performance tires “Soft 24” for cold temperatures and “Hard 24” for hot temperatures, with the aim of completing up to 2 stints with the rear tire.
Matthew Bonardel, director of Michelin Motorsport:
“Michelin is delighted to return to the EWC paddocks from the next edition of the 24 Heures Moto, at the end of August 2020. After the FSBK and ESBK championship titles in Supersport and Superbike last year, Michelin wishes to support professional and amateur riders entered in the World Endurance Championship. Our philosophy remains unchanged: to offer our partners and customers high-performance and consistent tires, as well as freely accessible to all enthusiasts at Michelin Motorsport dealers. A Michelin team will be deployed on the circuits alongside our partners, whom we will follow closely and to whom we wish good luck. »
Francois Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events
“I am happy to see the return of Michelin to Endurance. After a period of technical validation by Michelin with some permanent teams in the championship this last season, we reached an agreement for the official entry of Michelin into the championship. This arrival reinforces the special character of the FIM EWC, the only world championship on track which sees manufacturers but also manufacturers, Dunlop, Bridgestone and Michelin compete. Dunlop maintains its special position as official partner with the EWC Dunlop Independent Trophy. »
Photos © Michelin and Good Shoot
