Suzuki took the World Endurance Championship crown in the final round of the 2021 World Endurance Championship (EWC) at Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic. His factory-backed Yoshimura SERT Motul team delivered a flawless and calculated race.
The 2021 season confirmed Suzuki's superiority in FIM EWC. With two victories at the 24 Heures Motos and the 24 Heures du Bol d'Or in France, the factory team entered the fourth round, and the season finale, with a comfortable lead in the championship standings. However, the team of Gregg Black, Xavier Siméon and Sylvain Guintoli, still needed to achieve a good result to win the title at the 6 Hours of Most.
The team got off to a good start when Gregg Black made the holeshot from third on the grid. Without taking unnecessary risks but maintaining strong pressure on the team's championship opponents, the Franco-English driver finished his stint by placing the Suzuki in third position before passing the baton to Xavier Siméon. The excellent and steady work continued, with Black, Siméon and Guintoli putting in quick and steady stints. As the hours passed, a few racing incidents disrupted the ranking order of the team's closest challengers, but Yoshimura SERT Motul made no mistake.
The three drivers settled into a solid and comfortable third position and maintained a strong pace, all the way to the finish to take the third step of the podium. They thus won the 2021 FIM EWC title in convincing fashion with a total of 175,5 points, 42,5 points ahead of second-placed BMW Motorrad.
Suzuki has now won a total of 20 world endurance titles, including 16 with the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) and now the 2021 title with the new Yoshimura SERT Motul team. For the French-Japanese team Yoshimura SERT Motul, this is a crucial victory for its first year of participation in the EWC.
Damien Saulnier – Team Manager:
« We came to take the title and we also hoped to get on the podium. I have a thought for #333 with which we had a great battle. On arrival, there was emotion, joy and deep gratitude for Yoshimura because this association enabled impressive work. I am very proud of this team. We wanted to take as little risk as possible but still try our luck. The package with the bike, tires and riders worked very well. Dominique Méliand entrusted me with the keys to SERT and I am happy, in my position as team manager, to offer this team a second title. »
Yohei Kato – Team director:
« I am very happy and honored to win the championship in the first year of participation of the Yoshimura SERT Motul team. We promised to fight in this World Endurance Championship on behalf of the Suzuki Factory Team. This season turned out to be a dream come true, winning two of the most famous 24 hour races in the world, namely the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Bol d'Or. »
« This world champion title is the first for this new team and the 20th for Suzuki. Suzuki, Yoshimura and SERT will continue to work together to improve the Suzuki GSX-R1000R and make it an even more capable motorcycle. The team spirit is “one for all, all for one”. I think this is the best possible result to continue our efforts! »
« Thanks to all Yoshimura, SERT and Suzuki fans who warmly supported the new Yoshimura SERT Motul team. We are committed to satisfying the fans in an even better championship next year and Yoshimura SERT Motul will do everything to defend his title. »
Xavier Simeon :
« I had a little scare during the race on an oil stain. Falling was prohibited in this race and I was lucky to recover the bike in extreme circumstances. We had less pressure than at the Bol d'Or where we had to make up for the points lost at Estoril. In Most, we were able to run a cautious race which allowed us to win this title which rewards all the work of the team. »
Greg Black :
« SERT is probably one of the best teams in endurance racing for a long time. The association with Yoshimura has paid off because we have an incredible bike. The team has done a lot of work, as has Yoshimura, and it is a pleasure for us to ride this bike. The team also often showed good race strategy and this is important because it is not always the fastest on the track who wins the championship. So I'm very happy to have worked with Yoshimura and my two new teammates. »
Sylvain Guintoli :
« This season has been like a dream because everything has gone according to plan. The most incredible thing for me was winning the 24 Heures Motos and the Bol d'Or, two events that I absolutely wanted to win one day. This is why I had the idea to join Yoshimura SERT Motul. This title is fantastic because it rewards all the work done by everyone. We arrived here with the championship in mind but also the desire to get on the podium, so the contract is fulfilled! »
