The surname of Christophe Ponsson is obviously not unknown to MotoGP fans. The French driver made a foray into the premier Grand Prix category in 2018 to replace the injured Esteve Rabat in the Avintia structure.
We remember that initially the agreement covered the Grands Prix in Misano, Aragón, Buriram and Motegi but that the Frenchman had been ousted like a mess from the race in Aragón in favor of Jordi Torres.
Disgusted by this kind of maneuver, the 23-year-old rider then turned to the Spanish Superbike championship, which he finished in second position in 2019 before setting foot in WorldSBK this year, aboard a Aprilia from the Nuova M2 Racing team.
In 2021, the native of Lyon will complete a full season in the Superbike world championship within his own family structure, the Gil Motor Sport, made famous for having represented Kawasaki in Supersport in 2007. For this, Christophe Ponsson will have two Yamaha YZF-R1 Customer Competition 2021 supervised by the experienced Lucio Gomes from Aprilia.
We wish the friendly French pilot all the best!
André Arimondo, Team Manager: “With its past in World Supersport, the Gil Motor Sport team has decided to enter the WSBK championship in 2021. An experienced team has been formed around rider Christophe Ponsson who has all the qualities required to have a good season in World Superbike. To do this, it was necessary to have the partnership of a manufacturer and very quickly it was obvious that it was with Yamaha since the rider Christophe Ponsson is coming out of 3 seasons on Yamaha YZF-R1 in the Spanish Superbike Championship where he finishes Vice-Champion in 2019.”
“We have acquired two Yamaha YZF-R1 Customer Competition 2021 and are surrounded by four experienced technicians, supervised by Chief Mechanic Lucio Gomes with his 28 years of experience in WSBK. In mid-January the Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha team will take possession of its two 1 YZF-R2021s and will head for their first tests. »
“Hoping that the history we are starting to write in WSBK will give a boost of enthusiasm to the French because it has been 13 years since there has been a permanent French team in World Superbike. »
Christophe Ponsson: « I am very happy at the idea of racing in the World Superbike Championship on the Yamaha. I had some great times riding the Yamaha R1 during my three seasons in the Spanish Superbike Championship. I always felt comfortable on the R1, I progressed, I had my best results and I had a lot of confidence on the handlebars. I am therefore convinced that this is the best possible program with the Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha team. I can't wait to experience the Superbike version of the Yamaha R1 at the first test in January 2021 and start working with the team. »
