Team Suzuki Press Office – September 15.
With the dust barely settled on the 2016 Endurance season, reigning World Champions Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) begins its defence this weekend in the new-look 2016-2017 series at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France.
Just three weeks after claiming their 15th EWC title at Oschersleben in Germany on August 28th, GSX-R1000-mounted Vincent Philippe, Anthony Delhalle and Etienne Masson take to the track later this afternoon for the opening practice sessions ahead of Saturday’s 80th Anniversary Bol d’Or 24-Hour Race; and the first of six rounds in the Eurosport-promoted FIM championship that sees the finale take place at Suzuka Circuit in Japan on July 30th, 2017.
SERT, fresh from its recent test at the Castellet circuit, heads a list of 60 teams, including other major protagonists GMT94 Yamaha – who finished just one point behind the French Suzuki squad in the 2016 series – and Team April Moto Motors Events aboard their privateer GSX-R1000: The team had led the series until the final round but suffered some technical issues and a crash that saw them finish down in 11th, but rewarded them with third overall in the series.