French rider Erwan Nigon will continue to race for Team Kawasaki Weber-Motos Racing in 2020. “We need to join forces to get back on track in the championship,” says the reigning World Endurance Champion. His participation adds another star to Germany’s top class of road racing.
In 2019 at Oschersleben, Erwan Nigon finally delivered Kawasaki the long-awaited victory—after what felt like an eternity—and, at the same time, the top spot in the standings. “We were already talking about the 2020 season back in September at the season finale in Hockenheim,” says team boss Emil Weber, “but the deal wasn’t finalized until January, when we received confirmation from Kawasaki as a partner.” Several more weeks passed before the contract was signed. Nigon first took a vacation and fulfilled his obligations with the World Endurance Championship team. Last weekend, the contract with Weber-Motos Racing was finally signed. Nigon had traveled to Weber’s shop in Zurich for the occasion.
In 2020, he’ll be riding the same motorcycle as last year. According to Weber, the ZX-10R is due for a few updates, and Erwan has requested a few minor specification changes. Overall, they’re further along than they were last year, when negotiations dragged on. “I’m proud that he trusts us again,” Weber says. “We know each other, and the bike is ready. Otherwise, it can sometimes be a tough process.” Weber rates last year’s fourth-place finisher very highly, “especially over the full race distance. When the weather is bad or track conditions are difficult, he’s brutally strong.” Testing will take place in March.
Nigon will miss the races at the Truck Grand Prix at the Nürburgring in July. The FIM Endurance World Championship is taking place at Suzuka at the same time, and the defending champion will be competing there. “We had to make that concession to him,” says Weber, though he doesn’t want to think about it just yet. “Who knows what will be happening in the IDM at that point. Last year, nobody expected us to do well either, and then Erwan won at Oschersleben.” Weber finds the 2020 season extremely exciting. “The field of riders is absolutely top-notch. We want to finish in the top five, as far up the order as possible.”