News

After making his debut in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the season-ending Estoril Round, Belgian rider Loris Cresson will return to the Championship next year with OUTDO Kawasaki TPR after securing a ride with the independent Kawasaki-powered team for both 2021 and 2022.

Cresson spent most of 2020 competing in the FIM Supersport World Championship but got his first taste of WorldSBK action at Estoril before taking part in a one-day post-season test at the same venue with Pedercini Kawasaki. It marked the end of a four-year stint in WorldSSP which started back in 2016 for Cresson, securing a best result of eighth place.

His first two WorldSSP campaigns were part-time campaigns with seven races across 2016 and 2017; the four races in 2016 coming as a wildcard. Cresson’s best result in WorldSSP came in 2017 at Imola when he secured eighth place while his best overall season came in both 2018 and 2019 as he secured 12^th in the Championship. 2020 proved to be a challenging year for Cresson in WorldSSP as he was unable to break into the top ten, taking a best result of 11^th place.

The 22-year-old, who also raced in Moto3™ in 2015, will once again race with Kawasaki machinery in 2021 with OUTDO Kawasaki TPR continuing their relationship with the Japanese manufacturer. The team will be competing with the new ZX-10RR machine unveiled at Jerez in a test after the season ended.

Cresson spoke about his move to WorldSBK, saying: “I am happy to ride with Pedercini Racing for 2021 and 2022 in WorldSBK. It’s a big step for me in my career and as a man, a new challenge, a big one but I am ready for it. After the race in Estoril and the tests we have made sense I feel confident of what we can do together in the coming years. It feels like I have a new extended family, it really has been a great atmosphere so far. Sure, we will learn from each other more but the feeling I have is already really good. I am sure we can improve every time we are on the bike and I hope we can go testing with the new bike soon.”

Team Owner Lucio Pedercini added: “I am happy to continue with Loris for the 2021 season. Together we are sure we can improve and do a good job. We want to work hard, to have a good season, and to help Loris to develop as a rider. The plan is to sign with a second rider which will be good for the team and also Loris as he will have a reference point from someone on track with the same equipment. Sure, both myself and David Salom can and will help him but it’s better to have two bikes and have two riders working together. Both riders will benefit from this. Anyway, like always we will do our best as a team and look forward to our 30th season in a World Championship paddock.”

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