Endurance rider Watanabe to ride for Suzuki in San Marino VC instead of injured Miro

The world-famous Japanese brand Suzuki, which will leave the MotoGP series at the end of the season, has been looking for a replacement in recent days following the announcement of Joan Miró’s non-participation in the San Marino VC. And it didn’t find it among its test riders, but in Suzuki’s endurance section. The 2020 World Champion will be replaced next weekend by 31-year-old Kazuki Watanabe.

The 2020 champion is not having a great season. Six Grand Prix retirements and a 12th place overall does not bode well for Miro. And the Austrian event didn’t add much to that. He was thrown off his bike on the first lap and suffered a fracture of his right ankle after hitting the gravel .

Doctors have ordered the Spaniard to rest for the next two weeks. For Suzuki, this meant that their rider would not be able to take part in the upcoming race.

So the search for an adequate replacement was on. Initially, there was speculation about the team’s replacement riders Sylvain Guintoli or Takuya Cuda, or the return of two-time MotoGP Grand Prix winner Danilo Petrucci.

The reality, however, defies all previous speculation. Suzuki has confirmed that Kazuki Watanabe, an experienced rider from the endurance motorcycle series, will ride the San Marino Grand Prix instead of Miró.

the 31-year-old Japanese rider has most of his success from the eight-hour race in Suzuka. In this year’s race, he recorded a third place finish alongside Gregg Black.

Watanabe, however, is not a complete newcomer to the world championship. In fact, he competed in several Moto2 races between 2008 and 2010 (called “250cc” until 2009).

“First of all, I would like to wish Joan a speedy recovery. I hope he will be back on the track soon. I was delighted when they offered me a ride at Misano. It’s going to be great to try a MotoGP bike at this track,” Watanabe said in an interview with MotoGP.

Source: MotoGP