The 34-year-old returns to the Suzuki-powered squad as permanent replacement for Xavier Siméon, who retired from competition last summer. He will join forces with team-mates and long-term Yoshimura SERT Motul riders Gregg Black and Sylvain Guintoli.

Masson is no stranger to riding with Suzuki power, however, having formed part of SERT’s EWC title-winning line-up during the 2015, 2016 and 2019-20 seasons. He also won the FIM Endurance World Cup with Junior Team LMS Suzuki in 2014.

The Frenchman re-joins the Le Mans-based team following a stint riding for Webike SRC Kawasaki France, which culminated in a third-place finish in the 100th-anniversary Bol d’Or last September.

“I’m so glad to come back to the Suzuki family and even more to join Yoshimura SERT Motul,” said Bourg-en-Bresse-born Masson. “I know a lot of people in the team not only [from the] French side but also from Japan, and I’m really excited to work with them again.

“My team-mates are the best riders in the EWC and I feel [the three] of us are the strongest riders in the championship.

“I have lots of experience on the GSX-R1000R but it is new for me with the Bridgestone tyres. I am so excited [for] the first ride and I will quickly prepare for the [opening] race in Le Mans. Thanks to the Yoshimura SERT Motul to trust in me. I just can’t wait to start working with them and to open a new chapter of my career.”

Visit FIMEWC.com soon for more on Yoshimura SERT Motul’s 2023 EWC bid.