After placing ninth in the final Superstock standings in 2024, JMA Racing Action Bike will enter existing riders Charles Cortot, from France, and Dutchman Milan Merckelbagh, plus team returnee Paul Dufour (France) and new recruit Kylian Nestola (Switzerland).
Cortot, 25, joined JMA Racing Action Bike for the 2024 season, while Merckelbagh was recruited in the build-up to last year’s 24 Heures Motos as a late replacement for the injured Matteo Giacomazzo.
Along with Cortot, Merckelbagh performed a key role in JMA Racing Action Bike’s successful 2024 EWC campaign. He also added the Dutch Superbike title to his list of achievements last year and will split his 2025 season between competing in the EWC and the Germany-based IDM Superbike Championship.
Dufour, 27, who has previous EWC experience, including with JMA Racing Action Bike in the 2022 Bol d’Or, has raced successfully in his native France and Spain. He will combine his EWC programme with a season in the French Superbike Championship with Formula EWC outfit Tati Team AVA6 Racing.
Swiss Nestola, who turns 19 on 28 February, will make his EWC debut in the season-opening 24 Heures Motos having impressed in the Stock section of the FIM Junior GP World Championship.
JMA Racing Action Bike’s quartet will compete on a Suzuki GSXR 1000 in the Dunlop-supplied 2025 FIM Endurance World Cup.
A JMA Racing Action Bike statement read: “After a very good year in 2024, Charles starts this season more motivated than ever. With the experience gained during the past season, Milan will also participate with great ambition. It’s a great pleasure to have Paul back in the team. His experience in endurance and knowledge of our GSXR will be an important asset. For Kylian it will be his first experience in endurance racing, but he will definitely be a revelation in the EWC.”
JMA Racing Action Bike is due to begin its pre-season preparations with a test in Spain ahead of the Pré-Test at Le Mans from 1-2 April.
The 24 Heures Motos forms the opening round of the four-event 2025 EWC season from 17-20 April. Ticket information is available HERE.
Original Source [ FIM EWC ]
