New Suzuki Endurance Racing Team signing Julien Da Costa won the opening round of the French Superbike Championship at Le Mans at the weekend.

Da Costa was part of the Suzuki France-run team comprising 10 graduate mechanics brought together for a hands-on season apprenticeship along with Endurance riders Etienne Masson and Baptiste Guittet from the Suzuki Junior Team.

With Saturday practice cancelled due to heavy snow, a shortened race schedule and Sunday morning qualifying run as a warm-up session, Da Costa took the lead on the opening lap after starting second on the grid. He held off a strong challenge from Kawasaki's Gregory Leblanc to win the race with Masson third and Guittet sixth.

Said Da Costa: "After having been French Champion before with Kawasaki and Pirelli I needed a new challenge for 2013, so I decided to rejoin my original Suzuki team, but I had a lot of pressure for this start of the season. I am happy with the results today, we won the race and it is a good sign for the future."

Said Team Manager Damien Saulnier: "Everything came perfect, the GSX-R machinery worked well, the Dunlop tyres were perfect and the riders - especially Julien - did a fantastic job. This win brings a lot of positive feeling to the entire team."

The next race for SERT and the Junior Team will be the opening round of the Endurance World Championship, the Bol d'Or at Magny Cours on April 20th. The second round of the French Superbike Championship takes place on April 27-28th at Nogaro in south-west France.