World Superbike

At 13:00 local time in France, the stars of WorldSBK took to the track for Round 11 of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship with points leader Jonathan Rea from Kawasaki Racing Team starting from pole. Saturday’s thrilling race saw Aruba.it Racing – Ducati’s Chaz Davies win in a style similar to that seen in Race 1 at the previous round, with Michael van der Mark in second while Kawasaki Racing Team’s Tom Sykes took third.

It was Rea who took the holeshot, leading into the first corner with teammate Tom Sykes hot on his tail, as the sun shone down at Magny-Cours. Honda World Superbike Team’s Michael van der Mark showed his prowess in the mixed conditions finding grip on the outside where no one else could to make up two positions, as his teammate Nicky Hayden followed his lead close behind. By the end of the first lap Sykes had taken the advantage from his teammate as the two Honda’s closed in.

As the battle heated up at the front between the two Kawasakis and the two Honda’s, MV Agusta Reparto Corse rider Leon Camier silently closed in. With his MV Agusta running at its peak Camier became relentless, hunting down the leaders within a couple of laps and easily pulled away in the lead.

By lap 7 the track was almost dry and the Kentucky Kid was the first man into the pits for a tyre change, followed a few laps later by the KRT duo who struggled with grip on the drying track.

Camier’s stint at the top was short lived as IodaRacing’s Lorenzo Savadori was first to catch him before a rush of activity in the closing laps saw Aruba.it Racing – Ducati’s Chaz Davies eventually catch up to steal the lead from the young Italian. Once in front, Davies was unstoppable and went on to win nine seconds clear of second placed Michael van der Mark, who stayed consistent throughout the race. KRT duo Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea pushed to make up for lost time spent changing tires to finally finish in third and fourth respectively.

Savadori eventually finished in fifth ahead of first Frenchman home, Matthieu Lagrive for Pedercini Racing in sixth. Leon Camier came home in seventh after his intermediate tires eventually lost their grip on the dry track. His impressive race will be fueling his fire in race 2 to see his performance through to finish on the podium.

Barni Racing’s Xavi Fores ended the day in eighth ahead of Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team’s Sylvain Guintoli in ninth, who will also be aiming for the podium on Sunday, while IodaRacing Team’s Alex De Angelis locked out the top 10.

Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team’s Alex Lowes gave a solid effort to finish in P11 after his crash in yesterday’s practice saw him limping to and from his bike today. Milwaukee BMW’s Josh Brooke’s finished in P12 while Roman Ramos rode a consistent race to finish in P13. Althea BMW Racing Team’s Jordi Torres and Luca Scassa (VFT Racing) locked out the last of the points places in P14 and P15.

WorldSBK will be back on the grid on Sunday 2nd of October at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours for another thrilling race of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship.

 

World Supersport

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing’s Kenan Sofuoglu is well on his way to winning his fifth WorldSSP Title as he cemented pole position in the last seconds of Tissot-Superpole 2 at Magny-Cours, while also taking out his first title of the year by winning the overall TISSOT-Superpole award. Honda World Supersport Team’s PJ Jacobsen came in second and Ayrton Badovini (GEMAR Balloons- Team Lorini) finished third to lock out the front row of the Magny-Cours grid.

The French circuit saw heavy rain in the morning drench the track making for an interesting qualifying day for WorldSSP. Tricky track conditions saw a rush of activity at the top of the timesheets with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing’s Randy Krummenacher and Jacobsen alternating the lead at the top. Just when American PJ Jacobsen (who graduated from Superpole 1) thought he had sealed the top position on the grid, Sofuoglu put in a stunning last lap to steal it away, proving he is focused on hunting down that fifth title.

GRT Racing’s Gino Rea, who had progressed through from Superpole 1 finished fourth ahead of local hero Jules Cluzel in fifth, who will look to use the second row grid start on his MV Agusta to achieve a home podium on race day.

Illia Mikhalchyk (DS Junior Team) was the first FIM Europe Supersport rider home, locking out sixth place on the grid ahead of Kallio Racing’s Niki Tuuli. Christian Gamarino from Team GoELEVEN had good form in the wet to secure eighth on the grid while second ESS rider home was Alessandro Zaccone (San Carlo Team Italia) locked out P9 with teammate Axel Bassani locking out the top ten.

After being extremely fast in the early stages of the qualifying session, Kawasaki Puccetti racing’s Randy Krummenacher found it difficult to improve in the latter parts, to finally start from P11 on the grid. Alex Baldolini (Race Department ATK #25) was last man home in the Tissot-Superpole 2 shoot-out in P12.

Magny-Cours will see WorldSSP action again on Sunday 3nd of October at 11:20 local time (GMT+2) where their race could see Kenan Sofuoglu crowned World Champion for the fifth time.

 

Source: WorldSBK