A new era officially opened at Magny-Cours, with the first pole positions awarded on Saturday during the inaugural visit of the FIM World Championship. JuniorGP to the Nivernais circuit.
We will later take stock of this interesting first, but before that, let's get to the competitions!
In the category JuniorGP™, Brian Uriarte (UAX SeventyTwo Artbox) continued his winning ways by securing his second consecutive pole position in JuniorGP™ with a time of 1:43.640, ahead of Marco Morelli (GRYD – MLav Racing) by seven tenths and thus confirming his success at Jerez at Magny-Cours.
As for Morelli, he secured second place on the starting grid, his first front row position in JuniorGP, while Jesus Rios (Finetwork XTI Mir Racing Team) saw his first pole position in over a year slip away. After initially taking first place in the closing stages of Q2, the Spaniard was overtaken by Uriarte and Morelli.
Rico Salmela (Estrella Galicia 0,0) will lead the second row after securing fourth place with a time of 1:44.474, Hakim Danish (SIC Racing MSI) placing alongside him. The second row will be completed by Leonardo Zanni (Finetwork XTI Mir Racing Team) after the Italian set a time of 1:44.599s to secure sixth place; just two tenths separated Morelli, second, and Zanni, sixth.
On the French side, absent from Jerez due to injury, Enzo Bellon (CIP Green Power Junior Team), member of theFrench Speed Team - GP Sector, made a good comeback by setting the 9th time in Practice, thus going directly into Q2. During this practice, a few small imperfections gave him 16th place on the grid, much to his displeasure.
Sunday's only JuniorGP race will start at 13:00 p.m. on Sunday and will be broadcast by the Canal+ group.
In Moto2™ ECh, Xabi Zurutuza (Andifer American Racing) will lead the Moto2™ European Championship field on Sunday, securing pole position after setting an impressive time of 1:37.933s, edging out the championship leader Unai Orradre (Team Ciatti – Boscoscuro).
The two Spanish stars were separated by less than a tenth at the end of the 2-minute Q15 session, the poleman from Jerez, Milan Pawelec (AGR Team), completing the front row with a time of 1:38.153. Francesco Mongiardo (Fau55 Tey Racing), second in the championship, will start from the second row after finishing sixth in Q2.
French side, our two representatives,
Johan Gimbert (Promoracing) and
Lorenzo Fellon (SF Racing), who had gone through Q1, had achieved the 1st and 4th times before tackling Q2.
The, Johan Gimbert got the 9th time, Lorenzo Fellon
16th. Unfortunately, the Var driver was given a penalty of "over 107%" after being dragged off the track by another driver, placing him last on the grid for the first race.
Two Moto2™ ECh races are scheduled in France, starting at 11:00 local time (UTC+2).
In the European Talent Cup, Matthew Gabarrini (Team Echovit Pasini Racing) secured their first pole position after setting a time of 1:47.971s to take P1 in Q2.
The Italian was the only driver to set a time in the 1:47s when he topped the Group B Q2 session. Kiandra Ramadhipa (Honda Asia – Dream Racing Team Junior) was the fastest in Group A, but slower than Gabarrini. He will therefore start in second position, while Fernando Bujosa (AC Racing Team) will complete the front row.
French side, in the absence of the pilot of theFrench Speed Team - GP Sector David DaCosta (JEG TAKE OFF GP) who unfortunately fractured his tibia during the Red Bull Rookies Cup at Mugello, Antoine Nativi (JEG TAKE OFF GP), Matthias Rostagni (BRS – Brechon Racing School) and Evan Boxberger (JEG TAKE OFF GP) qualified very well for both races. Congratulations to them!
Remy Sanjuan (Larresport) will go a little further while Nolann Macarry (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) had been rescued during the Last Chance Race but crashed under the red flag, and that the driver of theFrench Speed Team - Speed Sector Gabriel Pio (BRS – Brechon Racing School) is first substitute.
Race times:
JuniorGP Magny-Cours pole positions JuniorGP Magny-Cours pole positions
