That's it, the FSBK is finally back on track and the season promises to be of rare intensity! The best French drivers will meet on the legendary Bugatti circuit in Le Mans for the first stage of the French Superbike Championship on April 6 and 7. The ASM 24H ACO, under the aegis of the French Motorcycling Federation, will welcome the French speed elite with a new category this year: the Supersport 300.
SUPERBIKE 1000: FORAY – LEBLANC, THE BATTLE SHOWS ROUGH
Following a 2018 season punctuated by the duo Jeremy GUARNONI (Kawasaki) – Kenny FORAY (BMW Tecmas), the rider of the #111 Kawasaki won. This year, the reigning Champion will not be present, so it is naturally on the shoulders of his runner-up that the status of big favorite of the premier category falls. Champion in 2017, FORAY will try to be crowned once again, but a strong opponent will not make his task easier...
The multiple winner of the 24 Hours Moto at Le Mans is making his comeback in the paddocks. After a 2-year break in FSBK, Gregory LEBLANC (Kawasaki Twist Ring Racing), returns to “his” circuit to start the season. Always as sharp and inhabited by the quest for victories, “The White” certainly lacks competition but not motivation as he indicates to his fans at the dawn of the start of the Championship: “I am now really looking forward to the season is beginning and this motivation is of course the result of your outpouring of support and generosity. Without you I wouldn't be here and once again I know what I owe you and thank you from the bottom of my heart. » Grégory, referring to the outpouring of generosity encountered regarding his crowdfunding campaign that he set up to finance his season. His fans and motorcycle enthusiasts are impatiently awaiting the battle of the 2016 Champion and that of 2017.
Following two wild cards during the 2018 season, Mathieu GINES is expected to enter the prestigious BMW Tecmas Team. He is committed to the entire 2019 season. It should be remembered that in 2018, Mathieu GINES had 4 Top 10 finishes including 2 podiums. Now riding the No. 41 BMW, he is a serious candidate for the top places, his consistency will be one to watch.
Axel MAURIN (Yamaha CMS) and Hugo CLERE (Yamaha), two men to have reached the 100 points mark in the general classification in 2018, will also start at Le Mans. Author of great performances last season, the representative of the Italian brand, David MUSCAT (Ducati), is expected to once again enter the top 10! Former member of Team Suzuki LMS, Alex SARRABAYROUSE will take advantage of his experience in the category to demonstrate his talents aboard the #96 Kawasaki for the Twist Ring Racing team.
With a 4rd and a 3em[CP] FSBK 2019: See you in Sarthe for the premiere of the seasone place at Le Mans last year, Matthew LUSSIANA (Yamaha) could also stand out at the front during this first weekend of races.
We have to believe that her wild card on the Circuit Carole was convincing! Christophe PONSSON (Yamaha) was on the podium during the 2 “Parisian” races. This year, he is ready to make the powder talk throughout the season.
On the wildcard side, Ian HUTCHINSON will serve as distinguished guest aboard his Honda 998 Fireblade. Known in England under the nickname “Bingley Bullet”, the British Tourist Trophy driver is, to date, the only one to have won 5 victories in 5 participations. His compatriot Jonathan RAILTON (Suzuki) will also be there for the opening of the FSBK.
If the most experienced in the category are expected, we must also count on newcomers. The distinguished pilot of the Promosport French Cups in 1000 arrives among the elite of French pilots, after having achieved a 2018 season punctuated by podiums, Guillaume MONTESSUIT (Yamaha) intends to do battle in FSBK. Another “rookie” in the category, well known within the Championship, Louis BULLE (Yamaha), the Supersport 600 Champion of last season, will undoubtedly be one of the protagonists who will be among the top riders.
In Superbike Challenger, Morgan BERCHET (Yamaha) acts as headliner after its 3rd place in the Superbike category last year. Who are the “regulars” Johan NIGON (Suzuki LMS), Steven NEUMANN (Yamaha), Sébastien FRAGA (BMW) will be able to stand up to him? The paddock will also find Enzo BOULOM (Yamaha) and Clement STOLL (Suzuki LMS), 2 drivers straight from the Supersport 600, watch out for these two competitors who were very often found on the podium...
The public should also pay attention to the performances of Bryan CASTAN (Kawasaki) after his season in Promosport 1000 where he regularly distinguished himself. Maxime BONNOT (BMW Tecmas) will, for its part, be keen to seek the title that it was unable to obtain in 2018.
SUPERSPORT 600: NAGORSKI CHALLENGER, RAYMOND FAVORITE
In 2019, the Pirelli 600 Trophy class disappeared and became the Supersport Challenger. The drivers in this category will, as in previous years, start the races alongside the Supersport drivers.
In Supersport, headliners like Champion Louis BULLE (Yamaha) and his runner-up Guillaume ANTIGA (Yamaha) are moving towards the largest displacements. It's Guillaume RAYMOND (Yamaha), 3rd in the category last year, who is well placed to aim for the top step of the podium. The work begins on the first stage at Le Mans, a circuit he left with a 7rdplace and a retirement a year ago, the rider of the Yamaha no. 127 will have to do better.
Other competitors such as Joris INGIULLA (Yamaha), Arnaud MULDERS (Yamaha) and Antoine CHAPEAU (Triumph) respectively 2rd, 3rd and 4rd in Pirelli 600 last year, arrive in Supersport with the knife between their teeth. The Promosport 1000 defector, Corentin BRENON (Triumph), can also make the difference in the 600, he certainly remains a rider to watch.
Thibaut NAGORSKI (Suzuki), king of the Promosport 600 last year, intends to make Supersport his new hunting ground! He, who left no chance to his opponents in Promosport at Le Mans last year, has great ambitions for his arrival in the category. One of his ex-adversaries in Promo 600, Clément FITTE (Yamaha) is also coming to debate within the category. Attention, the winner of the Promosport 600 vintage 2017, Guillaume POT (Yamaha), is not far…
The paddock will find regulars such as Dylan MILLE (Yamaha), Kévin LONGEARET (Yamaha), Yvan LAETZIG (Yamaha), who will always be present to liven up the races as they have done several times in the past. Previously in the Pirelli 600 Trophy, Valentin GRIMOUX (Yamaha), will be accompanied by his brother Pierre GRIMOUX (Yamaha) who comes from the Promosport 600, under the banner of the LBSP Racing Team 53 team.
Please note, Peter POLESSO (Yamaha) returns after a year's break. Is he once again in a position to negotiate among the leading drivers?
In Supersport Challenger, Maximilian BAU (Yamaha) stood out on a few podiums last year, he almost always made the top 10 and finished 6rd in the Supersport category. We will therefore have to count on him to put on a show this year!
Facing him, recruits like Hugo CHAPON (Yamaha), winner of the Promo 400 in 2018, Guillaume JUCHA (Triumph) ex-pilot of Pré-Moto 3 or even Martin RENAUDIN (Yamaha), accustomed to the category, will try to mark their territory.
Charles CORTOT (Yamaha) is also moving from Supersport to Supersport Challenger but is he able to oppose the driver of the Yamaha no. 108… First assessment on April 6 and 7 on the Bugatti circuit of Le Mans!
SUPERSPORT 300: NEW SEASON, NEW CATEGORY
In 2019 the FSBK opens the doors of motorcycle speed to young people! A true detection category, the Supersport 300 will welcome young people aged 15 or more and machines from 300cc to 500cc 4-stroke, 1 and 2 cylinders also approved in World Supersport 300.
The paddock is mainly made up of young people from the Promosport 400, like Hugo GIRARDET (Kawasaki) Winner in 2018 or Colin DRYE (Yamaha) and Lucien VAUDRY (Yamaha). Louis LAGRIVE (Suzuki), son of Champion Matthieu LAGRIVE and 2rd of the Coupes de France Promosport in 125, also makes an appointment with his elders from the opening at Le Mans.
The ex-pilot in Honda CBR 500R Cup, Junior category, Célian RIQUELME (Kawasaki) was the fastest in his category, what about the Supersport 300? Other French speed hopefuls are expected to put on a show like Thomas FURLAN (Kawasaki) from the Honda CBR 500 Cup and Exupéry BEAUMONT (Kawasaki) from the Objectif Grand Prix. Among the boys, Lucie BOUDESSEUL (Kawasaki) will be the only representative of the fairer sex entered throughout the season.
Who will be able to impose themselves?
GRAND PRIX OBJECTIVE – PRE-MOTO 3: PERRIN AND LUCIANO FACING THE NEWS
The Objective Grand Prix, French Pre-Moto3 Championship formula is back for the fourth consecutive year. The latter aims to bring out young talents aged 12 to 20, in the same conditions as their elders on 250cc 4-stroke machines.
The first two in the 2018 ranking having entered the 600cc class, are Bartholomé PERRIN (MIR KTM) and Lorentz LUCIANO (BEON PRE 3) able to claim the title in 2019?
The young rider Line VIEILLARD (Yamaha) and Charles AUBRIE (OVER Yamaha) won the 7rd and 8rd places last season, they will start again on the Le Mans circuit for the whole season but this time, with much more experience!
SIDE-CAR: DOMINATION OR CHANGE?
This year again, the favorites are no exception to the rule and are responding to the call of the French Championship. Multiple French Champion Sébastien DELANNOY welcomes Charline ROUSSEAU aboard Side n°1 this year. A major change for the undisputed leader of the category who intends to dominate again this year! VINET / VINET will he be able to match the pace of the Champion? The father/son duo demonstrated formidable skills in 2018... Are GALLERNE / CHAIGNEAU, GADET / SALMON or BARBIER / RIGONDEAU able to compete in the category of powerful F1 side-cars?
The 600 field inherits some great regulars in the F1 category with the arrival of MOREAU / ARIFON and LEGLISE / CLEMENT. Will the experience accumulated in recent years on faster sidecars be enough to dethrone LE BAIL / LEVEAU, 2018 Champion? The suspense increases yet another notch with the entry of the 100% feminine pair LE BLOND / FARNIER, Champion in 2016…
The paddock also notes the change of category for Kévin ROUSSEAU who will now be a passenger aboard Bennie STREUER's Side n°41 in 600.
Like last year, the English duo REEVES / WILKES is entering for a Wild Card at Le Mans. Aboard the Side n°177, the crew had not finished any of its races but had still taken pole position twice during timed tests with more than….3 seconds in advance!
EUROPEAN BIKES, GENTLEMENS RIDERS: ALWAYS PUNCTUAL!
The European machines, Aprilia, Ducati, BMW and KTM of gentlemen riders will also be present to make the public dream with riders like Stéphane NEFF, Jonathan GERMANY or the challenger Léo CHALLAMEL.
FOLLOW THE 2019 FRENCH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Fsbk.fr, the website dedicated to the French Superbike Championship always offers live follow-up of the weekend's news, detailed information, photos, results, videos, etc.
For this 2019 season, the FFM will broadcast each evening of the event a video of the best moments of the day on the official FSBK Facebook page and the fsbk.fr website.
Other events will punctuate the weekend through a system specifically focused on social networks via Twitter: @FSBK_officiel, Facebook: fsbk, Youtube: ffmfbk and Instagram: fsbk .
CALENDAR 2019
06/04 – 07/04 – Le Mans – ASM ACO 24H
04/05 – 05/05 – Nogaro – ASM Armagnac Bigorre
01/06 – 02/06 – Lédenon – MC Lédenon
22/06 – 23/06 – Pau Arnos – Moto Club Pau Arnos
06/07 – 07/07 – Magny-Cours – Moto Club of Nevers and Nièvre
24/08 – 25/08 – Circuit Carole – Motors Events
14/09 – 15/09 – Albi – MC Albi
