[CP] First podium for Loris Baz at Magny-Cours!

Difficult conditions awaited the WorldSBK riders during the penultimate stage of the calendar on the Nevers Magny-Cours circuit. But for his home event on a circuit he knows like the back of his hand, Loris Baz was quick from the opening session.

Best time overall in the three free practice sessions, the Frenchman was surprised by the checkered flag in Superpole and it was therefore from eighth place that he set off on the grid for Race 1.

But as soon as the start was given, he quickly moved up the hierarchy until he climbed to second place in the wake of Jonathan Rea. Fast and incisive, the Yamaha rider however failed to take the advantage. Despite everything, he finished this first round in second position, his best result in WorldSBK since the event at Losail in 2014.

Above all, it’s his first podium in Nièvre; a performance which was enough to delight him ahead of the next two races scheduled for Sunday during which he hopes to get a little closer to victory.

Loris Baz (2nd): “I am very happy with this day! We started our weekend off very well. On Friday, I wasn't fully satisfied with my feeling, even though my pace was fast. But we made progress this morning. I'm just disappointed with my Superpole, because I tried to fit the mixed tire, which seemed to me to be the right choice. But I just passed the checkered flag and I thought I had one more lap. I was ahead of pole in the first sector, but I received the information on my dashboard that the session was over... I was disgusted! In the race, I wanted to move up the order quickly, because I knew that Jonathan, Garrett and I had a slightly faster pace. I quickly found myself second and tried to put pressure on Jonathan. Garrett then fell, so I was calmer. Rea and I were very fast in these conditions... He made two small mistakes, but I also made one by sliding from behind on a curb. After losing contact, I then tried to maintain this second position. This is my first podium at Magny-Cours and I am very happy to have achieved it in front of the spectators who came despite difficult weather. A big thank you to Yamaha and the team for giving me a fast bike! I would also like to extend my sincere condolences to the entire family and loved ones of Éric de Seyne following the disappearance of his father. »