The start of the French Superbike Championship is a real success with a very high level and record attendances. Building on this great momentum, the 200 elite French speed drivers will travel to the Lédenon Circuit from May 27 to 29 for the 3rd stage of the season. Welcomed to Gard soil by the FFM and MC Lédenon, provisional leaders Valentin Debise, Mathias Rostagni, Benjamin Caillet, Enzo Dahmani and Perillat/Kotchan will try to maintain their status. This will not be an easy task in the face of formidable competition.
SUPERBIKE: BIG COMPETITION FOR DEBISE
Always at the forefront, this start to the season resembles in every way that of 2021 for Valentin DEBISE (Yamaha – Michelin) who already has four victories in as many races while Mathieu GINES (Yamaha Tech Solutions – Pirelli) offered himself three 2rd and a 3rd place. Today, DEBISE is a solid leader with 24 points ahead of GINES but the Yamaha Tech Solutions rider remains within the standards which allowed him to win the title last year. Despite some difficulties getting the most out of his BMW, Kenny FORAY (BMW Tecmas – Michelin) also made a start to the competition that lived up to expectations. Obviously, FORAY will fight for victory with DEBISE and GINES.
Provisionally 4th in the Championship, 55 lengths behind the leader, Alan TECHER (Honda CBO Racing – Michelin) is gradually getting the full measure of his Honda. At Nogaro, driver no. 5 got considerably closer to the pace of FORAY, GINES and DEBISE. Thus, TECHER could be able to compete for the podium in Lédenon.
He makes no secret of it, Martin RENAUDIN (Yamaha Moto&GP Addict – Pirelli) is aiming for the Challenger title. But in Nogaro, the Sarthe player seems to have reached a milestone and can now aspire to even more. By taking the front row and battling with the Championship leaders on a circuit on which he was not the most comfortable, RENAUDIN showed the extent of his talent and is now one of the contenders for the podium.
No success yet for Axel MAURIN (Yamaha CMS – Pirelli) and Challenger Valentin SUCHET (Suzuki Junior Team LMS – Pirelli) who are, however, very consistent and have remained in their wake since the start of the season. A regularity which could soon pay off for the two drivers who will be able to seize opportunities in due time.
For the Ducati riders, the start of the season is mixed, Guillaume ANTIGA (Ducati – Pirelli), Gregory LEBLANC (Ducati TWR – Pirelli) and David MUSCAT (Ducati – Michelin) are provisionally 8rd, 9rd and 10rd scratch. No panic for the 2021 French Superbike Challenger Champion who is discovering the Italian machine this season and could gain strength over the races. For “The White”, the situation is more delicate. After a promising weekend at Le Mans, LEBLANC experienced a 2rd difficult round at Nogaro punctuated by two retirements. There is no doubt that he will be able to react and take advantage of his good progress aboard the No. 38 Ducati, on the Lédenon Circuit.
In Challenger, we observe a difference in performance level between RENAUDIN, SUCHET and the rest of the competitors. Nevertheless, Tom BERCOT (Honda CBO Racing – Michelin) and Maximilien BAU (BMW – Dunlop), both lacking success since the start of the season, are two young drivers with overflowing talent who could very quickly return to the forefront !
TEMPORARY SUPERBIKE SITUATION:
1 – Valentin DEBISE – 101 points
2 – Mathieu GINES – 77 points
3 – Kenny FORAY – 70 points
4 – Alan TECHER – 46 points
5 – Martin RENAUDIN – 43 points
SUPERSPORT 600: DEBISE CHALLENGED BY GREGORIO AND ARBEL
In this first part of the season, Valentin DEBISE (Yamaha – Michelin) is putting in all the necessary ingredients to retain his title. Despite the great resistance of his young opponents, they are still missing that little "extra" to achieve victory... A question of tires according to the Albigensian driver.
Quite discreet at Le Mans despite a 2rd place in race 1, Matthieu GREGORIO (Yamaha Tech Solutions – Pirelli) made the talk in Nogaro, giving Valentin DEBISE a lot of trouble. Confident of his strengths and determined to win the title of French Supersport 600 Champion, GREGORIO arrives in Lédenon more determined than ever! Especially since the Gard pilot will play almost at home.
The public left him disappointed with his performances at Nogaro, Loïc ARBEL (Yamaha TWR Junior Team – Pirelli) was still in 3rd rank in the ranking, provisionally 33 points behind DEBISE and only 7 points behind GREGORIO. The driver of the Yamaha No. 85 will try to use all his talent and the experience acquired during his young career to defeat his rivals on a circuit he knows little about.
We are seeing him shine more and more, Cédric TANGRE (Yamaha Tech Solutions – Pirelli) is returning to a very good level this season. Currently 4rd of the provisional ranking, the double French Supersport 600 Champion could quickly return to the top.
Watch out for Johan GIMBERT (Yamaha – Pirelli)! In Nogaro the young driver reached a milestone and fought for victory with the strong men. It will be interesting to see if GIMBERT manages to repeat the performance to achieve a first podium. A fall in race 2 at Nogaro forced Matthieu LUSSIANA (Yamaha Moto Team 95 – Dunlop) to settle, for the moment, for 6rd rank 30 points from the top 3. However, the rider of the Yamaha n°95 has regained color this season and could once again be a serious candidate for the podium at Lédenon.
In Challenger, GREGORIO is the undisputed favorite ahead of GIMBERT, even if the latter has probably not finished his rise to power. Behind these two boys, the public will find Vincent FALCONE (Yamaha – Pirelli), Kilian AEBI (Yamaha – Pirelli) and Bartholomé PERRIN (Yamaha – Pirelli) who should join the battle at the heart of the peloton.
TEMPORARY SITUATION SUPERSPORT 600:
1 – Valentin DEBISE – 101 points
2 – Matthieu GREGORIO – 75 points
3 – Loïc ARBEL – 68 points
4 – Cédric TANGRE – 44 points
5 – Johan GIMBERT – 42 points
GRAND-PRICE OBJECTIVE
PRE-MOTO 3: COMPETITION FOR ROSTAGNI?
Since the start of the season, Matthias ROSTAGNI (Béon – Bridgestone) has been elusive. Without an engine failure in race 2 at Le Mans, the Team Perles de Fruits driver would have taken all the victories. ROSTAGNI therefore presents himself at Lédenon in full confidence with the undisputed status of big favorite.
Despite the clear domination of Matthias ROSTAGNI, Célestin MASY (Béon – Bridgestone) and Quentin GODEFROY (KTM – Bridgestone) are in contact, at bothrd and 3rd rank in the provisional classification and show great things. The two drivers will try to increase their level of play even more to get closer to the leader.
We will also have to count on Camille BISSANE (KTM – Bridgestone) and Swan EMPRIN (Béon – Bridgestone) who will undoubtedly fight for the podium.
TEMPORARY SITUATION PRE-MOTO 3:
1 – Matthias ROSTRAGNI – 79 points
2 – Célestin MASY – 69 points
3 – Quentin GODEFROY – 56 points
4 – Camile BISSANE – 49 points
5 – Swan EMPRIN – 46 points
NSF 250: CAILLET – BERCOT, THE DUEL OF THE SEASON?
While Benjamin CAILLET (Honda NSF – Bridgestone) seemed untouchable, Jules BERCOT (Honda NSF – Bridgestone), Tom's younger brother, showed what he was capable of by winning in front of the Championship leader at Nogaro. From now on, BERCOT knows that he is able to challenge CAILLET for victory.
The local of the stage, Lorenzo GUYAU (Honda NSF – Bridgestone) will also be a contender for the highest steps of the podium in Gard. The public could therefore witness a great three-way battle for victory.
Lucas BOSSON (Honda NSF – Bridgestone), Elliot KASSIGIAN (Honda NSF – Bridgestone) and Livio MIRABEL (Honda NSF – Bridgestone) are not yet competing for the places of honor but are progressing little by little. We will therefore have to keep a close eye on the performances of these three boys.
TEMPORARY SITUATION NSF 250:
1 – Benjamin CAILLET – 98 points
2 – Tom BERCOT – 82 points
3 – Lorenzo GUYAU – 61 points
4 – Lucas BOSSON – 47 points
5 – Elliot KASSIGIAN – 43 points
SUPERSPORT 300: TINY GAPS
This season, the Supersport 300 is undoubtedly the most spectacular FSBK-FE championship. During the last round, leader Enzo DAHMANI (Yamaha) was undermined by competitors, each tougher than the last. In Lédenon the rider of the Yamaha n°13 will have to redouble his efforts to maintain his status.
From the 2rd the 4rd place in the provisional classification, Dorian JOULIN (Yamaha – Pirelli), David DA COSTA (Yamaha – Pirelli) and Louca FRIEH (Yamaha), in this order, are in 3 small points. All fast and aggressive in the race, they will undoubtedly be the protagonists of this 3rd stage of the season. The same goes for Evann PLAINDOUX (Yamaha – Pirelli), who was on the podium twice and who is gradually making up the gap caused by his retirement at Le Mans.
After creating a surprise at Nogaro by playing for victory with the favorites, Lucie BOUDESSEUL (Kawasaki – Pirelli) proved what she was capable of. Will the young Normandy driver be able to confirm on the Lédenon Circuit?
In Lédenon the Challengers could well join the battle for the top 10, or even better… We will notably find the leader of this ranking Valentin ROEDEL (Kawasaki – Pirelli) and his runner-up Evan PALHIER (Yamaha – Pirelli), as well as the last winner and the leader of the Coupes de France Promosport 400, D Jefferson DELBOSC (Kawasaki – Pirelli) and Théo DAVID (Kawasaki – Pirelli).
TEMPORARY SITUATION SUPERSPORT 300:
1 – Enzo DAHMANI – 79 points
2 – Dorian JOULIN – 62 points
3 – David DA COSTA – 61 points
4 – Louca FRIEH – 59 points
5 – Evann PLAINDOUX – 49 points
SIDECAR: A SUCCESSFUL CHAMPIONSHIP
At the dawn of this 3rd round, the forces present stand out at the top of the ranking. In the F600 category, PERILLAT / KOTCHAN is in the lead with 10 points ahead of LEBAIL / LEVEAU who himself has 9 over BARBIER / RIGONDEAU, 4rd. Behind these three crews, BOUCHER / BOUCHER, remains opportunistic, 5 points behind BARBIER / RIGONDEAU.
In summary, only 24 points separate the leader from 4rd provisional, a rather small gap compared to recent seasons, where certain crews had already taken a serious option for the title at the dawn of the 3rd stage of the season. It is therefore a great spectacle that awaits the Gard public in the premier Sidecar category.
In F2, Sarah CESCUTTI changes driver, Loïc ERAGNE will be at the helm of the machine, he already has experience in the Championship. To compete with side No. 522, we will have to count on QUILBAULT / PESENTI and NODELFER / BONNOT, provisionally 5rd and 7rd of the ranking, but who aim to play for the places of honor.
TEMPORARY SITUATION SIDECAR :
1 – PERILLAT / KOTCHAN – 67 points
2 – LEASE / LEVEAU – 57 points
3 – REEVES / ROUSSEAU – 51 points
4 – BARBER / RIGONDEAU – 48 points
5 – BUTCHER / BUTCHER – 43 points
FOLLOW THE 2022 FRENCH FE-SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Fsbk.fr, the website dedicated to the French Superbike Championship, always offers live coverage of the weekend's news, detailed information, photos, results, videos, etc.
For this 2022 season, the FFM will broadcast each evening of the event a video of the best moments of the day on the official FSBK-FE Facebook page and the fsbk.fr website.
Other meetings will punctuate the weekend through a system specifically focused on social networks via Facebook: fsbk , Youtube : ffmfsbk and Instagram: fsbk
CALENDAR 2022
May 27 – 29 – Lédenon (30) – MC Lédenon
June 17 – 19 – Circuit Pau Arnos (64) – MC Pau Arnos
July 01 – 03 – Magny-Cours (58) – MC Nevers and Nièvre
August 19 – 21 – Circuit Carole (93) – MC Motors Events
September 23 – 25 – Circuit Paul Ricard (30) – MC of Circuit Paul Ricard
