One month after a successful start at Le Mans, the drivers of the French FSBK – FE Superbike Championship meet at the Paul Armagnac Circuit in Nogaro from May 6 to 8 for the 2nd round of the season. The French Motorcycling Federation and ASM Armagnac Bigorre will therefore welcome the French speed elite for races which promise to be exciting.
SUPERBIKE: DEBISE – GINES: ACT 2
After a new demonstration of strength on the Bugatti Circuit, Valentin DEBISE (Yamaha – Michelin) arrives at Nogaro with plenty of confidence… and points since, with the benefit of his double a month ago, the Albigensian is leader of the ranking provisional with 51 units. Second, 11 lengths behind Valentin DEBISE, Mathieu GINES (Yamaha Tech Solutions – Pirelli) knows that he must not let his rival get away. The Gers public can therefore count on the pilot of the Yamaha No. 41 to “put on the gas” from the first laps in order to seek victory, which they have not experienced since August 2021 at Carole.
After a tricky 2021 season, Kenny FORAY (BMW Tecmas – Michelin) showed that he was back at the top of his game by scoring two podiums in the first round. It will be interesting to see if the 2017 French Champion gains strength in Nogaro.
Alan TECHER (Honda CBO Racing – Michelin) and Gregory LEBLANC (Ducati TWR – Pirelli) have also had a good start to the season, there is no doubt that they will be ambitious and determined, on the Gers track, to disrupt the plans of the provisional leaders. Will they return to the box?
True to himself, and as consistent as ever, Axel MAURIN (Yamaha CMS – Pirelli) signed a 5 at Le Mans.rd and a 6rd place allowing him to beat the young Martin RENAUDIN (Yamaha Moto&GP Addict – Pirelli), 7rd scratch and 1er Challenger. Will the two Yamaha riders be able to settle for the places of honor on the Circuit Paul Armagnac, or will they also try to establish themselves in the leading trio?
We will obviously have to count on Guillaume ANTIGA (Ducati – Pirelli), 8rd in the provisional classification which will make the engine of his No. 26 Ducati do the talking, just like the experienced David MUSCAT (Ducati – Michelin), local rider of the stage.
In Challenger, it is therefore Martin RENAUDIN who takes on the leadership role, he will have to be wary of Valentin SUCHET (Suzuki Junior Team LMS – Pirelli) who showed a good level of performance a month ago on the Bugatti Circuit. Alexandre SANTO DOMINGUES (Yamaha – Pirelli) and Joseph FORAY (BMW – Dunlop) are distinguishing themselves at the start of the season, these two drivers are progressing little by little and will also be able to claim the Challenger podium. After impressing in qualifying, Maximilien BAU (BMW – Michelin) and Tom BERCOT (Honda CBO Racing – Michelin) did not experience the same success in the race. Capable of playing leading roles, these two talented young people will be revengeful on May 6, 7 and 8!
SUPERSPORT 600: ARBEL AND GREGORIO IN PURSUIT OF DEBISE
He had accustomed the Nogaro public to dominating the Supersport 600 category last season, Valentin DEBISE (Yamaha – Michelin) seems to be starting on the same basis in 2022. However, this year the competition is even tougher… Loïc ARBEL (Yamaha TWR Junior Team – Pirelli), ex-World Superbike rider, and Matthieu GREGORIO (Yamaha Tech Solutions – Pirelli), 3rd of the Championship last year, showed that they were not far from the level of the Albigensian at Le Mans and will now give everything to thwart the plans of the leader at Nogaro.
Like ARBEL and GREGORIO, Matthieu LUSSIANA (Yamaha – Dunlop) arrives in Gers with great ambitions. After making the choice to “come down” to the Supersport 600, the rider of the #95 Yamaha has had a great start to the season and will be a contender for the podium.
Other driving forces on the field, Cédric TANGRE (Yamaha Tech Solutions – Pirelli) and Vincent FALCONE (Yamaha – Pirelli) rank 5rd and 6rd at the dawn of this 2rd stage. Different profiles for these two drivers since TANGRE has already won the title while FALCONE is starting in the category, but similar ambitions: the podium!
In Challenger, Matthieu GREGORIO and Vincent FALCONE are therefore expected to shine among the young drivers. Johan GIMBERT (Yamaha – Pirelli), Kilian AEBI (Yamaha – Pirelli) and Bartholomé PERRIN (Yamaha – Pirelli) will be able to aim for 3rd place in the category if they manage to do well in the scratch ranking.
PRE-MOTO 3
GRAND-PRIX OBJECTIVE: THE CARDS TO RESHELF
The leader of the category, Loris VENEMAN (KTM) being absent for the Nogaro stage, it is Célestin MASY (Beon), provisionally 2rd of the Championship who will be the main headliner of this 2rd sleeve. The driver of the Béon n°48 will have to fight to maintain his status, since Camil BISSANE (KTM) has proven himself by getting on the podium and will try to repeat the performance next weekend.
But the man to beat will be Matthias ROSTAGNI (Beon), he who took pole position then largely won race 1 at Le Mans before suffering a mechanical breakdown in race 2. ROSTAGNI therefore showed all his talent and could well be the big favorite in Nogaro.
NSF 250: WILL Caillet BE WORRIED?
The leader of the provisional classification, Benjamin CAILLET (Honda NSF) arrives in the Gers with full confidence. Riding the No. 6 Honda, the driver has so far scored the maximum number of points: 52!
Temporarily 2rd, 3rd and 4rd Jules BERCOT (Honda NSF), Lorenzo GUYAU (Honda NSF) and Lucas BOSSON (Honda NSF) have already been on the box this season. Will they be able to raise their level of driving to stay in contact with Benjamin CAILLET with a view to the Championship?
SUPERSPORT 300: DAHMANI EXPECTED!
For his second season in FSBK-FE, Enzo DAHMANI (Yamaha) seems to have taken the full measure of the high level by winning twice in Sarthe. The rider of the No. 2 Yamaha, however, faced formidable opponents who will be keen to take their revenge.
Louca FRIEH, (Yamaha – Pirelli), Evann PLAINDOUX (Yamaha) and Dorian JOULIN (Yamaha – Pirelli) showed that they could ride in the leader's times and fight with him for victory. On a route with different characteristics it is possible that the trend is reversed...
More discreet, but regular and diligent, the very young David DA COSTA (Yamaha – Pirelli) made a promising debut in his new category, allowing him to provisionally place 3rd in the general classification. In Nogaro, the Portuguese driver will try to join the battle for victory.
We will have to observe the performances of the two young women Lucie BOUDESSEUL (Kawasaki – Pirelli), 6rd, and Justine PEDEMONTE (Yamaha – Pirelli), 7rd, who could well find their way among the favorites.
SIDE-CAR: THE ROYAL WAY TO PERILLAT / KOTCHAN?
After his very beautiful 3rd place at Le Mans, the PERILLAT / KOTCHAN crew will be keen to realize the efforts invested in their machine by achieving victory in the Gers. Following him, we will certainly find the BARBIER / RIGONDEAU team, for whom the Circuit Paul Armagnac de Nogaro has often succeeded.
The outsiders will be the young crews, without a doubt the BOUCHER / BOUCHER brothers, or even JACQUEMMOZ / ENJALBERT who have already shown the extent of their talent in the past.
After its setbacks at Le Mans, DELAMARRE / GROSSET BOURBANGE will do everything to return to the front and logically appears as the favorite ahead of QUILBAULT / PESENTI who appears as an outsider for this second round.
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 06 – 08 – Nogaro (32) – ASM Armagnac Bigorre
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
