On this Sunday, March 26, the drivers of the 2023 French Superbike Championship will have to deal with the wet track of the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans. The local ACO club under the aegis of the French Motorcycling Federation is hosting the first stage of the season synonymous with a return to competition for the 220 drivers entered.
SUPERBIKES
RACE 1: DI MEGLIO ACT 1
For the first race of the 2023 vintage, the elite of motorcycle speed sets off for 15 laps on a drying track that remains as tricky as ever. Jeremy GUARNONI (BMW – Dunlop), as comfortable in the dry as in the rain, got off to an excellent start, unlike Kenny FORAY (BMW – Michelin) who started from the pit lane and had 13 seconds to spare. delay in the first round. The HONDAs of Alan TECHER (Honda – Michelin) and Mike DI MEGLIO (Honda – Michelin) took advantage of an error by GUARNONI to take the first two places followed by Corentin PEROLARI (Yamaha – Pirelli) now 3rd ahead of Mathieu GINES (Yamaha – Michelin) which is gaining momentum and relegating GUARNONI, slightly less on the pace, to 5th position.
The HONDAs number 36 and 5 of the CBO team are now prance in the lead, and impose a frantic pace on the other drivers who are working hard not to fall behind. Mathieu GINES, regular, is 3rd just in front of the challenger PEROLARI who puts pressure on the pilot of bike 41. Chris LEESH (Honda – Michelin) completes the TOP 5 with a time of 1'52”310 per lap. Pole sitter GUARNONI is 7th but struggles to get back on SALVADORI 6th who achieves the provisional best lap in 1'47”154 at mid-race.
After falling to 28th place, Kenny FORAY began a spectacular comeback, he gradually gained numerous places in the ranking, to place his BMW in 14th position after 6 laps. While GUARNONI seems more in difficulty in 7th position, the latter manages for the moment to maintain the gap on Gregory LEBLANC (Ducati – Pirelli).
After 13 laps of racing, the top 5 is now made up of DI MEGLIO, TECHER and PEROLARI, first Challenger, followed by GINES and SALVADORI. LEESH contains the attacks of GUARNONI 7th, himself followed by 3 tough opponents: Gregory LEBLANC (Ducati – Pirelli), Kenny FORAY who continues his fantastic comeback and the local of the stage Martin RENAUDIN (Yamaha – Pirelli).
Everything seems possible for Kenny FORAY with 5 laps to go, the driver of the #1 BMW has just taken the advantage over Martin RENAUDIN, and is now targeting the DUCATI of Grégory LEBLANC, currently 7th.
With 5 laps to go, Mike Di MEGLIO is still holding off Alan TECHER by maintaining a comfortable lead of 6 seconds, which he increases to 8 seconds with 2 laps to go. Behind, the Yamaha of Corentin PEROLARI has to deal with the Ducati of Luc SALVADORI, particularly inspired by a second.
Mike Di MEGLIO won the first race of this season without ever having been too worried. In the last lap, PEROLARI gets the better of Alan TECHER and climbs to the 2nd step of the podium, the Honda driver from the Moto Club de Cannes finishes on the 3rd step of the podium. Mathieu GINES is 4th, ahead of Chris LEESH, 5th, Luc SALVADORI 6th. The champion FORAY, author of a formidable comeback, took 7th place ahead of LEBLANC, GUARNONI and RENAUDIN.
Note the remarkable performance of Team Moto member Ain Corentin PEROLARI who set the best lap time in 1'46''274, promising for this afternoon's race. Coming down from the podium, Corentin PEROLARI announced on Jean-Claude BRUNEAU's microphone his “Goal for the scratch ranking” for this season.
Corentin PEROLARI therefore takes first position in Challenger ahead of Alexis LAMIRE (Yamaha – Michelin) and the young Tom BERCOT (Honda – Michelin) 3rd.
RACE 2: Di MEGLIO ACT 2
When the lights went out, it was the impressive Corentin PEROLARI (Yamaha – Pirelli) who took the best start ahead of pole sitter Jeremy GUARNONI (BMW – Dunlop) second and Mike Di MEGLIO (Honda – Michelin) very incisive, 3rd at the end of the 1st round. DI MEGLIO is ahead of his teammate Alan TECHER (Honda – Michelin) 4th, Kenny FORAY (BMW – Michelin), for his part, completes the TOP 5. Further, Gregory LEBLANC (Ducati – Pirelli) is placed 6th and distance of more than 2 seconds, Martin RENAUDIN, positioned 7th (Yamaha – Pirelli).
GUARNONI is definitely struggling in the race this weekend since he seems to be in difficulty from the first laps, and concedes 5 places after 5 laps. Di MEGLIO, always scathing, takes the advantage over the challenger PEROLARI 2nd without keeping himself safe. Alan TECHER sets his pace and settles into 3rd position but remains under threat from Kenny FORAY at 0'102. Further on we find Gregory LEBLANC in 5th place, more than 2 seconds from SALVADORI, 6th and 3 seconds from Martin RENAUDIN 7th.
At the forefront the battle rages! The TOP 5 drivers multiply their attacks and try everything for the final victory! At mid-race it was the Hondas of Team CBO who set their pace and led the race, DI MEGLIO in the lead. TECHER is under threat from the reigning champion FORAY who intends to do better than his 7th place this morning. Corentin PEROLARI is currently behind the leading trio, almost 7 seconds behind FORAY. What follows is a compact group of 3 riders, made up of SALVADORI (Ducati – Pirelli), 5th, LEBLANC, 6th, and RENAUDIN, 7th who are barely 2 seconds apart.
Kenny FORAY's efforts are paying off! He took the lead of the race with 3 laps remaining but was unable to outrun Di MEGLIO, determined to achieve the double on the 24-hour circuit. He succeeded in the last lap by putting a lot of pressure on FORAY and took his teammate Alan Techer behind him, who finished second. PEROLARI concludes his weekend in style with a new podium, he is 3rd. At the gates of the podium, SALVADORI will not have been unworthy, he is ahead of Gregory LEBLANC 5th and Kenny FORAY unlucky in 6th place. We find in the places of honor Martin RENAUDIN only 7th at home who is ahead of the number 3 Ducati of David MUSCAT who finishes 8th, Johan NIGON is in 9th and it is Jeremy GUARNONI in difficulty who concludes the top 10.
The reigning champion draws his first lessons from this first race weekend of the season by welcoming the “ daring bet by Mike Di Meglio who opted for a Medium. Despite the fall I don't regret anything, because I attacked and that is part of the risks. What I want to remember from this weekend is that I have never been so fast at Le Mans. »
Although struggling with his rear, Mike Di Meglio managed to manage his tire well, “ It was a very good fight with Kenny until the last corner, he passed me at Chemins Boeufs then I passed him again, it's a shame for him to have fallen, but I'm very happy for the rest of the season. »
PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION:
1- Mickaël Di MEGLIO – 50 points
2- Alan TECHER – 37 points
3- Corentin PEROLARI – 36 points
SUPERSPORT 600
RACE 1: LONGEARET SURPRISES EVERYONE
Enzo DE LA VEGA (Yamaha-Pirelli), Johan GIMBERT (Yamaha – Pirelli) and Loïc ARBEL (Yamaha – Pirelli) start from the first row. The challengers Gabin CAZARD (Yamaha – Pirelli) and Diego PONCET (Kawasaki – Pirelli) will start 4th and 5th in front of the experienced Matthieu LUSSIANA (Yamaha – Pirelli) 6th.
Quickly, DE LA VEGA made a mistake in the first chicane, disrupting the order at the first crossing of the line. Bartholomé PERRIN (Yamaha – Michelin) who started 9th is now provisional leader ahead of Robin DUPAU second and Hugo ROBERT (Yamaha – Michelin) 3rd. Johan GIMBERT manages to stabilize and returns to 4th place.
Kevin LONGEARET (Yamaha – Pirelli), comfortable on this drying track, surprised everyone by setting the best times in all sectors, then found himself leader on the 3rd lap following the fall of several riders including PERRIN. GIMBERT continued his effort and placed second, now with Yamaha number 54 in his sights. Behind, DUPAU, ARBEL and ROBERT complete the TOP 5 in order. In 6th place we find Hugo DE CANCELLIS (Yamaha – Pirelli) and the challenger Camille KAZMERSKI (Yamaha – Pirelli) in 7th place.
With 5 laps to go, LONGEARET and GIMBERT widened the gap with the rest of the drivers. Several falls lead to the second red flag of the day.
The ranking is therefore fixed and it is the ranking of the previous round which serves as the final ranking. LONGEARET takes the victory ahead of GIMBERT second and DUPAU 3rd. Hugo ROBERT and Hugo DE CANCELLIS are placed 4th and 5th respectively. Loic ARBEL having fallen, still finds himself in a good 6th place, followed by Enzo DE LA VEGA 7th, Damien MARMION (Yamaha – Pirelli) is 8th.
Although he started from last position, Camille KAZMERSKI took victory in the challenger category, Bartholomé PERRIN placed 2nd in front of Florent DA CUNHA (Motosbox – Pirelli) who completed the category podium.
RACE 2: VICTORY FOR HUGO ROBERT
Enzo DE LA VEGA (Yamaha-Pirelli) sets off alongside one of the favorites in the category but misses his start unlike Johan GIMBERT (Yamaha – Pirelli) who gets a better start just like the challenger Diego PONCET (Kawasaki – Pirelli) who takes second place and Kevin LONGEARET who seems very comfortable in 3rd place.
In the first laps, GIMBERT takes PONCET in his wheel, the duo quickly widens the gap, with more than 2 seconds ahead of the poleman DE LA VEGA, the rider of the Yamaha 114 hangs on and recovers 3rd place in the detriment of LONGEARET. Bartholomé PERRIN (Yamaha – Michelin) completes the TOP 5 but is quickly caught up by Hugo ROBERT (Yamaha – Michelin) 6th and CAZARD 7th who attack him. Alexy NEGRIER (Yamaha – Pirelli), in difficulty this weekend, occupies 8th position and is doing everything to get back on his predecessors.
At the start of the 5th lap PONCET is rewarded for his efforts and takes the advantage over GIMBERT second. Hugo ROBERT and Enzo DE LA VEGA are now 3rd and 4th, Gabin CAZARD closes the TOP 5.
Thanks to a drying track, lap times gradually improved, Diego PONCET seemed to cope perfectly with these conditions since driver number 36 stole first position from Johan GIMBERT. Although the rider of the Yamaha n°77 maintains a slight lead over Hugo ROBERT, the latter increases his efforts and reduces the gap on the leaders. Enzo DE LA VEGA, for his part, seems to have more difficulty catching up with the leading trio, despite a series of fast laps, which will allow him to set the best time. Gabin CAZARD is in 5th position behind him, behind him LONGEARET and NEGRIER are neck and neck for 6th position.
Diego PONCET, put to the test by GIMBERT and ROBERT, is struggling to maintain the race lead. After several repeated attacks, the No. 77 and No. 51 riders both took the advantage over the No. 2 Kawasaki.
At the head of the race the battle rages between GIMBERT for the moment leader and ROBERT second which is the business of Diego PONCET 3rd who takes the opportunity to catch up with the duo. DE LA VEGA is also on the attack and also manages to reduce the gap which separates him from the TOP 3. NEGRIER, author of a superb end of the race, takes 5th place to the detriment of Gabin CAZARD.
As the checkered flag passed, Hugo ROBERT took the victory in the last meters after a magnificent battle with Johan GIMBERT second, Enzo DE LA VEGA finally managed to stabilize his 3rd place. Diego PONCET 4th, won ahead of Alexy NEGRIER, who made a solid comeback and finished 5th. DE CANCELLIS, CAZARD and PERRIN finished 6, 7 and 8th respectively in this second 600cc race.
PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION:
1- Hugo ROBERT – 41 points
2- Johan GIMBERT – 41 points
3- Kevin LONGEARET – 32 points
GRAND PRIZE OBJECTIVE
PRE-MOTO 3
RACE 1: GODEFROY FIRST
David DA COSTA (BEON), Célestin MASY (BEON) and Quentin GODEFROY (ERDOG) form the leading trio and are not worried until the fall of the vice-champion of France MASY 5 laps from the finish then that of the leader DA COSTA with 3 laps remaining.
Following a red flag, the classification remains that of the last complete lap of the race, namely in the order GODEFROY, DA COSTA, MANDINE (BEON).
RACE 2: MASY AS A LEADER
David DA COSTA (BEON) runs the perfect race from start to finish. He precedes Célestin MASY (BEON), in second position and Quentin GODEFROY (ERDOG) more than a second and a half away is 3rd.
In the last lap MASY's attacks bore fruit as he won at the finish ahead of DA COSTA second and GODEFROY on the third step of the podium.
PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION:
1- Quentin GODEFROY – 41 points
2- David DA COSTA – 41 points
3- Celestin MASY – 30 points
NSF250
RACE 1: BOXBORGER AS A BOSS
The reigning champion Jules BERCOT is definitely in difficulty, he is in 9th place until he retires 2 laps from the end. In front, Evan BOXBRGER (HONDA) leads the category ahead of Swan EMPRIN (HONDA) and the French supersport 300 champion Enzo DAHMANI (HONDA).
The race having been shortened following a red flag at the end of the race, 1st BOXBRGER, second EMPRIN and in third place the promising DAHMANI.
RACE 2: THE 2 PASS FOR BOXBERGER
Evan BOXEBERGER stands out by achieving a very good second race. He leads the NSF 250 category ahead of Jules BERCOT second and more difficult Swan EMPRIN is in 3rd position. Note that Enzo Dahmani was put to the test on the Bugatti track.
Unsurprisingly BOXBERGER won in front of BERCOT who was just ahead of EMPRIN who completed the podium.
PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION:
1- Evan BOXBERGER – 51 points
2- Swan EMPRIN – 37 points
3- Jules BERCOT – 33 points
SUPERSPORT 300
RACE 1: JULIE RITAINE GETS ON THE PODIUM
After the torrential rains which fell on the circuit this morning, it was under a slight clearing that the drivers in the 300cc category set off for 10 laps.
Kevin SABATUCCI (Kawasaki-Pirelli) starts from pole position and succeeds in taking off, Ryan CHAUVEAU (Kawasaki-Pirelli) is also on pace with the leader. Further away the pilots are left behind. D'Jefferson DELBOSC (Kawasaki-Pirelli) is 6 seconds behind the leader, Noa POTVIN (Kawasaki-Pirelli) in his wheel is 4th who is pushing to place himself in the TOP 3.
Kevin SABATUCCI disappears from the ranking after 2 laps of the race following a fall.
It is Julio GARCIA GONZALEZ (Kawasaki-Pirelli) who takes the lead in front of Ryan CHAUVEAU who did not benefit from the leader's abandonment. Noa Potvin consolidates his 3rd place and keeps ROSSIGNOL (Kawasaki-Pirelli) in his exhausts, 4th. Note, Julie RITAINE (Kawasaki-Pirelli) on her Kawasaki number 93 pushes hard and climbs to 5th place.
The leading duo imposes a sustained pace on their opponents who are unable to follow them. Julie RITAINE is definitely wild today, she finds herself 3rd with 3 laps to go and pushes her machine to achieve the best lap in 2'15”583. She distances Kilian ROSSIGNOL 4th and Rodrigo NUNES MENDES 5th.
Crossing the checkered line, Julio GARCIA GONZALEZ wins ahead of one of the favorites in the category Ryan CHAUVEAU, and Julie RITAINE completes the box, 3rd. In 4th and 5th position we find Kilian ROSSIGNOL and Erwan BOSSY, Rodrigo NUNES MENDES is 6th.
RACE 2: CHAUVEAU AS BOSS
The second race in the 300 category got off to a bad start as a driver fell suddenly at the start. Red flag, drivers enter the pit lane.
The race can finally begin but without Kevin SABATUCCI (Kawasaki-Pirelli) although expected in pole position on the starting grid. It's Ryan CHAUVEAU (Kawasaki-Pirelli) who launches his machine perfectly and leads the debates ahead of Cyprien BABY (Kawasaki-Pirelli) and Justine PEDEMONTE (Kawasaki-Pirelli) already 3rd. Noa Potvin (Kawasaki-Pirelli) is in 4th position ahead of Kilian ROSSIGNOL (Kawasaki-Pirelli) 5th and Enzo SIRE, 7th, all three of whom are close to each other.
Ryan CHAUVEAU is in an excellent rhythm and maintains his lead. Julie RITAINE (Kawasaki-Pirelli) until now at the end of TOP 10 pushes and rushes on her opponents until seizing second place! At the same time, she set the best lap in the race in 2'11'711 and continued her effort. In 3rd position, BABY also finds its rhythm. The rest of the TOP 5 is made up in the order of SIRE 4th and ROSSIGNOL 5th who each in turn passed PEDEMONTE, who has been in more difficulty for a few laps and falls in the ranking before giving up 4 laps from the finish. D Jefferson DELBOSC finally left the pit lane who took 4th place in front of ROSSIGNOL.
The leading trio remains unchanged and begins the final lap calmly. Ryan CHAUVEAU finished in the lead ahead of Julie RITAINE 2nd who set a new best lap in the race in 2'11”276, Cyprien BABY finished in 3rd place. It is then D Jefferson DELBOSC 4th and Kilian ROSSIGNOL 5th who complete the TOP 5.
PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION:
1- Ryan CHAUVEAU – 50 points
2- Julie RITAINE – 42 points
3- Kylian ROSSIGNOL – 27
MOTORCYCLE 4 MOTORCYCLE 5:
Race 1:
MOTORCYCLE 4: BERGER WINS THE BEST
Pole sitter Florian FRANÇOIS keeps a good pace and heads towards the first victory in this MOTO 4 category in FSBK, but is ultimately penalized for having gone red in the pit lane. Matteo BERGER therefore wins this race, ahead of Gabriel PIO second and Kevin MAIFFRET (CORSICA)
MOTO 5: QUEHENEN FOR THE FIRST
In the MOTO 5 category the 3 riders are ranked in order: 1st, Teddy QUEHENEN, second Eliott CARVALHO (FULGUR), and in 3rd place Roméo MONEYRON (FULGUR) despite being leader of this category the day before in qualifying.
RACE 2:
MOTO 4: FRANÇOIS CATCHES UP
Florian FRANÇOIS wants to make up for his mistake during race 1 and starts perfectly. Mateo BERGER and Gabriel PIO followed suit and finished second and third respectively.
MOTO 5: QUEHENEN FOR SECOND
The positions change between Eliott CARVALHO (FULGUR) second and Romeo MONEYRON (FULGUR) in 3rd place, however Teddy QUEHENEN (ERDOG) retains his first place.
PROVISIONAL MOTO 4 CLASSIFICATION:
1- Gabriel PIO – 30 points
2- Florian FRANÇOIS – 25,5 points
3- Matteo BERGER – 25 points
PROVISIONAL MOTO 5 CLASSIFICATION:
1- Teddy QUENEHNEN – 39,5 points
2- Romeo MONEYRON – 30 points
3- Eliott CARVALHO – 24 points
SIDECAR
RACE 2 SPRINT: PAYNE / ROUSSEAU IN IMPOSED
The sidecars take to the track in Dantean conditions for a sprint race over 7 laps of racing. The result of this will define the starting order of race 3. From the formation lap, the winners of the day before LEGLISE / DRUEIL lose control and spin before going to place,
At the start, PAYNE / ROUSSEAU on pole once again started better than his pursuers with a lead of more than 3 seconds on the first pass. LEGLISE / DRUEL got the better of the PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT duo who started second and quickly found themselves in 4th position after the short chassis of HOLDEN / VASSEUR moved into 3rd position.
On the 6th lap, the red flag was waved for a minor exit from the track by QUILBAULT J. / LASSIA which interrupted the race.
The crews return to the track after a few minutes of break and set off for 5 laps.
On his momentum, PAYNE / ROUSSEAU flies through this first lap and has more than 3 seconds on his pursuers. In 2'17”712 followed by WYSSEN / SALMON 3rd. The first F2 chassis is that of HOLDEN / VASSEUR in 4th position. PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT who started second finished 5th.
Lap after lap the number 45 crew improved their time and did not seem perturbed by the conditions. Behind them, LEGLISE / DRUEL clocked 2'15”034, HOLDEN / VASSEUR continued their efforts and found themselves in 3rd position ahead of WYSSEN / SALMON and the PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT clan on side number 74.
In the last lap, PAYNE / ROUSSEAU speeds towards victory without ever having been worried in front of HOLDEN / VASSEUR who was able to get the best of LEGLISE / DRUEL 3rd and WYSSEN / SALMON 4th, PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT completes the TOP 5 with a time of 2 '15”260.
HOLDEN / VASSEUR is therefore the first in the F2 category to cross the line in 2'14”256, followed by PALACOEUR S. / CESCUTTI M. and JACQUEMMOZ M. / ENJALBERT S.
RACE 3: PAYNE / ROUSSEAU UNTOUCHABLE
The rain returned to Le Mans, leaving the drivers with a completely wet track. The crews start for 11 laps this time.
As since the start of this weekend, the long chassis of PAYNE / ROUSSEAU sets off ideally and takes a direct 3 second lead over WYSSEN / SALMON in second, followed by LEGLISE / DRUEL. PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT gained a place and found itself 4th in front of the F2 sidecar of HOLDEN / VASSEUR which seemed to be in difficulty.
At mid-race, PAYNE / ROUSSEAU went it alone by setting lap records, distancing his first competitors by more than 9 seconds. WYSSEN / SALMON nevertheless maintains its pace and settles comfortably in second place in front of side number 74 of PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT. HOLDEN / VASSEUR drops out to a good 4th place. It is LEGLISE / DRUEL who take this 4th position, ahead of LE BAIL / LEVEAU 5th and in better shape than during race 1. The 6th position is occupied by the leader of the F2, the crew PALACOEUR S. / CESCUTTI M.
With 3 laps to go, the TOP 5 positions remain unchanged.
After abandoning race 1, PAYNE / ROUSSEAU logically finished first in this 3rd race of the weekend and collected some good points. WYSSEN / SALMON regular is second in front of LEGLISE / DRUEL 3rd who gets on the box.
The TOP 5 is completed by PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT. in 4th place and LEBAIL / LEVEAU in 5th place.
In the F2 category, PALACOEUR S. / CESCUTTI M. won ahead of JACQUEMMOZ / ENJALBERT and BERGEON L. / COLOMBIN F. completed the podium.
PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION:
1- PAYNE / ROUSSEAU – 60 points
2- LEGLISE / DRUEL – 48 points
3- WYSSEN / SALMON – 42 points
FOLLOW THE 2023 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 2023 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 2023
April 28 – 30 – Nogaro (32) – ASM Armagnac Bigorre
May 26 – 28 – Lédenon (30) – MC Lédenon
June 30 – July 2 – Magny-Cours (58) – MC Nevers and Nièvre
July 14 – 16 – Circuit Pau Arnos (64) – MC Pau Arnos
August 25 – 27 – Circuit Carole (93) – MC Motors Events
September 29 – October 1 – Circuit Paul Ricard (30) – MC of Circuit Paul Ricard
