The French Superbike Championship FSBK The FIM Moto Moto series returns to the famous Vigeant circuit for the second consecutive year. Organized under the auspices of the French Motorcycling Federation (FFM) and the Val de Vienne Moto Moto Club (VVM), this fifth round got off to a flying start with a crucial first event: qualifying. This always decisive exercise could allow some riders to move closer to the title, while others might see their hopes dashed. Fans can once again follow all of Sunday's races live on the FFMoto YouTube channel, as well as on Sport en France and the FIM-MOTO.TV platform.
SUPERBIKES FSBK Le Vigeant
QUALIFICATIONS: PONSSON JUST RE-DOU-TABLE
From the outset, the pace is particularly high. The two BMW Team TWR riders, Grégory LEBLANC (BMW TWR) and Matthieu GREGORIO (BMW Team TWR), start together and seem, as usual, to be working in concert.
The first benchmark times were quickly set. Kenny Foray (Tecmas BMW Motorrad France) and Alan Techer (Dafy-Rac41-Honda) also took to the track at the same time. A strategy that seemed to pay off for the Honda rider, who set the fastest time… ultimately disallowed for exceeding track limits.
Corn (Mais) Christophe PONSSON (BMW Team MDS) then took center stage. Lap after lap, he improved his time before going for the Superbike track record on his final attempt. With a remarkable 1'37"676, he secured pole position. He finished ahead of the two Michelin riders: FORAY, 2nd in 1'38"134, and TECHER, 3rd in 1'38"784.
On the second row, we find LEBLANC, 4th in 1'38"820, ahead of Hugo CLERE (Tati Team AVA6 Honda), 5th in 1'38"888, and Ludovic RIZZA (BMW EMC PPO Development), 6th in 1'39"172. Returning this weekend, Martin RENAUDIN (Honda Team B2S) secured a strong 7th place on the grid thanks to a time of 1'39"407. He finished ahead of GREGORIO, 8th in 1'39"533, and Paul DUFOUR (Tati Team AVA6 Honda), 9th in 1'39"687.
In the Production category, Noan VASTA (Honda Team 113 VR42 CER) achieved the best performance with his 10th place overall in 1'39"789. He finished ahead of Alexandre SANTO DOMINGUES (Yamaha CMS), 12th in 1'39"855. Benjamin COLLIAUX (Honda Team 113 VR42 CER) completed the top 3, finishing 13th in 1'40"716.
SUPERSPORT FSBK Le Vigeant
QUALIFICATIONS: NEW POLE FOR ARBEL
The conditions are ideal for this qualifying session. From the very first laps, Maxence CHACHUAT (Triumph C2M) takes the lead on the timesheets. But the battle quickly intensifies with Loïc ARBEL (Yamaha CMS), Mathieu GINES (Yamaha Team Relou By 41 Performance Feroce Graphics), Diego PONCET (Dafy-Rac41-Honda) and Quentin GODEFROY (Honda Storm Factory), all capable of challenging for pole position.
At the end of the session, it was finally ARBEL who found the key to the circuit and secured another pole position in 1'40"715. He was ahead of GINES, 2nd in 1'40"820. PONCET, who seemed to have found the right settings, completed the front row with a time of 1'41"404.
On the second row, we find CHACHUAT, 4th in 1'41"414, ahead of GODEFROY, 5th in 1'41"629. The local rider Bartholomé PERRIN (Yamaha TWR), who had a little more difficulty this weekend, completes this second row in 1'41"700.
On the Production side, Benjamin CAILLET (Des-Rac41-Honda) takes the best with a 7th place overall in 1'41"730. He is ahead of Killian ROSSIGNOL (Dafy-Rac41-Honda), 9th in 1'42"332, and Robin SAUTEREAU (Yamaha CMS), 11th in 1'42"859.
YAMAHA CHALLENGE 700
QUALIFICATIONS: MIZERA KNOWS HOW TO DO IT
As usual, Amaury Mizera (Yamaha 2VS Racing Team – Michelin) waited before taking to the track. A winning strategy, since on his second timed lap, he set the fastest time of the session with a 1'46"900 and secured pole position.
Arthur MASSY (Yamaha C2M – Michelin) secured 2nd place on the grid with a time of 1'48"344. In a final effort, Yannis RAINGARD MAGNIER (Yamaha – Michelin) completed the front row with a time of 1'48"455.
On the second row, we find Evann PLAINDOUX (Yamaha De La Vega Motorsport – Michelin), 4th in 1'48"541, ahead of Louis PAPELARD (Yamaha FT Racing Academy – Michelin), 5th in 1'48"643, and Livio MIRABEL (Yamaha Guerrero Racing Team – Michelin), 6th in 1'48"827.
MOTO 4 OBJECTIF GRAND-PRIX BY MOTUL
QUALIFICATIONS: BOXBERGER TAKES THE BEST
There are many contenders for pole position this weekend in this category. But it's Evan Boxberger (Honda – Pirelli) who proves the most incisive, stringing together fast laps and benchmark sectors. At the end of the session, he secures pole position with a time of 1'45"591, more than a second ahead of his rivals.
Antoine NATIVI (Honda – Pirelli) takes 2nd place in 1'46"820, while Johann DUBOIS (KF78 Racing Team – Pirelli) completes the front row with a time of 1'47"410.
On the second row, we find Léandre MARTINEZ (Honda BRS – Pirelli), 4th in 1'47"517, ahead of Marc Antoine AUDARD (Honda – Pirelli), 5th in 1'48"250, and Esteban NEIL (Honda Tati Team Academy – Pirelli), 6th in 1'48"538.
PRE-MOTO 4 – MOTO 5
QUALIFICATIONS: ROUSSEL IN COMMAND
It's a very strong start for Tom ROUSSEL (Beon Team Relou By 41 Performance Feroce Graphics), who takes the lead in the session before even halfway through thanks to an excellent time of 1'59"888. A time he will maintain until the end despite a small fall, thus giving him pole position.
He finished ahead of Maho ROBIC (Erdog Team GP Park), 2nd in 2'00"933, while Jacques CARPENTIER (Beon De La Vega Motorsport) completed the front row with a time of 2'01"215.
In the Moto 5 category, Julian VIALE (Mir) secured the best grid position thanks to his 7th place overall and a time of 2'07"142. He finished ahead of Melvyn LOUVANCOURT (Erdog Team GP Park), 9th in 2'07"430, while Sacha FIEVET (Erdog Team GP Park) completed the top 3 in the category with a 10th place overall in 2'07"473.
ABOUT THE FRENCH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Nearly 200 riders, divided into 8 categories, compete in 14 races each weekend on 6 of France's most prestigious circuits. This year brings a brand-new feature: live broadcasts, available on the FFMoto TV YouTube channel, free-to-air on the French Sport channel, and also accessible internationally on the FIM-MOTO.TV platform. That's what the FSBK is all about! An intense and unpredictable competition where rider and machine defy the laws of physics at every turn, delivering a captivating spectacle for fans of the sport. Organized by the French Motorcycling Federation (FFM), the FSBK brings together the elite of French motorcycling.
CALENDAR
April 4-5 : Le Mans (72) – ASM 24 Hours
from April 30 to May 3 : Lédenon (30) – MC Lédenon
from 28 to 31 may Nogaro (32) – ASM Armagnac Bigorre
from 18 to 21 in June : Pau Arnos (64) – MC Pau Arnos
from July 30 to August 2 Le Vigeant (86) – VVM FSBK Le Vigeant FSBK Le Vigeant
from 24 to 27 September Magny-Cours (58) – MC Nevers and Nièvre