The second round of the French Superbike Championship (FSBK) took up residence on the rollercoaster circuit of Lédenon, in the Gard region. Hosted by the Moto Club du Circuit de Lédenon and the French Motorcycling Federation, nearly 200 riders came to defend their chances on a track as technical as it was spectacular. On this Saturday dedicated to qualifying, discover those who have already managed to pull off a masterclass.
SUPERBIKES
QUALIFICATIONS: FORAY PUT EVERYONE IN AGREEMENT
Among the drivers ready to battle it out in this second Q2 of the season, many were entered last weekend in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A race full of surprises and pitfalls, which even left some uncertainties regarding the presence of some of them. But ultimately, all are here, ready to do battle.
Under slightly milder conditions than in the morning, the drivers set off for 12 minutes of qualifying. In difficulty since the start of the weekend, Alan TECHER (Dafy-Rac41-Honda – Michelin) is trying to get on the right wheel: that of the reigning French champion, Kenny FORAY (Tecmas BMW Motorrad France – Michelin).
But the #1, in better shape than ever after his podium at Le Mans last weekend, quickly got everyone on the same page: even before the halfway mark, he took pole position with a time of 1'22"017. He was ahead of last year's poleman, Gregory LEBLANC (Ducati Team TWR – Pirelli), who had a time of 1'22"122. Martin RENAUDIN (Dafy-Rac41-Honda – Michelin) saved the day after a minor fall in the truck bend two minutes from the end. He held on to 3rd place with a time of 1'22"505.
On the second row, TECHER set the 4th time in 1'22”564. He is closely followed by the first Challenger rider, Killian AEBI (Junior Team LMS Suzuki – Pirelli), 5th in 1'22”985, and Dylan MILLE (Yamaha Team PMR – Pirelli), 6th in 1'22”824.
Back on his Yamaha, Mathieu GINES (Yamaha BMRT 3D Maxxess – Michelin) qualified 7th in 1'22”846, ahead of Hugo CLERE (Honda Tati Team AVA6 Racing – Pirelli), 8th in 1'22”923, and Loris CRESSON (Tecmas BMW Motorrad France – Michelin), 9th in 1'22”931. Enzo DE LA VEGA (Yamaha Team CMS – Pirelli) completed the top 10 with a time of 1'22”980.
On the Challenger side, we note the strong performance of AEBI, 5th. Tomorrow he will be able to count on DE LA VEGA, 10th, or on Ludovic CAUCHI (Junior Team LMS Suzuki – Pirelli), 11th in 1'22”988, who completes the Challenger top 3.
SUPERSPORT
QUALIFICATIONS: PERRIN FORMIDABLE
The SUPERSPORT class riders enjoyed optimal track conditions for their qualifying session. After leading the first half of the session, Diego PONCET (Martin Garage-Rac41-Honda 600 – Pirelli) was ultimately forced to give way to Bartholome PERRIN (Yamaha DMT Racing – Pirelli), who had been formidable since the start of the weekend. The latter took pole position with a time of 1:23, relegating the #618 and his 36:1 to 24nd place. Damien MARMION (Yamaha DMT Racing – Pirelli) completed the front row with a time of 232:2.
On the second row, Vincent FALCONE (Yamaha TFC Racing – Pirelli) sets the 4th time in 1'25”014, closely followed by the Mv Agusta of Kevin LONGEARET (Mv Agusta M2Sport Compétition – Dunlop), 5th, in 1'25”351. Challenger rider Cyprien BABY (Yamaha Team PMR – Pirelli), will start 6th thanks to his time of 1'25”475.
Championship leader Alexy NEGRIER (Triumph Team B2S – Michelin), ousted from the second row in the final seconds, will start from 7th position with a time of 1'25”482.
Quentin GODEFROY (Yamaha Storm Factory – Pirelli) in 1'25”490, and Killian ROSSIGNOL (Martin Garage-Rac41-Honda 600 – Pirelli) in 1'26”608 complete the top 3 Challengers with respectively 8th and 12th places overall.
YAMAHA CHALLENGE SSP 700
QUALIFYING: THE HOPEFUL DRIVERS ARE IN FRONT
The young riders in the Espoir category particularly distinguished themselves on the Gard rollercoaster. From the outset, Jules BERCOT (Yamaha FT Racing Academy – Michelin) set the pace and took pole position with a superb time of 1:28. He pushed Evann PLAINDOUX (Yamaha De La Vega Motorsport – Michelin) back more than a second, in 688nd, with a time of 2:1. Arthur MASSY (Yamaha C29M – Michelin) completed the front row with a best lap of 704:2.
On the second row, Gabin CAZARD (Yamaha Team CMS – Michelin) is sandwiched between these Espoir riders in 4th place with a time of 1'29”845. Tony GUERRERO (Yamaha Team PMR – Michelin) and Benjamin CAILLET (Yamaha – Michelin) will start from 5th and 6th position with respective times of 1'29”931 and 1'29”932.
GRAND PRIX OBJECTIVE BY MOTUL
QUALIFICATIONS: PRIMAULT CREATES A SURPRISE
Some young drivers who distinguished themselves in the first round at Le Mans are absent this weekend and for good reason, they are preparing for their debuts in European or world championships. So it is Jimmy PRIMAUT (Honda – Pirelli), who, for his first participation of the season in the OGP category, takes pole position with a time of 1'29”824! He makes a strong impression and is ahead of Nolann MACARY (Honda KF78 Académie – Pirelli), 2nd in 1'30”007, and Esteban NEIL (Honda Tati Team AVA6 Racing – Pirelli), 3rd in 1'30”148.
MOTO 4 – MOTO 5
QUALIFICATION: ENJOLRAS DOMINATES, MARTINEZ 10TH
The first qualifying series this Saturday was launched by the young riders of the MOTO 4 and MOTO 5 categories. From the first laps, Milan ENJOLRAS (Beon Tati Team AVA6 Racing – Pirelli) set his pace and took pole position in 1'38”552. He was ahead of his teammate Marceau MARGRIN (Erdog Tati Team AVA6 Racing – Pirelli), 2nd in 1'39”553. Jacques CARPENTIER (Beon TFC Racing – Pirelli) completed this first row with a time of 1'40”849.
On the second row, we find the MOTO 5 riders: Teddy BERTHELOT (MIR Team Berry Performance – Pirelli) sets the 4th time in 1'41”550. He is ahead of Dario BARALE (Mir – Pirelli), 5th in 1'43”900, and Juliann DE GOL (Erdog DMT Racing – Pirelli), 6th in 1'45”657.
A tough blow for the leader of the MOTO 4 championship, Léandre MARTINEZ (Beon BRS – Pirelli), forced to start last following a technical problem that occurred during his first timed lap.
RACE 1: MARTINEZ EVERYTHING WITH CONTROL
From the start of the race, two young drivers stood out: Milan ENJOLRAS (Beon Tati Team AVA6 Racing – Pirelli), who started on pole, and Léandre MARTINEZ (Beon BRS – Pirelli), 10th on the grid. Although ENJOLRAS took the lead on the first lap, MARTINEZ quickly found his rhythm and overtook him on the second lap, before building up a sufficient gap to no longer be troubled.
The #8 managed his effort perfectly, lap after lap, and won without batting an eyelid. Behind him, ENJOLRAS, penalized 10 seconds for a jumped start, still held on to second place, with his teammate Marceau MARGRIN (Erdog Tati Team AVA6 Racing – Pirelli) being relegated to more than 20 seconds.
In 4th place, we find Jacques CARPENTIER (Beon TFC Racing – Pirelli), the last representative of the MOTO 4 category, followed by Teddy BERTHELOT (MIR Team Berry Performance – Pirelli), 5th overall and winner in MOTO 5. Juliann DE GOL (Erdog DMT Racing – Pirelli) and Maël DE SMET (MIR De La Vega Motorsport – Pirelli) complete the podium in this category.
SIDE-CAR
RACE 1: THE PEUGEOT DUO'S EXPERIENCE MADE THE DIFFERENCE
After a first red flag, a second start was given for 12 laps. Thanks to a battle between the sidecars VINET / VINET (F600) and LUNEAU / CONCHONNET (F600), the sidecar that had taken pole position, PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT (F2), managed to open up a gap of 2 seconds on the first lap.
But the VINET / VINET (F600) duo does not intend to let victory slip away in sidecar #72. After getting rid of the LUNEAU / CONCHONNET (F600) tandem, they quickly found the rhythm to get back in the wheel of PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT (F2).
Ultimately, experience spoke. Following a second red flag, and with 75% of the race covered, race management decided to end hostilities. The PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT (F2) duo won ahead of VINET / VINET (F600), 2nd, while LUNEAU / CONCHONNET (F600) completed the podium.
ABOUT THE FRENCH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Nearly 200 riders, divided into 7 categories, which give rise to 14 races per weekend on 7 of the most beautiful circuits in France... That's what FSBK is all about! An intense and unpredictable competition where the rider and his machine defy the laws of physics at every turn, offering a captivating spectacle to fans of the discipline.
Under the aegis of the French Motorcycling Federation (FFM), the FSBK brings together the elite of speed in France.
CALENDAR
April 26-27 : Lédenon (30) – MC Lédenon
May 24-25 : Nogaro (32) – ASM Armagnac Bigorre
June 21-22 : Magny-Cours (58) – MC Nevers and Nièvre
12-14 July : Pau Arnos (64) – MC Pau Arnos
13-14 September : Ring of the Rhine (68) – MC Biltzheim
27-28 September : Le Vigeant (86) – VVM
