The 4th round of the French Superbike Championship (FSBK) took up residence on the legendary Nevers Magny-Cours circuit, in Nièvre. Organized by the Moto Club of Nevers and Nièvre, with the support of the French Motorcycling Federation, the event brought together nearly 200 riders, facing extreme conditions: blazing sun and track temperatures approaching 62 degrees. This unmissable event also attracted several riders competing in the Superbike World Championship and Endurance, who came to rub shoulders with the French elite. Find out who stood out in this Nièvre furnace.
SUPERBIKES
QUALIFICATIONS: A NEW POLE FOR FORAY
The Superbike class riders set off for 12 minutes of qualifying under blazing sunshine, with track temperatures reaching 62 degrees. On the first flying lap, Alan TECHER (Dafy-Rac41-Honda – Michelin) seems confident and provisionally takes pole ahead of Enzo DE LA VEGA (Yamaha Team CMS – Pirelli). Kenny FORAY (Tecmas BMW Motorrad France – Michelin), the reigning French champion, climbed to 3rd place.
Halfway through the session, DE LA VEGA found an opening and took the lead. But in the final minutes, FORAY struck hard: he clocked a time of 1:38, the only driver to go under the 845:1 mark, and took pole position. DE LA VEGA, a driver competing in the Challenger category, once again confirmed his excellent momentum and set the second fastest time of 39:2. TECHER completed the front row with a time of 1:39.
On the second row, Hugo CLERE (Honda Tati Team AVA6 Racing – Pirelli) clocked a solid 1'39″658. He finished ahead of Mathieu GINES (Yamaha Team Relou – Michelin), 5th in 1'39″693, and the poleman's teammate, Loris CRESSON (Tecmas BMW Motorrad France – Michelin), 6th in 1'39″993.
Grégory LEBLANC (Ducati Team TWR – Pirelli), who struggled a bit more this weekend, limited the damage with a 7th position, in 1'40″128. He is ahead of Joseph FORAY (BMW Team MDS – Pirelli), 2nd Challenger and 8th overall in 1'40″235. Ludovic RIZZA (Honda Team EMC Développement – Michelin) sets the 9th time in 1'40″263, ahead of Alexandre SANTO DOMINGUES (Yamaha Team EMC Développement – Pirelli), 10th in 1'40″623.
In the Challenger category, we find DE LA VEGA and his fine 2nd place. He is followed by Joseph FORAY, 8th, and Killian AEBI (Junior Team LMS Suzuki – Pirelli), 12th with a time of 1'40″822.
SUPERSPORT
QUALIFICATIONS: PEROLARI ON ANOTHER PLANET
Corentin PEROLARI (Honda – Pirelli), entered this weekend as a wild card, confirmed his form seen during testing. In his first laps, he clocked an impressive 1:40, a time that secured him a resounding pole position. He was more than 205 seconds behind his World Championship teammate, Ana CARRASCO (Honda – Pirelli), who finished 1,5nd in 2:1. Piotr BIESIEKIRSKI (MV Agusta – Pirelli), also a World Championship rider, completed the front row with a time of 41:775.
Behind them are the three riders leading the provisional standings. Bartholomé PERRIN (Yamaha DMT Racing – Pirelli) clocked the 4th fastest time in 1'42″864. He was ahead of Alexy NEGRIER (Triumph Team B2S – Michelin), the current championship leader, in 5th place in 1'43″224. Just behind, Diego PONCET (Martin Garage-Rac41-Honda 600 – Pirelli) took 6th place with a time of 1'43″454.
In the Challenger category, Killian ROSSIGNOL (Martin Garage-Rac41-Honda 600 – Pirelli) finished 11th overall with a time of 1'44″466. He finished ahead of Quentin GODEFROY (Yamaha Storm Factory – Pirelli), 13th, with a time of 1'44”571, and Cyprien BABY (Yamaha Team PMR – Pirelli), 14th overall with a time of 1'44″645, who completed the top 3 in the category.
YAMAHA CHALLENGE SSP 700
QUALIFICATIONS: CAZARD TAME THE HEAT
The Yamaha Challenge 700 riders had to contend with a very hot track during this qualifying session. From the opening minutes, Noa SOURDON (Yamaha FT Racing Academy – Michelin) set an impressive time, temporarily taking the lead.
But halfway through the session, it was Gabin CAZARD (Yamaha – Michelin) who struck hard and took pole position with a time of 1'51″254. SOURDON still took a solid 2nd place on the grid in 1'51″594, ahead of Jules BERCOT (Yamaha FT Racing Academy – Michelin), 3rd in 1'52″000.
The second row is led by Benjamin CAILLET (Yamaha – Michelin), who set a time of 1'52″175. He is ahead of Arthur MASSY (Yamaha C2M – Michelin), 5th in 1'52″222, and Evann PLAINDOUX (Yamaha De La Vega Motorsport – Michelin), 6th with a time of 1'53″080.
GRAND PRIX OBJECTIVE BY MOTUL
QUALIFICATIONS: NATIVI ON POLE
This weekend, the category welcomes numerous riders preparing for the FIM JuniorGP round, which will be held next month on the same circuit. Three of them are among the top four in this qualifying session.
Antoine NATIVI (Honda – Pirelli) took pole position with a time of 1:51. He finished ahead of Evan BOXBERGER (Honda – Pirelli), who finished 205nd in 2:1. Gabriel PIO (Honda BRS – Pirelli) managed to slot in between these world championship riders, in 51rd place thanks to a superb 784:3 set on his final lap. Matthias ROSTAGNI (Honda – Pirelli) completed the leading quartet with a time of 1:52.
Behind, Nolann MACARY (Honda KF78 Académie – Pirelli) took 5th place in 1'52″239, while Esteban NEIL (Honda Tati Team AVA6 Racing – Pirelli) closed the top 6 with a lap in 1'53″203.
MOTO 4 – MOTO 5
QUALIFICATION: MARTINEZ TO A DIFFERENT RHYTHM
Léandre MARTINEZ (Beon BRS – Pirelli) struck hard, posting an impressive 2:02 in the opening minutes of the qualifying session. An unbeatable time, which logically earned him pole position, as no other driver had managed to come close.
Behind him, Milan ENJOLRAS (Beon Tati Team AVA6 Racing – Pirelli) took second place with a time of 2:04″491. Marceau MARGRIN (Erdog Tati Team AVA6 Racing – Pirelli) completed the top 3 in the Moto 4 category with a time of 2:05″016, while Jacques CARPENTIER (Beon 2VS Racing Team – Pirelli) started 4th with a time of 2:07″549.
In Moto 5, Juliann DE GOL (Erdog DMT Racing – Pirelli) set the fastest time in his class at 2:13, which placed him 439th overall. He finished ahead of his teammate Maho ROBIC (Erdog DMT Racing – Pirelli), 5th at 6:2 and Fabio CORREIA (TVX – Pirelli), 13th with a time of 668:7.
RACE 1: MARTINEZ GOES ALONE
Polesitter Léandre MARTINEZ (Beon BRS – Pirelli) got off to a great start, immediately setting a fast pace. Behind him, Milan ENJOLRAS (Beon Tati Team AVA6 Racing – Pirelli) and Marceau MARGRIN (Erdog Tati Team AVA6 Racing – Pirelli), battling for 2nd place, struggled to keep up. Jacques CARPENTIER (Beon 2VS Racing Team – Pirelli), in 4th place, slightly behind, remained in ambush.
At the checkered flag, MARTINEZ won unchallenged, with a lead of more than 18 seconds over ENJOLRAS, 2nd. MARGRIN completed the podium, while CARPENTIER secured 4th place in this MOTO 4 category.
In the MOTO 5 category, the suspense remained strong until the final lap. Juliann DE GOL (Erdog DMT Racing – Pirelli) managed to make the difference in the final sector, getting the better of his teammate Maho ROBIC (Erdog DMT Racing – Pirelli), 2nd. Fabio CORREIA (TVX – Pirelli) completed the podium in this category.
SIDE-CAR
RACE 1: PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT IN CONTROL
Excellent start for poleman PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT (F2), who maintains the advantage on the first lap. From the first crossing of the line, the crew widens the gap, boasting more than a second ahead of VITTOZ / DETURCHE (F600), 2nd, and VINET / VINET (F600), 3rd, who are waiting in ambush.
Very quickly, VITTOZ / DETURCHE and VINET / VINET found their rhythm and came back into contact with the leading sidecar. But it was LUNEAU / ENJALBERT (F600), who set the fastest lap in the race, who rekindled the fight for victory. The rest of the field was already more than three seconds back at the end of the third lap: the fight for victory seemed to be between these four crews.
On the 5th lap, VINET / VINET, then 3rd, managed to overtake VITTOZ / DETURCHE and took 2nd place, then setting off in pursuit of the leading sidecar.
But at the checkered flag, it was experience that made the difference: PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT (F2) won with a lead of more than 4,5 seconds over LUNEAU / ENJALBERT (F600), 2nd. VINET / MARSAL (F600) completed the podium.
A hard blow, however, for the VINET / VINET (F600) and VITTOZ / DETURCHE (F600) crews, forced to retire on the last lap.
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
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
FSBK Magny-Cours qualifications FSBK Magny-Cours qualifications FSBK Magny-Cours qualifications FSBK Magny-Cours qualifications
