The time for the final clash has come for the drivers of the 2023 French Superbike Championship. The Moto Club du Circuit Paul Ricard and the French Motorcycling Federation are hosting the 7th and final stage of the season. Today we attended the final qualifying sessions, which are particularly important, as many categories have yet to crown their 2023 champion. Find out who will start from pole position at the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet.
SUPERBIKES
TIMED TESTS: FORAY TAKES AN OPTION
A red flag stops the session just 2 minutes after it started. The Hondas quickly caused a sensation but returned to the box.
When the race resumes, the riders accustomed to the superbike category are at the forefront. Led by Grégory LEBLANC (DUCATI TWR – Pirelli), particularly incisive, as is David MUSCAT (Ducati – Michelin). Championship leader Kenny FORAY (BMW TECMAS – Michelin) gradually improves and uses his experience to climb to 3rd position. Note Jérémy GUARNONI (Team
At mid-session the first provisional line is composed in the order of TECHER, DI MEGLIO, and FORAY on the attack. Who, driver #36 or #1, will come out on top in the fight for the title?
In the second row we find from 4th to 6th position GUARNONI, LEBLANC and Mathieu GINES (Team 41 Performance Yamaha Supported – Michelin). The latter is back after his heavy fall in Pau during the 5th stage. A distinguished guest causes a sensation in 7th position. It's Naomichi URAMOTO (Honda – Pirelli), Japanese driver usually entered in ESBK (Spanish Championship). The first challenger is currently 8th. This is Corentin PEROLARI (Yamaha – Pirelli).
The first two rows are particularly battled as the end of the session approaches and the provisional positions of the starting grid continue to evolve.
At the checkered flag, it was Kenny FORAY who finally took pole position thanks to a best time of 1'24'513. A very good omen for his final championship battle. Second, Alan TECHER comes between the two contenders with a best lap achieved in 1'24'527. He is ahead of his teammate Mike DI MEGLIO, 3rd, with a time of 1'24'697. The second row will be led by Jérémy GUARNONI, who only needed very few laps to take 4th place in 1'24'895. Behind him, Mathieu GINES, 5th in 1'25'171 and Gregory LEBLANC, 6th with his best lap in 1'25'231.
Among the challengers, it is once again Corentin PEROLARI (Yamaha – Pirelli), 8th overall, who is ahead of the others in 1'25'235. Behind him, Dylan MILLE (Yamaha – Pirelli) is 10th overall in 1'25'947, despite a slight fall and ahead of Yvan LAETZIG (Yamaha – Pirelli), in another pace in 1'26'647.
SUPERSPORT 600
TIMED TESTS: GIMBERT TO FINISH BEAUTIFULLY
The title favorites only leave their box after 10 minutes in this qualifying session. It is also the driver of machine #23, Loic ARBEL (Yamaha – Pirelli) who takes control of the session with a first best lap in 1'28'728. He was quickly joined by Matthieu LUSSIANA (Yamaha – Pirelli), Matthieu GREGORIO (Yamaha – Pirelli) and Enzo DE LA VEGA, strong men in the category. Johan GIMBERT (Yamaha – Pirelli) takes more preparation time before starting his fast laps. Once launched, the championship leader caused a sensation by temporarily taking pole in his first fast lap with a time of 1'25'165.
With less than 5 minutes to go, the first 5 positions are monopolized by the strong men of this ssp 600 category. In order, GIMBERT, LUSSIANA, DE LA VEGA, GREGORIO, ARBEL and the first of the challengers Vincent FALCONE (Yamaha – Pirelli) occupy the first two rows of the grid.
At the end of his 25 minutes of qualifying session, no changes. It is Johan GIMBERT who will start from pole position thanks to his best time of 1'27'165. He is ahead of the 1'27'544 of Matthieu LUSSIANA, in difficulty during the last races but who comes back strong then Enzo DE LA VEGA and his lap in 1'27'680. Matthieu GREGORIO will start from 4th position thanks to a time of 1'28'376, Loïc ARBEL is 5th in 1'28'662. The second row is completed by Vincent FALCONE, 6th in 1'28'674.
GRAND PRIZE OBJECTIVE
TIMED TESTS
PRE-MOTO 3: MIGNOT AHEAD OF DA COSTA
New duel between the two contenders for the Team BRS title. Henri MIGNOT (BEON – Bridgestone) and David DA COSTA (BEON – Bridgestone) immediately stood out by placing themselves at the top of the timesheet, DA COSTA in the lead. Note, Enzo DUPUIS (BEON – Bridgestone), provisionally 3rd, is not left behind since he remains under a minute difference with the leading men.
A red flag 2 minutes from the end stops the session. At the finish, no surprise, it was MIGNOT who took pole position in 1'36'349. He is just ahead of David DA COSTA and his best lap in 1'36'635. The first row is completed by Enzo DEPUIS, further behind with his best lap in 1'37'293.
TIMED TESTS
NSF 250: AHRENKIEL – FRELLSEN CREATES THE SURPRISE
The 2022 reigning champion Jules BERCOT (Honda – Bridgestone) is back in action for this final weekend. The driver of the Honda #1 quickly leads the debates at the start of the session. He is ahead of the new champion, titled in Carole at the end of August, Evan BOXBERGER (Honda – Bridgestone). A guest also rises to the top of the timesheet. This is Julius AHRENKIEL – FRELLSEN (Honda – Bridgestone), Danish driver, currently 3rd on the grid but seems capable of doing better.
At mid-session, BERCOT is still in front but AHRENKIEL – FRELLSEN pushes his machine to create a sensation here on the Circuit Paul Ricard. Further on, BOXBERGER and Swan EMPRIN (Honda – Bridgestone) battle for the last place on the front row.
A red flag disrupts the session and stops the debates. Successful debut for AHRENKIEL – FRELLSEN in FSBK since he will start from pole position for the two races of the weekend thanks to a time of 1'36'775. He is ahead of the solid Jules BERCOT, second in 1'36'780 and the champion Evan BOXEBERGER, below his usual performance with a 3rd time of 1'37'141.
SUPERSPORT 300
TIMED TESTS: PEDEMONTE CHAINS THE POLES
Another particularly shared category, the ssp 300 and its favorites for the title are quickly coming to the fore. Starting with Justine PEDEMONTE (Yamaha – Pirelli), 3rd in the provisional championship and in the running for the final coronation. She was the first to put her name at the top of the timesheet in 1'40'743. She is quickly joined by Kilian ROSSIGNOL (Kawasaki – Pirelli) who seems very fast in the second sector. Oreste Baze (Kawasaki – Pirelli), Ryan CHAUVEAU (Kawasaki – Pirelli) and Enzo SIRE (Yamaha – Pirelli) also stand out and challenge the much desired position.
Mid-session ROSSIGNOL temporarily steals the pole but ROSSIGNOL and PEDEMONTE start again at full throttle and each improve their sectors. The fight for the final pole is well underway!
Finally it was Justine PEDEMONTE who in her very last lap took pole. The young driver #125 achieves a best lap in 1'39'055 and takes an advantage for the title. She precedes Cyprien BABY and his best lap 1'39'445 and Arthur MARCHAL (Kawasaki – Pirelli) completes the first row with a time of 1'40'205. In 4th position, we will find D'Jefferson DELBOSC (Kawasaki – Pirelli) and his time of 1'40'272 as well as Kilian ROSSIGNOL, only 5th at the end of this session, in 1'40'464. Another strong man in the category, Ryan CHAUVEAU is 6th on the grid with a time of 1'40'662.
MOTO 4 / MOTO 5
RACE 1: PIO ON THE WIRE
Poleman Gabriel PIO (BEON – Bridgestone) got the best start and was ahead of Mattéo BERGER (BEON – Bridgestone) by 0'572 at the end of the first lap. Florian FRANÇOIS (BEON – Bridgestone), 3rd, is further behind and in battle with Ethan DUFOSSE CERNEAU (Moto 4), 4th. The top 5 is currently completed by Mathis FERNANDES (BEON – Bridgestone).
The two young drivers escape and go it alone more than 10 seconds ahead of the other competitors. Matheo BERGER, second, is incisive and approaches the lead man lap after lap. In 3rd position, Florian FRANÇOIS is gradually breaking away from Ethan DUFOSSE CERNEAU, 4th. Mathis FERNANDES, 5th, is neck and neck with Soan LACHIEZE (BEON – Bridgestone), 6th.
At the finish, PIO finally won narrowly, only 0'075 behind Matteo BERGER, second who gave everything until crossing the line. The podium is completed by Florian FRANÇOIS more than 18 seconds behind the winner.
In Moto 5, Adam TROJANOWSKI (Erdog – Bridgestone) won ahead of Teddy BERTHELOT (Mir – Bridgestone), 2nd and Romeo MONEYRON (Fulgur – Bridgestone), 3rd.
SIDECAR
RACE 1: PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT SACRED CHAMPION
From pole position, PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT (F600) took off perfectly and widened the gap with WYSSEN / SALMON (F600) at the end of the first lap. 1rd, VINET / MARSAL (F3) fails to keep up with the pace of its predecessors and already finds itself relegated to more than 600 seconds. Their counterparts from side #15, this time VINET / PIRAT is 17th but fighting with their predecessor. The first side of the F4 category is once again that of PALACOEUR / CESCUTTI (F2), 2th.
As the laps go by, the gaps widen. PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT flies away more than 3 seconds ahead of its favorite opponent, WYSSEN / SALMON, second. The two leading sides now distance their first pursuer by more than 30 seconds at the halfway mark. A small group is made up of VINET / PIRAT, 3rd, PALACOEUR / CESCUTTI, 4th, VINET / MARSAL, 5th, and FRETAY / FENOY CASAS, 6th. These 4 crews are still fighting for a place on the podium.
At the finish, PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT wins this first race of the weekend hands down and becomes 2023 French Champion in the F600 category! They are ahead of WYSSEN / SALMON, second and VINET / MARSAL, 3rd, complete the podium. In the short chassis, PALACOEUR / CESCUTTI wins, 4th overall ahead of BERGEON L. / COLOMBIN F, second and JACQUEMOZ / ENJALBERT, 3rd.
FOLLOW THE 2023 FRENCH SUPERBIKE FSBK-FE 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.
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CALENDAR 2023
September 29 – October 1 – Circuit Paul Ricard (30) – MC of Circuit Paul Ricard
