THE SUSPENSE IS IN FULL BEFORE THE LAST RACES
For the first Final of the French Superbike FSBK-FE Championship on the legendary Circuit Paul Ricard, the riders had to adapt to changing weather conditions. In a closing weekend organized by Circuit MC Paul Ricard and the FFM where four titles are still to be awarded, Valentin DEBISE and Kenny FORAY began the final clash during qualifying...
SUPERBIKES
TIMED TESTS: FORAY SETS THE TONE AND SETS POLE IN FRONT OF DEBISE
For the last qualifying sessions of the season, the premier category drivers set off on a drying track, but beautiful and clearly declared “wet”.
In this session where the favorites are slow to show up at the front, the young Dylan MILLE (Yamaha – Pirelli) has the luxury of provisionally taking pole position for his first participation in Superbike. The hope will be short-lived since Valentin DEBISE (Yamaha – Michelin) enters the track and sets the new reference time before being beaten by Kenny FORAY (BMW Tecmas – Michelin). The two rivals then begin the showdown long awaited by the fans.
At the end of the session, FORAY was supercharged, the n°78 set a series of records and took pole position in 1'25''632. Despite the attempts and an improvement in the last lap, DEBISE remains in second place in 1'25''713.
True to form, Alan TECHER (Honda CBO – Michelin) sets the 3rd time, 1'26''290, and completes the first row of the starting grid. Stuck outside the top 5 for a long time following a clutch problem, Martin RENAUDIN (Yamaha Moto&GP Addict – Pirelli) improved his mark on the last lap and will start from 4th place in 1'26''322. He thus relegates Mathieu GINES (Yamaha Tech Solutions – Michelin) to 5th place in 1'26''667. The second row of the starting grid is completed by Grégory LEBLANC (Ducati TWR – Pirelli) who covers his fastest lap in 1'26''927.
After a promising third free practice session, Tom BERCOT (Honda CBO – Michelin) confirmed by signing a good 7th place in 1'27''006. He will be accompanied on the third row by Axel MAURIN (Yamaha CMS – Pirelli), in 1'27''124, and Dylan MILLE, in 1'27''451. With a best lap covered in 1'27''792, David MUSCAT (Ducati – Michelin) completes the top10.
The three best Challengers are therefore Martin RENAUDIN, Tom BERCOT and Dylan MILLE. They are ahead of Maximilien BAU (BMW – Michelin), 11th overall in 1'27''827, having failed to improve his time obtained during his 4th attempt.
SUPERSPORT 600
TIMED TESTS: GIMBERT OUTCOMES THE COMPETITION
Valentin DEBISE (Yamaha – Michelin) already crowned champion, skips this stage, thus leaving the opportunity for his runner-up Matthieu GREGORIO (Yamaha – Pirelli) to confirm his second place in the general classification and for Johan GIMBERT (Yamaha – Pirelli ) to achieve his first success in the category.
Matthieu LUSSIANA (Yamaha – Michelin) quickly distinguished himself by achieving a lap in 1”34”075. After 10 minutes, Johan GIMBERT (Yamaha – Pirelli) managed to set a new reference time in 1”32”433 and outclassed Matthieu LUSSIANA by 1”274.
In the second part of the session, Johan GIMBERT, Felix PERON (Yamaha – Pirelli) and Diego PONCET (Kawasaki – Pirelli), compete for a place on the first row of the starting grid.
Finally, GIMBERT put all the chances on his side with a superb lap in 1'31''354, ensuring him pole position. He is well ahead of PERON, 2nd in 1”33”274, just ahead of PONCET who joins the front line in 1”33”343.
Small disappointment for GREGORIO who only ranks 4th in 1”33”369 ahead of LUSSIANA, 5th in 1”33”707. Great performance from Adrien ROLLET (Yamaha – Pirelli) who sets the 6th time: 1”34”034.
As is often the case, the Challengers stand out, there are six of them in the top 10. GIMBERT is therefore 1st ahead of PONCET and GREGORIO. Bartholomé PERRIN (Yamaha – Pirelli), in 1”34”596, Mateo PEDENEAU (Yamaha – Pirelli), in 1”34”667, and Gabin CAZARD (Yamaha – Pirelli), in 1’34”822, are ranked in this order from 7th to 9th place.
GRAND PRIZE OBJECTIVE
TIMED TESTS
PRE-MOTO 3: SANJUAN SURPRISES ROSTAGNI BACK IN FORM
Despite the persistence of the favorites throughout the session, Remy SANJUAN (Beon – Bridgestone) surprised by taking pole position in his final attempt with a fine 1'41''950. He is thus ahead of Matthias ROSTAGNI (Beon – Bridgestone), back in action after his injury and 2nd in the session in 1'42''052. The first row of the starting grid is completed by Quentin MANDINE (Beon – Bridgestone), in 1'42''557. Last driver below the symbolic bar of 1'43''000, Henri MIGNOT (Beon – Bridgestone) qualified in 4th position in 1'42''741.
In difficulty on a wet track, Championship leader Célestin MASY (Beon – Bridgestone) will only start in 7th position in race 1 with a time of 1'44''617.
TIMED TESTS
NSF 250: BOXBERGER CONTINUES ITS MOMENTUM
Unsurprisingly, the favorites Benjamin CAILLET (Honda – Bridgestone) and Jules BERCOT (Honda – Bridgestone) dominated the first part of the session. But Evan BOXBERGER (Honda – Bridgestone) is on good momentum and proves it once again. On his 12th lap, the driver of machine no. 33 clocked a fine 1'40''868, synonymous with pole position, making him the only driver below the 1'41''000 mark. 2nd in 1”41”266, BERCOT then ahead of his rival CAILLET, 3rd in 1”41”774.
On an excellent series of four podiums including two victories, Elliot KASSIGIAN (Honda – Bridgestone) will start from 4th position in 1”42”081, he who is still in the running for the title against Benjamin CAILLET and Jules BERCOT.
SUPERSPORT 300
TIMED TESTS: DA COSTA CONTINUES WITH POLE POSITION
On a very wet and tricky track, the French Champion Enzo DAHMANI (Yamaha – Pirelli) and Justine PEDEMONTE (Yamaha – Pirelli) dominated the start of qualifying before Oreste BAZE (Kawasaki – Pirelli) placed his name at the top of the sheet times in 1'47''655. The rider of the #177 Kawasaki was finally relegated to second place by David COSTA (Yamaha – Pirelli) who took pole position in 1'47''378. The driver coached by Baptiste GUITTET is ideally launching his weekend, he who aims to enter the top 3 of the general classification. The risks taken by Justine PEDEMONTE paid off as the young driver improved in her last lap and took the first row of the starting grid in 1'48''100.
On the second row, the public will find the big names Louca FRIEH (Yamaha – Pirelli), 4th in 1'48''262, Enzo DAHMANI, 5th in 1'48''317, and Dorian JOULIN (Yamaha – Pirelli), 6th in 1'48''483.
The best Challenger is Théo DAVID (Kawasaki – Pirelli) and ranks 11th overall in 1'49''696. He is ahead of his competitors Théo TAUVERON (Yamaha – Pirelli), 13th in 1’49”875, and Valentin ROEDEL (Kawasaki – Pirelli), 17th in 1’51”681.
Please note, many of the drivers were cut off from their efforts as the session was stopped 3 minutes from the end due to a red flag.
SIDECAR
RACE 1: PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT OUTCOMES PERILLAT / KOTCHAN
The PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT polesitter misses his start and is relegated to 3rd position at the end of the 1st lap. WYLSEM / SALMON and PERILLAT / KOTCHAN took advantage of this and took the first two ranks. Further on, crew n°99 LE BAIL / LEVEAU who started 5th also missed their takeoff and fell back to 9th place.
After two laps, PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT already takes the lead and escapes. A great battle for 2nd place then looms between crews no. 52 and no. 41.
At mid-race, WYLSEM / SALMON and PERILLAT / KOTCHAN are still fighting for 2nd position while VINET / VINET has to abandon. Starting 9th and 10th, PALACOEUR / CESCUTTI and BOUCHER / BOUCHER come back lap after lap and are preparing to battle for 4th place.
At the checkered flag, PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT outclassed the competition with 27 seconds ahead of PERILLAT / KOTCHAN who fought to the end for second place against WYSSEN / SALMON, 3rd. BOUCHER / BOUCHER crosses the line in 4th place after having achieved a good performance by moving up six positions. A comeback completed by overtaking 3 laps from the finish of PALACOEUR / CESCUTTI, 5th.
The latter won the F2 category ahead of the ERAGNE / CESCUTTI and MOREL / DARRAS crews, 10th and 11th overall.
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