An organization perfectly mastered by the MC Nevers and Nièvre, under the control of the FFM, allowed the drivers of the French Superbike Championship to measure themselves against each other on the Nevers Magny-Cours Circuit (58). Although the asphalt was hot, the summer conditions offered very promising timed tests for the Sunday races and movement among the headliners.
SUPERBIKES
TIMED TESTS 1: FORAY FINDS THE WAY TO POLE
From the first laps, the premier category drivers get into the rhythm and drop the times. After only 5 minutes of practice, Morgan BERCHET (Yamaha) confirmed his good free practice sessions the day before and put his name at the top of the timesheet in 1'39''970. First time of the weekend below the 1'40'' mark, that promises for the future!
Just before mid-session, Kenny FORAY (BMW Tecmas) also went under 1'40'' in 1'39''849 and took his first pole of the year ahead of BERCHET. The rider of the Yamaha no. 63 did not improve during the remaining 35 minutes and kept the second time.
For the first time this season, Jérémy GUARNONI (Kawasaki Tech Solutions) fails to take pole but only 3th time in 1'40''109. In a good rhythm, the local of the stage, Axel MAURIN (Yamaha), takes 4th time in 1'40''873.
Surprise guest, Mathieu GINES (Kawasaki) took advantage of his “Wild-Card” to enter the top 5 in 1'41''162 just ahead of Erwan NIGON (Honda), who set a time of 1'41''208.
On the Superbike Challenger side, the fight is fierce between Maxime BONNOT (BMW Tecmas), Gabriel PONS (Kawasaki TTS) and Hugo CLERE (Suzuki LMS). It was ultimately the first city to take the best time in 1'42''089 ahead of PONS, 1'42''394, and CLERE, 1'42''511.
TIMED TESTS 2: FORAY SMILE AT MAGNY-COURS
The reference time, 1'40''973, is directly recorded by Axel MAURIN (Yamaha) and his number 89 at the very start of the session. After a rather calm exit from the pits, Morgan BERCHET (Yamaha) got the ball rolling after 20 minutes of practice and set a time of 1'40''409. Kenny FORAY (BMW Tecmas) then takes control in 1'40''127. A time which will no longer be improved and which allows “Kenny” to sign his second pole in a row ahead of BERCHET.
The Superbike favorites are disturbed by the arrival of Christophe PONSSON (Yamaha), the distinguished rider of the Spanish scene achieves a superb 1'40''916 but he is taken by surprise in the very last lap by Jérémy GUARNONI ( Kawasaki Tech Solutions). The rider of the #111 Kawasaki consoles himself with the last place on the front row in 1'40''385! PONSSON and MAURIN rank respectively 4th and 5th.
The representative of the Italian brand, David MUSCAT (Ducati), takes advantage of his experience and finishes the session in 6th position with a time of 1'41''522 just ahead of Mathieu GINES (Kawasaki) in 1'41''709 and Sébastien SUCHET (Kawasaki) in 1'41''762.
In Superbike Challenger, Maxime BONNOT (BMW Tecmas), 1'42''104, continues to dominate with a few hundredths ahead of Valentin SUCHET (Kawasaki) who creates a surprise in 1'42'157. Hugo CLERE (Suzuki LMS) consolidates 3th time in 1'42''393 ahead of Gabriel PONS (Kawasaki TTS) in 1'42''569.
SUPERSPORT – PIRELLI 600 TROPHY
TIMED TESTS 1: QUERO TAKES ADVANTAGE OF ITS WILD-CARD
Halfway through the session, two riders stand out and ride in 1'44'': the guest Borja QUERO (Yamaha) and Guillaume POT (Yamaha). The Spaniard, who has already proven himself in Nogaro, set the best time in 1'44''454. Riding his Yamaha n°69, POT took advantage of his good form and stood out in 1'44''950.
A few minutes later, Guillaume RAYMOND (Yamaha) joins the restricted group of riders below the 1'45'' mark by recording a 1'44''755. The 3 men let the last minutes of the session slip away without improving. The first row of the starting grid will therefore be composed in the order of QUERO, RAYMOND and POT.
In the vein of his good results on Gard soil, Maximilien BAU (Yamaha) confirms and signs the 4th time in 1''45''520 just ahead of Loïc ARBEL (Yamaha) who completes the top 5 in 1''45''299. Louis BULLE (Yamaha) finishes 6th in 1'45''319.
Where has the leader of the provisional ranking gone? In a final effort, Enzo BOULOM (Yamaha) cannot do better than 7th in 1'45''579.
In the Pirelli 600 Trophy, Gaëtan MATERN (Kawasaki) set the best time in 1'45''833, an indisputable performance against Dylan MILLE (Yamaha), 1'47''405, and Joris INGIULLA (Yamaha), 1 '47''645.
TIMED TESTS 2: RAYMOND TAKES THE ADVANTAGE OVER QUERO
Placing the cursor below the 1'45'' mark seems more complicated in the afternoon! Hypothesis confirmed since in the end, only Guillaume RAYMOND (Yamaha) and Borja QUERO (Yamaha) succeed. The fight is intense for pole but it is ultimately RAYMOND who comes out best with a time of 1'44''467. Borja QUERO (Yamaha) finished second in 1'44''554.
With experience, Louis BULLE (Yamaha) steals third place on the starting grid from Enzo BOULOM (Yamaha) with a time of 1'45''322 against a 1'45''515 for the leader of the provisional classification. For his part, Guillaume ANTIGA (Yamaha) corrects the situation compared to the morning session and climbs to 5thrank with a time of 1'45''518.
The duel for 6th Position could not be tighter between Maximilien BAU (Yamaha) and Loïc ARBEL (Yamaha). The balance finally tilted in favor of BAU in 1'45''646 for just one thousandth ahead of ARBEL, 1'45''647.
In the Pirelli 600 Trophy, Gaëtan MATERN is once again the fastest on his Kawasaki, he sets a time of 1'46''751 just ahead of Joris INGIULLA (Yamaha), 1'47''236. With a time of 1'47''879, Dylan MILLE (Yamaha) completes the top 3.
GRAND PRIX OBJECTIVE – PRE MOTO3
TIMED TESTING 1: FIRST POLE FOR LAPIERRE
On the long and fast Nevers Magny-Cours circuit, the gaps are felt by the young OGP experts. The leader of the provisional classification, Marceau LAPIERRE (Yamaha Beon), did well at the end of the session and took pole position in 1'55''965. More than half a second behind, his runner-up Bartholomé PERRIN (Moriwaki) sets a time of 1'56''564.
Guillaume JUCHA (Moriwaki) returns to the forefront after 2 events without a single point and completes the first row in 1'57''443. Alexis BOUDIN (Yamaha Beon) takes the 4thth time in 1'57''986 ahead of Lorentz LUCIANO (Yamaha Beon), 1'58''656, and Line VIEILLARD (Yamaha), 1'59''633.
TIMED TESTS 2: PERRIN ON THE WIRE
In OGP, Bartholomé PERRIN (Moriwaki) sets off with enthusiasm and continues his effort until the last lap to take pole at the checkered flag in 1'56''051. After dominating almost the entire session, Marceau LAPIERRE (Yamaha Beon) had to settle for second position with a time of 1'56''220.
Guillaume JUCHA (Moriwaki), confirms good dynamics and careful piloting synonymous with 3th place on the starting line in 1'57''438.
Alexis BOUDIN, for his part, is not used to places of honor! 4th in 1'57''977, the rider of the No. 6 Yamaha Beon will have to react tomorrow in the race. The top 5 is completed by the female in the category, Line VIEILLARD (Yamaha), who continues her good performances with a time of 1'58''163.
SIDECAR
RACE 1: DELANNOY / ROUSSEAU POORLY BOARDED BUT FIRST TO FINISH
Replacing Kevin ROUSSEAU during the weekend, Emmanuelle CLEMENT boarded Sébastien DELANNOY's Side and their flight was completely missed! At the end of the first round, Side No. 1 is “only” 5th but DELANNOY / CLEMENT does not give up and manages to return to second place at the start of 4th round. At the start of the race, the VINET / VINET crew took the opportunity to take the lead.
Still as fast with its 600cc, LE BAIL / LEVEAU is then 3th but lacks the power to hold on to the leaders. Behind, the 4th place is disputed, the crews MARZELLE / LAVIDALIE, MULHEIM / ARIFON, BENIGNO / BOUCHARD and GALLERNE / CHAIGNEAU are literally wheel in wheel.
Halfway through the race, the MARZELLE / LAVIDALIE pair was forced to stop the proceedings following a mechanical problem. It is then the turn of MULHEIM / ARIFON to return to the pits.
At the head of the race, VINET / VINET faces DELANNOY / CLEMENT, the two sides engage in a superb “mano a mano”. In the end, the father and son VINET suffered the wrath of the reigning Champion who found the opening 3 laps from the finish and flew towards new success. LE BAIL / LEVEAU completes the final podium without ever having been worried. BENIGNO / BOUCHARD and GALLERNE / CHAIGNEAU take advantage of the setbacks of their competitors to rank 4 respectivelyth and 5th.
Among the 600cc, LE BAIL / LEVEAU was untouchable! LEGUEN / GAULARD takes the second step of the podium after containing the attacks of SIRO / SIRO.
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CALENDAR 2018
30/06–01/07 – MAGNY-COURS (58) – MC Nevers and Nièvre
14–15/07 – PAU ARNOS (64) – MC Pau Arnos
25–26/08 – CAROLE (93) – MC Motors Events
22–23/09 – ALBI (81) – MCC Albi
