This weekend of June 30 – July 1, the 4th stage of the French Superbike Championship, organized by the Moto Club Nevers de la Nièvre under the aegis of the FFM, was not easy for the elite of French speed. The oppressive heat put a strain on mechanics and drivers! Coincidence of life or key factor: the forces present have been rebalanced…
SUPERBIKES
RACE 1: FORAY IS BACK
When the lights went out, Kenny FORAY (BMW Tecmas) was the most responsive from pole position. He retains the lead when turning into the big curve in the company of his best enemy Jérémy GUARNONI (Kawasaki Tech Solutions) and challenger Morgan BERCHET (Yamaha).
The leading trio is several seconds behind Axel MAURIN (Yamaha). Despite the fervor of its home crowd, the stage locals cannot keep up with the pace. Christophe PONSSON (Yamaha), Sébastien SUCHET (Kawasaki), Erwan NIGON (Honda), Mathieu GINES (Kawasaki) and Camille HEDELIN (BMW) are in ambush. The hierarchy is shifting within the group, no one is really able to make the difference.
A few laps are enough for FORAY and GUARNONI to break away from BERCHET who loses the thread and becomes a spectator of the duel. “Kenny” confided that he was almost “at home” at Magny-Cours and this is confirmed. The #1 BMW takes off against the #111 Kawasaki which is unable to react. FORAY manages his end of the race and the 3 men take the checkered flag in the same order.
Behind, the scenario is more complicated. NIGON stalls and falls in the provisional ranking while MAURIN is forced to pit just before starting the last lap. Christophe PONSSON brings HEDELIN, SUCHET and GINES on his wheel. At the end of the race, PONSSON confirms his 4rd place but HEDELIN cracks under the pressure of SUCHET and GINES who respectively seize the 5rd and 6rd squares.
In Superbike Challenger, Maxime BONNOT (BMW Tecmas) battled with Hugo CLERE and won his duel against the Suzuki LMS rider. Gabriel PONS (Kawasaki TTS) completes the category podium after getting the better of Valentin SUCHET (Kawasaki).
RACE 2: “IN EXTREMIS” DOUBLE FOR FORAY
Bad operation for the reigning French Champion, Kenny FORAY (BMW Tecmas), who misses his takeoff and finds himself 3rd behind Morgan BERCHET (Yamaha) and Jérémy GUARNONI (Kawasaki Tech Solutions). The pleasure is short-lived for the Yamaha n°63 stopped in sector 2: BERCHET makes a mistake.
Behind FORAY, it is the distinguished rider of the Spanish field, Christophe PONSSON (Yamaha) who places 3rd ahead of Axel MAURIN (Yamaha), Sébastien SUCHET (Kawasaki), David MUSCAT (Ducati) and Mathieu GINES (Kawasaki).
No one is able to set the frantic pace of GUARNONI and FORAY, the two men prance in the lead but FORAY is quick, gaining tenths on each lap to remedy his poor exit from the grid. The #1 BMW brakes at the “Adelaïde” corner on the #111 Kawasaki at 8rdturn but GUARNONI responds and regains leadership. The 2 men go blow for blow and thrill the audience... FORAY finally has the last word and scores his first double of the season!
Christophe PONSSON manages his solo race in 3rd position and confirms his podium at the checkered flag. Axel MAURIN, for his part, was not unworthy but finished at the foot of the podium to the great regret of the Nivernais supporters. Despite a good start to the race, SUCHET falls back to 9rd rank and lets GINES enter the top 5 to the detriment of MUSCAT, 6rd.
In Superbike Challenger, group shot of the 3 strong men in the category. Maxime BONNOT (BMW Tecmas) emerged as the fastest and finished more than 4 seconds ahead of Hugo CLERE (Suzuki LMS) who found his way back to the podium. Gabriel PONS (Kawasaki TTS) completes the top 3 after a convincing race.
In the provisional ranking, Jérémy GUARNONI (196 points) remains in the lead but Kenny FORAY (179 points) is slowly but surely returning to contact. Far behind, Sébastien SUCHET (89 points) is third.
In Superbike Challenger, Hugo CLERE (174 points) takes the provisional lead from Gabriel PONS (168 points). Maxime BONNOT completes the top 3 with 125 points.
SUPERSPORT – PIRELLI 600 TROPHY
RACE 1: THE JACKPOT IS FOR QUERO
The Spanish rider Borja QUERO (Yamaha) did not come to France to make up the numbers! It is him who we find in the lead from the first laps just ahead of Guillaume RAYMOND (Yamaha).
The leader of the provisional classification, Enzo BOULOM (Yamaha), sets the record straight by moving to 3rd rank after a mixed qualification. He takes Louis BULLE (Yamaha) on his wheel, threatened by a group of 4 riders, all kept in check by Maximilien BAU (Yamaha).
At the head of the race, QUERO widened the gap lap after lap and flew towards a deserved victory: a first for the Spanish driver in FSBK. RAYMOND, well established in second position, reached his first podium of the season without having been worried by his opponents.
At mid-race, BULLE suffered attacks from its competitors and fell back to 7rd rank unlike Maximilien BAU and Guillaume ANTIGA (Yamaha) who are very quick and find the opening on BOULOM. The last step of the podium arouses the interest of the 3 men until the last meters. With panache, BAU finally resisted the attacks of its opponents and took the podium. ANTIGA and BOULOM rank respectively 4rd and 5rd.
In the Pirelli 600 Trophy, the boss seemed to be Gaëtan MATERN (Kawasaki), but he was downgraded at the end of the day for a non-compliant machine. His runner-up Arnaud MULDERS (Yamaha) therefore climbs to the highest step of the podium in front of Simon ARNAUD (Triumph) who performs well in the category and takes 2rd place in front of Valentin GRIMOUX (Yamaha).
RACE 2: AND 2 FOR QUERO!
Borja QUERO (Yamaha) and Guillaume RAYMOND (Yamaha) once again take the lead in the race without leaving the slightest chance to their opponents. The two men appear particularly comfortable on the Burgundian asphalt.
Behind them, Enzo BOULOM (Yamaha) escapes from the starting grid in 3rd position followed like his shadow by Louis BULLE (Yamaha). For his part, Guillaume ANTIGA (Yamaha) tries to hang on to the Yamaha n°3.
At the forefront, the action is on the agenda like RAYMOND who tries to find a solution on the Spanish and “Loulou” who delivers the blow to BOULOM. The latter, however, responds a few turns later and the scenario repeats itself several times! The fight for 3rd position finally takes the form of a “triangular” with ANTIGA who increases the pace and joins in the joust.
The suspense is unbearable during the last laps, QUERO resists a particularly aggressive RAYMOND while ANTIGA creates the surprise and completes the podium. BULLE and BOULOM are respectively satisfied with the 4rd and 5rd squares.
In the Pirelli 600 Trophy, the race turned to the advantage of Joris INGIULA (Yamaha) who continued to impress after an epic duel with Gaëtan MATERN (Kawasaki). The battle for 3rd place is won by Arnaud MULDERS (Yamaha).
The downgrading of MATERN benefits MULDERS who seizes the 2rd place and to Antoine CHAPEAU (Triumph), 3rd.
In the provisional ranking, Enzo BOULOM (154 points) is still in the lead ahead of Louis BULLE (111 points) and Guillaume ANTIGA (108 points).
In the Pirelli 600 Trophy, Gaëtan MATERN (133 points) remains in command of the category ahead of Valentin GRIMOUX (114 points) and Joris INGIULA (108 points).
GRAND PRIX OBJECTIVE – PRE MOTO3
RACE 1: LAPIERRE DOWN, PERRIN TAKES THE POINTS
The first laps are hectic for the young drivers but the situation settles down shortly before halfway. A leading duo composed of Bartholomé PERRIN (Moriwaki) and Marceau LAPIERRE (Yamaha Beon) relegates the other competitors to several seconds. In pursuit, Alexis BOUDIN (Yamaha Beon) and Line VIEILLARD (Yamaha) find themselves in battle and take turns exchanging places.
3 laps from the finish, LAPIERRE no longer appears on the scoreboard, the provisional leader made a mistake even though the podium was promised to him: too bad! PERRIN is free from any pressure and takes 25 points. The BOUDIN – VIEILLARD duel ultimately turned to the advantage of the Yamaha n°6 which continued its effort and achieved its best time in the race on the last lap. VIEILLARD still wears the colors of the fairer sex on the last step of the podium.
RACE 2: PERRIN ADVANTAGE
The first start gave rise to a fall for Line VIEILLARD (Yamaha) which stopped the proceedings by decision of the Race Direction. The young woman unfortunately cannot return to the track.
The race starts again for 9 laps, in the lead, we find the 3 strong men of the category: Bartholomé PERRIN (Moriwaki), Marceau LAPIERRE (Yamaha Beon) and Alexis BOUDIN (Yamaha Beon). Quickly released, the latter is fighting with Guillaume JUCHA (Moriwaki) and Lorentz LUCIANO (Yamaha Beon).
The public's attention is focused on one side towards the duel between PERRIN and LAPIERRE who give up nothing for the victory and on the other side towards BOUDIN, JUCHA and LUCIANO for the last step of the podium. After 9 laps marked by an incessant change of leader, it was PERRIN who won the race on the line to the detriment of LAPIERRE. Third place is to the credit of BOUDIN who had a hard time facing JUCHA, 4rd, and LUCIANO, 5rd.
Alexis BOUDIN (144 points) performed well this weekend and returned to the top of the provisional ranking with 10 points ahead of Marceau LAPIERRE (134 points). Bartholomé PERRIN (117 points) completes the top 3.
SIDECAR
RACE 2: IMPOSSIBLE TO RESIST DELANNOY / CLEMENT
It was a failed start for the DELANNOY / CLEMENT crew which left BENIGNO / BOUCHARD to take the first lap at the head of the race ahead of VINET / VINET, LE BAIL / LEVEAU and GALLERNE / CHAIGNEAU!
However, one lap is enough for Side No. 1 to return to the aspirations of the VINET family crew. The two Sides cut short the pleasure of BENIGNO / BOUCHARD relegated to 3rd position in front of the 600cc of LE BAIL / LEVEAU. Shortly after halfway, DELANNOY / CLEMENT decided to launch a successful attack on VINET / VINET and took control of the round. DELANNOY / CLEMENT let go of the horses in order to take shelter at the head of the race.
3 laps from the finish, Race Direction waves a red flag following a trip into the gravel trap which stops the proceedings. DELANNOY / CLEMENT achieves the double in front of VINET / VINET, author of an excellent weekend. BENIGNO / BOUCHARD completes the podium after containing the offensives of LE BAIL / LEVEAU. Author of a race without any real threat, GALLERNE / CHAIGNEAU closes the top 5.
In 600cc, LE BAIL / LEVEAU continues its flawless performance and takes 1st place for 8rd times in a row! CARRE / DUPUIS and LEGUEN / GAULARD complete the “small engine” podium.
FOLLOW THE FRENCH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Fsbk.fr, the website dedicated to the French Superbike Championship, always offers live coverage of everything that happens during the weekend, detailed information, photos, results, videos, etc.
For this 2018 season, the FFM will broadcast each evening of the event a video of the best moments of the day on the official fsbk Facebook page and the fsbk.fr website.
Other events will punctuate the weekend through a system specifically focused on social networks via Twitter: @FSBK_officiel, Facebook: fsbk, Youtube: ffmfbk and Instagram: fsbk
CALENDAR 2018
14–15/07 – PAU ARNOS (64) – MC Pau Arnos
25–26/08 – CAROLE (93) – MC Motors Events
22–23/09 – ALBI (81) – MCC Albi
