The grand final of the 2022 version of the French Superbike Championship will take place from September 23 to 25 on the legendary Circuit Paul Ricard, a great first in the FSBK-FE air! The Moto-Club du Circuit Paul Ricard and the FFM will therefore welcome the elite of French motorcycle speed for the 7th and final chapter during which the Champions will be crowned in the Superbike, Supersport 600 and 300 Challenger, Pre-Moto 3, NSF categories. 250 and Side Car.
SUPERBIKE: FORAY IN AMBUSH BEHIND DEBISE
This last stage still has many events in store for Valentin DEBISE (Yamaha – Michelin), although he is still leader of the provisional classification and big favorite for the title. With a retirement in race 1 during the Parisian stage, which definitely did not suit him, DEBISE still has work to do before winning the title he has been coveting for 3 seasons. Confident after good performances in World Superbike, the Albigensian should be at 100% to face the competition.
Despite the good momentum, for Kenny FORAY (BMW Tecmas – Michelin), the task promises to be difficult. 3rd in the Championship in 2021, the resident of the BMW Tecmas team aims to make up 20 points behind the leader. On a circuit that he will have mastered perfectly during the Bol d'Or, FORAY could be the favorite for victory. But will it be enough to win the title a second time in his career?
Provisionally 3rd overall, 31 points behind Kenny FORAY, Alan TECHER (Honda CBO Racing – Michelin) has also accumulated experience on the Var track. Furthermore, his performances this season demonstrate that he is comfortable on his Honda and that he is a serious contender for victory. However, returning to DEBISE and FORAY seems to be complex. The No. 5 rider, on the other hand, has a great battle to fight to stay in the top 3, which is still coveted by Mathieu GINES (Yamaha Tech Solutions – Pirelli), by only 2 points. In a dark series of six races without a podium, the pride of the three-time reigning French Champion should offer great competition to the leading trio and a great show for enthusiasts.
After having topped the Challenger Championship and won three scratch podiums, for Martin RENAUDIN (Yamaha Moto&GP Addict – Pirelli) the 2022 season is already a great success. During the final, the young driver will have a new challenge: maintain 5th place in the general classification. This will not be an easy task since Axel MAURIN (Yamaha CMS – Pirelli), 6th at 11 lengths, will be a big threat. Present in the top 5 for the last five seasons, MAURIN will be keen to continue its good run in the French Championship.
Behind, Valentin SUCHET (Suzuki Junior Team LMS – Pirelli) is behind with 98 points and is in 7th place. Will he manage to hold off the experienced David MUSCAT (Ducati – Michelin), 8th, and Grégory LEBLANC (Ducati TWR – Pirelli), 9th, who will be able to showcase the power of their Italian machines on the Circuit Paul Ricard?
Among the Challengers, the suspense is broken for the two highest steps of the podium which will be occupied by RENAUDIN and SUCHET. However, the top 3 provisionally completed by Charles CORTOT (Suzuki Junior Team LMS – Pirelli) will certainly be challenged by Maximilien BAU (BMW – Michelin) who has just won his first podium in the premier category.
Please note, the 600 French Supersport 2017 Champion Hugo CLERE (Yamaha – ) will make his return to FSBK-FE. A talented and experienced driver, he should play the places of honor.
TEMPORARY SUPERBIKE SITUATION:
1 – Valentin DEBISE (Yamaha – Michelin) – 230 points
2 – Kenny FORAY (BMW Tecmas – Michelin) – 211 points
3 – Alan TECHER (Honda CBO Racing – Michelin) – 180 points
4 – Mathieu GINES (Yamaha Tech Solutions – Pirelli) – 178 points
5 – Martin RENAUDIN (Yamaha Moto&GP Addict – Pirelli) – 147 points
SUPERSPORT 600: WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE ABSENCE OF THE CHAMPION?
Despite the possibility of achieving the Grand Slam, double French Champion Valentin DEBISE (Yamaha – Michelin) will not start in the Supersport 600, probably to concentrate on the Superbike.
In pursuit of the Champion throughout the season and now firmly in 2nd with 42 points ahead of his pursuer, Matthieu GREGORIO (Yamaha – Pirelli) will have a golden opportunity to secure victory. But the Gardois will be reduced due to an injury contracted following his fall in the World Championship. Loïc ARBEL (Yamaha TWR Junior Team – Pirelli) is also injured but must undergo a period of convalescence and will therefore not be involved.
In his wake, Johan GIMBERT (Yamaha – Pirelli) should be able to maintain 3rd place in the general classification and aims to challenge Matthieu GREGORIO for the Challenger title. However, the task promises to be delicate for driver no. 77 who is 32 points behind.
Enzo De La VEGA (Yamaha – Pirelli) is 5th and hopes to perform to secure his place in the top 5, or even move up to 4th.
Within the top 10, the fight will be intense since the experienced Matthieu LUSSIANA (Yamaha – Michelin) and Cédric TANGRE (Yamaha – Pirelli) will have to face two Challenger riders full of ambitions: Bartholomé PERRIN (Yamaha – Pirelli), Kilian AEBI (Yamaha – Dunlop).
TEMPORARY SITUATION SUPERSPORT 600:
1 – Valentin DEBISE – 308 points
2 – Matthieu GREGORIO (Challenger) – 200 points
3 – Johan GIMBERT (Challenger) – 158 points
4 – Loïc ARBEL – 134 points
5 – Enzo DE LA VEGA – 101 points
GRAND-PRICE OBJECTIVE
PRE-MOTO 3: THE HOPEFUL STILL FIGHTING FOR THE TITLE
The Pre-Moto 3 category keeps us in suspense until the last stage of the season. The six drivers at the top of the standings are separated by less than 40 points before taking the start on the Circuit Paul Ricard. Leader of the classification, Célestin MASY (Béon – Bridgestone) remains on a disappointing final stage with a 5th and a 6th place, not having benefited from the absence of his rival Matthias ROSTAGNI (Béon – Bridgestone). Rarely beaten by MASY, ROSTAGNI appears to be the big favorite for the final victory, he who is back in full possession of his means.
As for the pursuers who returned to the race, Camil BISSANE (KTM – Bridgestone), 3rd, and Quentin GODEFROY (KTM – Bridgestone), 4th, are battling to snatch the last place on the podium, and can still claim the title. 5th and 6th, Quentin MANDINE (Beon – Bridgestone) and Swan EMPRIN (Beon – Bridgestone) are the last drivers mathematically still in contention for the top of the ranking and could reserve some surprises for their opponents.
TEMPORARY SITUATION PRE-MOTO 3:
1 – Célestin MASY – 168 points
2 – Matthias ROSTAGNI – 157 points
3 – Camil BISSANE – 143.5 points
4 – Quentin GODEFROY – 137 points
5 – Quentin MANDINE – 128.5 points
HONDA NSF 250: CAILLET VS BERCOT: THE ULTIMATE DUEL
For the first time, during the last stage neither of the two leaders won a race. With 190,5 points, Benjamin CAILLET (Honda NSF – Bridgestone) is provisionally in the lead ahead of Jules BERCOT (Honda NSF – Bridgestone), 2nd with 184,5 points. Having struggled to decide between themselves since the start of the season, the two boys will engage in two final battles to win the title.
Behind them, Eliott KASSIGIAN (Honda NSF – Bridgestone) currently 3rd, could well disrupt the supremacy of the two favorites. The driver has been in very good shape since the Magny-Cours stage, since which he has systematically placed in the first two places, thus gaining maximum confidence and points.
The last two places in the top 5 are also contested since several less regular drivers have not yet decided. They are Lorenzo GUYAU (Honda NSF – Bridgestone), 4th, Lucas BOSSON (Honda NSF – Bridgestone), 5th, and Evan BOXBERGER, 6th.
TEMPORARY SITUATION HONDA NSF 250:
1 – Benjamin CAILLET – 190,5 points
2 – Jules BERCOT – 184,5 points
3 – Elliot KASSIGIAN – 167.5 points
4 – Lorenzo GUYAU – 134 points
5 – Evan BOXBERGER – 113,5 points
SUPERSPORT 300: SUSPENSE FOR THE PODIUM AND FOR THE CHALLENGER TITLE
Crowned French Champion to Carole, at only 14 years old Enzo DAHMANI (Yamaha – Pirelli) has great ambitions for the rest of his career. Before that, the driver of the No. 13 Yamaha will be keen to end the season in style on the Circuit Paul Ricard and will have the opportunity to score his 6th and 7th victories.
His runner-up Dorian JOULIN (Yamaha – Pirelli) peaks at 173 points and should be able to maintain his status ahead of Evann PLAINDOUX (Yamaha – Pirelli). The latter will have a hard time facing Louca FRIEH (- Pirelli), the two young drivers are only separated by 2 small points. The fight for the third step on the podium will therefore be the main attraction in Supersport 300 during the final.
With 122 points David DA COSTA has not given up and still remains a candidate for 3rd in the Championship, provided he beats his two direct competitors in the Var.
In Challenger, the three leaders of the ranking are close to each other. Valentin ROEDEL (Kawasaki – Pirelli), Evan PALHIER (Yamaha – Pirelli) and Théo TAUVERON (Yamaha – Pirelli) will therefore compete for the final victory in the category.
TEMPORARY SITUATION SUPERSPORT 300
1 – Enzo DAHMANI – 226 points
2 – Dorian JOULIN – 173 points
3 – Evann PLAINDOUX – 144 points
4 – Louca FRIEH – 142 points
5 – David DA COSTA – 122 points
SIDECAR: PEUGEOT/PEUGEOT PUTS PRESSURE ON PERILLAT/KOTCHAN
During the last two rounds, the PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT crew considerably reduced its gap on the leader PERILLAT / KOTCHAN. With a series of 4 victories, the family duo continues its aggressive comeback, coming back to 25 points behind the leaders before the final. The Castellet meeting therefore promises some great battles between sides no. 52 and no. 74.
LE BAIL / LEVEAU, 3rd, will aim to keep its place on the podium, but BOUCHER / BOUCHER will exert constant pressure. The two brothers hope to enter the top 3 for their first season in the French sidecar elite.
JACQUEMMOZ / ENJALBERT, 5th, is on good momentum and could aim for his first podium of the season. The No. 69 crew will be attentive to the performances of PALACOEUR / CESCUTTI, F2 Champion and still able to enter the top 5 scratch.
Behind them, MOREL / MOREL, and QUILBAULT / PESENTI separated by only 7 points in the F2 ranking will compete for 2nd place in the Short Chassis Championship.
TEMPORARY SITUATION SIDE-CAR
1 – PERILLAT / KOTCHAN – 222 points
2 – PEUGEOT / PEUGEOT – 197 points
3 – LEASE / LEVEAU – 150 points
4 – BUTCHER / BUTCHER – 131 points
5 – PALACOEUR / CESCUTTI (F2) – 120 points
FOLLOW THE 2022 FRENCH FE-SUPERBIKE 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.
For this 2022 season, the FFM will broadcast each evening of the event a video of the best moments of the day on the official FSBK-FE Facebook page and the fsbk.fr website.
Other meetings will punctuate the weekend through a system specifically focused on social networks via Facebook: fsbk , Youtube : ffmfsbk and Instagram: fsbk
CALENDAR 2022
September 23 – 25 – Circuit Paul Ricard (83) – MC of Circuit Paul Ricard
