The heat forced the riders to draw on their resources for this 3rd stage of the French Superbike Championship. Organized by MC Lédenon under the aegis of the FFM, this event compared to a roller coaster was not easy for the pilots where battles and twists and turns did not fail to liven up the debates this Sunday, June 17.
SUPERBIKES
RACE 1: FORAY RETURNS TO VICTORY
The first laps are hectic in the premier category but it is Kenny FORAY (BMW Tecmas) who gets the best start ahead of Jérémy GUARNONI (Kawasaki Tech Solutions). The timed trials announced the color between FORAY and GUARNONI and the duel kept all its promises! Quickly, the two men took off in the lead and engaged in a spectacular battle.
Behind, a very compact peloton is organized between Matthieu LUSSIANA (BMW), Sébastien SUCHET (Kawasaki), Axel MAURIN (Yamaha) and David MUSCAT (Ducati). Despite his good qualification, Erwan NIGON (Honda) made a mistake, the Honda n°7 “loses the front” and will not be able to take part in the debates.
After 6 laps of racing, SUCHET, MAURIN and MUSCAT gained a place following the minor fall of LUSSIANA. The three pilots are in a pocket handkerchief. The best “performer” in Superbike Challenger, Maxime BONNOT (BMW) comes to the forefront in 6rd position just in front of Morgan BERCHET (Yamaha).
What a spectacle between the 2 leaders of the Championship, the Gard public witnessed a completely crazy duel. “Kenny” and “Guarno” fight blow for blow. Everyone trembles at the start of the last lap as the race is so uncertain. The driver of the #1 Tecmas BMW delivers the blow in the triple left of the last lap and manages to keep his advantage until the checkered flag to return to the top step of the podium. GUARNONI saw his winning streak come to an end and had to settle for second place.
Firstrd place is to the credit of SUCHET who reached his first podium of the season after resisting the assaults of MUSCAT who finished 4rd at just 0,060 seconds. MAURIN completes the top 5. BERCHET finishes 6rd following the disqualification of BONNOT for a label problem with his tires…
In Superbike Challenger, Gabriel PONS (Kawasaki) finally placed first ahead of Hugo CLERE (Suzuki) who gave up at the end of the race after multiple overtakes. Nicolas ESUCIDIER (Yamaha), author of a great race, was rewarded for his efforts by achieving his first podium of the season.
RACE 2: GUARNONI RECOVERS HIS PROPERTY
Let's go for the last 20 laps of this Gard weekend! This time, it is Jérémy GUARNONI (Kawasaki Tech Solutions) who gets the best start ahead of FORAY (BMW Tecmas) and Sébastien SUCHET (Kawasaki), the same leading trio as in the first round.
Despite a good start, Matthieu LUSSIANA (BMW) fell in the first seconds of the race. For his part, Erwan NIGON (Honda), 4rd, follows the rhythm of SUCHET and brings on his wheel Axel MAURIN (Yamaha), David MUSCAT (Ducati), Yani TODISCO (Ducati) and Maxime BONNOT (BMW).
At the front, GUARNONI seems to want to make a gap from the start of the race but FORAY has no intention of letting him slip away and rides faster than the Kawasaki rider after a timid start. The duel for 3rd Place is fiercely contested between SUCHET, NIGON and MAURIN who are within less than half a second at halfway. Behind, a battle is underway between the two riders from the Ducati brand MUSCAT and TODISCO.
FORAY is pushing hard but is unable to catch up with GUARNONI who keeps a safety margin to fly towards a 5rd victory this season. The last step of the podium finally goes to SUCHET who does well against NIGON, 4rd, and MAURIN, 5rd. An indecisive 6rd A place emerges between MUSCAT and TODISCO but it is the rider of the No. 3 Ducati who maintains his advantage from the start. In the last laps, Maxime BONNOT fell and found himself at the bottom of the ranking. The good surprise comes from Mathieu CHARPIN (Kawasaki), opportunist, who takes advantage of BONNOT's fall to take 8rd place. A weekend to forget for the resident of Team Tecmas.
On the Superbike Challenger side, Hugo CLERE (Suzuki LMS), took the 25 points for victory. Great performance again for Gabriel PONS (Kawasaki) aka “Ponpon” who finished second. Nicolas ESCUDIER (Yamaha) completes the top 3.
In the provisional ranking, Jérémy GUARNONI (156 points) remains in the lead with 31 points ahead of Kenny FORAY (125 points). Morgan BERCHET points to 3rd place with 69 points.
In Superbike Challenger, Gabriel PONS (136 points) maintains the lead for 3 small points ahead of Hugo CLERE (133 points). Maxime BONNOT (72 points) completes the top 3.
SUPERSPORT – PIRELLI 600 TROPHY
RACE 1: DELORENZO UNHAPPY, HARD WORKING
Drama before the start: the pole sitter, Benoit DELORENZO (Yamaha), is unable to appear on the starting grid after the warm-up lap, due to a mechanical problem. Guillaume ANTIGA (Yamaha) gets an excellent start and takes advantage of the situation to place himself in a leading position. The pleasure only lasts 3 laps, on the slipstream, Enzo BOULOM (Yamaha) takes the best at the pit straight to position himself in the lead.
Behind, Guillaume POT (Yamaha) is fast, faster than his namesake ANTIGA who is relegated to 3rd position. After making an excellent start from 6rd place on the starting grid, Cédric TANGRE (Suzuki) continues the first fast laps to place 4rd in the wheel of ANTIGA. Watch out for Maximilien BAU (Yamaha) who is not unworthy and hangs on to the wagon just in front of Louis BULLE (Yamaha) and Stéphane FROSSARD (Yamaha).
BOULOM and POT set a frantic pace that the other drivers were unable to follow. For its part, TANGRE is pursued like its shadow by BAU, the two men find the opening on ANTIGA who passes from 3rd at 5rd instead.
All the attention of the public is focused on the duel for victory between BOULOM and POT as well as the “mano a mano” for third place between TANGRE and BAU. After analyzing the trajectories of his opponent, POT brakes BOULOM at the Pont bend but makes a mistake in the “horseshoe”. BOULOM flies to victory while BAU takes second place after getting the better of TANGRE, 3rd. Leaving quickly after his fall, POT saves the furniture and finds himself at the foot of the podium: too bad!
ANTIGA completes the top 5 just ahead of FROSSARD, 6rd, and BUBBLE, 7rd, who suffered the wrath of the #42 Yamaha at the end of the race.
On the Pirelli 600 Trophy side, Gaëtan MATERN (Kawasaki) is above the rest and finishes first without any possible discussion. Dylan MILLE (Yamaha) takes second place and does not crack under the pressure of Simon ARNAUD (Triumph), 3rd, who also had a good race.
RACE 2: BOULOM FOR A PERFECT WEEKEND
The starting exercise is mastered by Enzo BOULOM who points the front tire of his Yamaha in first position at the approach to the left triple. Excellent start from Louis BULLE (Yamaha), “Loulou” places second in front of Benoit DELORENZO (Yamaha) who is keen to shine after his setbacks in the first round.
Behind, the peloton is led by Cédric TANGRE (Suzuki) followed by Maximilien BAU (Yamaha), Guillaume ANTIGA (Yamaha) and Guillaume POT (Yamaha). A few laps are enough for this group to catch up with the leading trio. Only Enzo BOULOM takes some air while the positions are moving in the 2rd the 7rd position: none of the drivers manage to make the difference!
As the laps went by, BAU made the effort and got out of the pack to settle comfortably in second position. BUBBLE, 5rd, and DELORENZO, 6rd, lose ground without losing ground, which benefits TANGRE, then 3rd, closely followed by POT.
BOULOM achieves the double after leading the race head and shoulders, BAU takes a superb second place. Behind, the places freeze but with 3 laps to go, BULLE launches a disconcerting attack and finds the opening on POT initially then on TANGRE to get a well-deserved podium. TANGRE and POT respectively complete the top 5 ahead of DELORENZO, 6rd, and ANTIGA, 7rd.
As for the Pirelli 600 Trophy, hats off to category newcomer Joris INGIULLA (Yamaha) for his first victory of the season. Gaëtan MATERN (Kawasaki) is in second place and has a serious option in the Championship. Dylan MILLE (Yamaha) completes the category podium.
In the provisional ranking, Enzo BOULOM (132 points) takes advantage of his double and the absence of Clément STOLL, injured, to take the reins of the championship. Louis BULLE (89 points) is 2nd and Clément STOLL, 3rd, with 82 points.
In the Pirelli 600 Trophy, Gaëtan MATERN (133 points) controls the situation ahead of Dylan MILLE (96 points) and Valentin GRIMOUX (87 points).
GRAND PRIX OBJECTIVE – PRE MOTO3
RACE 1: PERRIN LAST UP FIRST
Alexis BOUDIN (Yamaha Beon) completely misses his start, Line VIEILLARD (Yamaha) takes the opportunity to take the holeshot but BOUDIN catches up just after with heavy braking to regain leadership. Starting from the last position on the grid, Bartholomé PERRIN (Moriwaki) crossed the timing line in second position and even took the lead of the race the following lap. BOUDIN finds himself in second position.
Just behind, VIEILLARD is threatened by Marceau LAPIERRE (Yamaha Beon) who ends up finding an opening on the female rider to enter the top 3.
On the 8th lap, the Race Direction saw a smoking motorcycle and took the decision to call in the Safety car. The gaps are reduced to zero and there are only 2 rounds left to decide. After a fierce battle, PERRIN did not give in but was unfortunately downgraded after the checkered flag for technical non-compliance. BOUDIN thus won this first race ahead of LAPIERRE. VIEILLARD and Lorentz LUCIANO (Yamaha Beon) are respectively placed in 3rd and 4rdposition.
RACE 2: PUSH APPLIED TO BETTER REPLICATE
Let's go for the young shoots in the category who set off for 12 laps of racing on the handlebars of their 250cc. Alexis BOUDIN (Yamaha Beon) does not take advantage of his pole position and must deal with an incisive Bartholomé PERRIN (Moriwaki), who takes control of operations. Marceau LAPIERRE (Yamaha Beon), Line VIEILLARD (Yamaha) and Charles AUBRIE (Yamaha Over) are in ambush not far behind.
After only two laps, PERRIN made a mistake, BOUDIN wasn't asking for that much and took the race on his own. LAPIERRE also took the opportunity to move into second place. Shortly after, it was Line VIEILLARD who attacked PERRIN to enter the top 3.
Full success for BOUDIN who took pole and first place after resisting the pressure exerted by LAPIERRE who set the best time in the race. The female gender is perfectly represented by VIEILLARD who takes the third step of the podium.
PERRIN retrogrades to 4rd rank ahead of Luciano LORENTZ, 5rd,(Yamaha Beon), returned from mid-table. AUBRIE cannot do better than 6rd.
In the provisional ranking, Marceau LAPIERRE (112 points) remains in the lead but watch out for Alexis BOUDIN (108 points) who is getting dangerously close. Line VIEILLARD (89 points) completes the provisional top 3.
SIDECAR
RACE 2: NEW VICTORY FOR DELANNOY / ROUSSEAU
The best exit from the grid is achieved by Side n°2 of MOREAU / ARIFON which gives a hard time to the crew DELANNOY / ROUSSEAU, 2rd. In its Side powered by a 600cc engine, the duo LE BAIL / LEVEAU does not seem to be handicapped by its lack of power in the climbs of the Lédenon circuit since it interferes in 3rd position.
Behind, the duos GALLERNE / CHAIGNEAU, BENIGNO / BOUCHARD and VINET / VINET try to keep up with the leaders.
After 4 laps of racing, DELANNOY / ROUSSEAU found the opening on MOREAU / ARIFON and took the lead never to leave it again and flew away to a clear victory. MOREAU / ARIFON finished second more than 26 seconds ahead of LE BAIL / LEVEAU isolated in 3rd position.
After a failed start, the father and son VINET fought hard to get up to fourth place to the detriment of GALLERNE / CHAIGNEAU, 5rd, and BENIGNO / BOUCHARD, 6rd.
On the 600cc side, LE BAIL / LEVEAU registered for the 6rd consecutive time his name at the top of the category. Far behind, we find the pair CARRE / DUPUIS, 2rd, and LEGUEN / GAULARD, 3rd yet placed at the forefront at the start of the race.
In the provisional ranking, DELANNOY / ROUSSEAU (101 points) takes the lead and relegates MOREAU / ARIFON (95 points) to second place ahead of LE BAIL / LEVEAU (82 points) who shine with their 600cc.
In 600cc, LE BAIL / LEVEAU (161 points) has a big lead over CARRE / DUPUIS (81 points) and LEBLOND / COUILLARD (70 points).
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
28–29/04 – NOGARO (32) – ASM Armagnac Bigorre
16–17/06 – LEDENON (30) – MC Ledenon
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
