Under the eyes of Jacques Bolle, President of the FFM, the French speed experts made a point of putting on a show, behind closed doors on the Nevers Magny-Cours Circuit. With ideal track conditions, cloudy skies and mild temperatures, the first stage of the French Superbike Championship organized by the Moto Club of Nevers and Nièvre exclusively delivers the first hopes of a title among the riders.
SUPERBIKES
RACE 1: DEBISE AND GINES ON THE WIRE
Morgan BERCHET (Yamaha – Pirelli) did not pass the first sector due to electronic problems, so it was without him that Jonas FOLGER (Yamaha – Pirelli) concluded the first lap in the lead ahead of Mathieu GINES (Yamaha Tech Solutions – Michelin) and Valentin DEBISE (Kawasaki Twist Ring Racing – Dunlop). Alan TECHER (BMW Tecmas – Michelin) and Kenny FORAY (BMW – Dunlop), at the 4rd and 5rd ranks, gradually letting themselves fall behind the leading trio while evolving at a relatively comfortable distance from Axel MAURIN (Yamaha – Michelin), 6rd, in the first rounds.
FOLGER – GINES – DEBISE are neck and neck, until the 4thrd round where the 2019 French Champion puts the brakes on FOLGER. However, 2 laps later, the ex-MotoGP rider recovered his dues. Throughout the turns, the hierarchy changes between the 3 men who put on a superb show in the paddock, but watch out for FORAY's return! The latter has got the better of TECHER and is gradually returning to the leading group... Is he able to infiltrate? The answer is yes: 4 laps from the checkered flag, FORAY gets the better of FOLGER while DEBISE manages the race in the lead ahead of GINES.
The race then takes another turn, FOLGER no longer sets the pace, it is now GINES, DEBISE and FORAY who are competing for victory in the same second. During the last lap, GINES and DEBISE widened the gap and after a final effort in the last turns, it was the rider of the Kawasaki Twist Ring Racing n°153 who won against GINES.
Dramatic twist at the end of the race, FORAY stops due to an electronic failure, so it's FOLGER who inherits 3rd walk on the podium 7 seconds behind the leading duo. TECHER, for his part, concludes the race at 4rd rank in front of MAURIN.
Among the Superbike Challenger riders, Nicolas ESCUDIER (Yamaha Tech Solutions – Pirelli) faces Martin RENAUDIN (Yamaha – Pirelli) at the start of the race. ESCUDIER, however, manages to maintain its position as leader of the category and finishes in 6th place.rd rank. RENAUDIN punctuates his race at 8rd scratch position and ranks 2rd of its category.
Guillaume ANTIGA (Honda – Pirelli), who started from 16rd place on the starting grid, finishes the race in 11rd position and completes the Challenger podium.
RACE 2: DEBISE DOES THE DOUBLE
Author of a good start, Jonas FOLGER (Yamaha – Pirelli) seems to have found his feet on the track of the Nevers Magny-Cours circuit! The ex-MotoGP rider sets the pace for Valentin DEBISE (Kawasaki Twist Ring Racing – Dunlop) and Mathieu GINES (Yamaha Tech Solutions – Michelin) in the first laps.
In ambush, Kenny FORAY (BMW – Dunlop) at 4rd can rank take his revenge on this morning? Watch out for Alan TECHER (BMW Tecmas – Michelin), the luxury resident of Team Tecmas watches in 5rd position…
As the rounds go by, DEBISE's combativeness takes over. The rider of the #153 Kawasaki took the lead before halfway through the race without managing to get away. FOLGER and GINES keep up the pressure.
In the last 3 laps, the driver of the Yamaha n°41 found enough space to relegate FOLGER to 3rd position and launches into the attack on DEBISE. Despite a very good effort from GINES, it was DEBISE who did the double this weekend and finished 1 seconds ahead of his predecessor. FOLGER once again finished on the last step of the podium.
Less effective, TECHER goes down in the ranking and finishes 10rd. The paddock, however, notes the good performance of Axel MAURIN (Yamaha – Michelin) who ranks 5rd ahead of Morgan BERCHET (Yamaha – Pirelli).
Among the Superbike Challenger riders, Nicolas ESCUDIER (Yamaha Tech Solutions – Pirelli) moved into 8rd position from the start of the race. Closely followed by Martin RENAUDIN (Yamaha – Pirelli), the rider of the Yamaha n°67 continues his effort and maintains the advantage to finish in 7rd rank and winner of the Challenger category. RENAUDIN manages his race in 9rd position and ranks 2rd for the second time this weekend.
Same story for Guillaume ANTIGA (Honda – Pirelli), he repeats his morning performance and completes the podium.
SUPERSPORT 600 – SUPERSPORT CHALLENGER
RACE 1: FROSSARD CREATES THE SURPRISE
From pole position, Guillaume RAYMOND (Yamaha – Michelin) made a very good start which gave him the leading position. In pursuit, Guillaume POT (Yamaha – Dunlop) and Supersport Challenger riders Tanguy ZAEPFEL (Yamaha – Michelin) and Ludovic CAUCHI (Yamaha – Pirelli) debate without restraint. In the second lap, the chasing trio made a mistake, giving way to Matthieu GREGORIO (Yamaha – Pirelli) and Stéphane FROSSARD (Yamaha), both then in a battle for 2rd position.
Showing remarkable efficiency, FROSSARD gets the better of GREGORIO and then goes after the leading driver. With 8 laps to go from the checkered flag, the rider of the Yamaha No. 42 made the effort and moved into a leading position in front of RAYMOND.
Au 4rd rank, the Challenger Vincent FALCONE (Yamaha – Pirelli) resisted at the start of the race the Supersport pilots Yvan LAETZIG (Yamaha – Michelin) and Dylan MILLE (Yamaha – Pirelli), themselves closely followed by another Challenger pilot: Loic MILLET (Yamaha ). As the rounds go by, the hierarchy is completely reversed. MILLET, more comfortable than his predecessors, climbs back on each of them and points to 4rd rank, in front of MILLE, FALCONE and LAETZIG.
A major racing incident then disrupts the proceedings, the trio MILLE – FALCONE – LAETZIG crashing in the Adelaide bend.
The race direction waves the red flag, synonymous with stopping the race with 3 laps to go.
The ranking freezes with FROSSARD winning ahead of RAYMOND and Challenger driver GREGORIO, the latter finishing as leader of his category. MILLET finished at the foot of the podium and second in the Challenger category, MILLE not being at the origin of the red flag and managing to reach the pits within 5 minutes, retained 5th place. Note, Cédric TANGRE (Triumph – Pirelli) and Peter POLESSO (Yamaha) finished 6th and 7th.
In 10th place, Kyrian HARTMANN (Yamaha) inherits 3rd place on the Challenger podium.
RACE 2: FROSSARD DOES NOT TRANSIGE
Poleman during the afternoon race, Stéphane FROSSARD (Yamaha) must face two strong opponents in the afternoon, Guillaume RAYMOND (Yamaha – Michelin) and Guillaume POT (Yamaha – Dunlop).
The trio of Supersport riders is supported by a compact group composed of Ludovic CAUCHI (Yamaha – Pirelli), Charles CORTOT (Yamaha – Pirelli), Matthieu GREGORIO (Yamaha – Pirelli) and Cédric TANGRE (Triumph – Pirelli).
At the front, the domination of FROSSARD is indisputable, despite a very small gap between the pilots, during almost the entire race, it is the pilot of the Yamaha n°42 who will cross the finish line in first after opening a slight gap. RAYMOND confirms second place almost 4 seconds behind POT.
Full success for Supersport Challenger drivers! On the category podium, we find CORTOT as winner and CAUCHI as runner-up, a great performance to put into perspective with their 4rd and 5rd scratch position.
At the end of the race, Vincent FALCONE (Yamaha – Pirelli) got back on his predecessors and finished 3rd in the Challenger category and 7th overall ahead of TANGRE. The latter two relegate GREGORIO, at the end of the race, to the foot of the Challenger podium and to 8rd instead.
SUPERSPORT 300 – GRAND PRIX OBJECTIVE- PRE MOTO 3
RACE 1: GIABBANI ADVANTAGE
After total domination during testing, the Supersport 300 rider, Grégory CARBONNEL (Yamaha – Pirelli), saw an ultra-competitive Clément GIABBANI (Moriwaki) take control at the start of the race on the handlebars of his Pré-Moto 3! The two competitors widen the gap and settle their score in front of Leandro QUINTANS SANS (Beon Yamaha) in 3rd rank. The latter is ahead of a compact group of three Supersport 300 pilots made up of Florent DA CUNHA (Kawasaki – Pirelli), Line VIEILLARD (Yamaha – Michelin) and Colin DRYE (Yamaha – Michelin).
After multiple battles, GIABBANI won in front of the Supersport 300 driver. Despite the clear rise of his pursuers, QUINTANS SANS managed to keep 3rd place and complete the podium, at the same time taking second place on the Objective Grand Prix Pré-Moto 3 podium.
The paddock finds the young Line VIEILLARD, luxury resident within the FT Racing Academy team, at 4rd rank and in second place on the Supersport 300 podium. Florent DA CUNHA finished 5rd scratch and 3rd in his category ahead of Colin DRYE.
Isolated a few seconds from the leading pelotons, Mathis FARGIER (KTM) finished in 7thrd scratch and 3 positionrd OGP podium place.
RACE 2: GIABBANI HITS THE NAIL
Author of a good start from pole position, Clément GIABBANI (Moriwaki) takes the lead followed by Grégory CARBONNEL (Yamaha – Pirelli) determined to take his revenge. Less effective at putting out lights since 3rd position, Leandro QUINTANS SANS (Beon Yamaha) remains glued to the grid and finishes the first lap in 6rd position. Florent DA CUNHA (Kawasaki – Pirelli), Colin DRYE (Yamaha – Michelin) and Line VIEILLARD (Yamaha – Michelin) took advantage of this to establish themselves in 3rd, 4rd and 5rd position.
Against all expectations, QUINTAS SANS seems very comfortable this afternoon. As the laps went by, he managed to get back on each of his opponents and put his Beon Yamaha n°77 in the lead with a few laps to go! GIABBANI and CARBONNEL did not, however, appear to be defeated and regained the upper hand in the following rounds.
GIABBANI and CARBONNEL then exchange first place until the last lap and it is GIABBANI who wins in front of his fiercest opponent. QUINTANS SANS reinforces a 3rd well-deserved place ahead of DA CUNHA, DRYE and VIEILLARD.
Just like his morning race, Mathis FARGIER (KTM) finished 7rd in the scratch and on the last step of the OGP podium.
SIDECAR
RACE 2: REEVES / ROUSSEAU CONFIRMED
Like the race the day before, the F600 of REEVES / ROUSSEAU faces the F1 of DELANNOY / BIDAULT for victory. The two sides go blow for blow with a few seconds ahead of another F600 multiple world champion: PAIVARINTA / CLEMENT.
However, 4 laps from the checkered flag, LEBAIL / LEVEAU spread oil on the track and caused the race direction to raise a red flag. The ranking therefore freezes in the previous round which gives the victory to REEVES / ROUSSEAU ahead of the reigning French Champion. The 3rd The scratch place is monopolized by another F600, that of the Finnish PAIVARINTA / CLEMENT who completes the podium for the first time of the weekend.
Among the F2s, CHANAL / LAVOREL, 8rd in scratch, won a second victory this weekend. He is ahead of LEBLOND / CLAEYS, second in his category and 9rd scratch. LEGUEN / CESCUTTI finishes on 3rd step of the podium and at 13rd position.
FOLLOW THE 2020 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 2020 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 Twitter: @FSBK_officiel, Facebook: fsbk, Youtube: ffmfbk and Instagram: fsbk
CALENDAR 2020
August 22 and 23 – Circuit Carole (93) – MC Motors Events
September 12 and 13 – Lédenon (30) – MC Lédenon
October 17 and 18 – Pau Arnos (64) – Moto Club Pau Arnos
October 24 and 25 – Nogaro (32) – ASM Armagnac Bigorre
