World Championship leader Sandro Cortese asserted his domination of the discipline by setting the best time in the Superpole, just ahead of his main Championship rivals Randy Krummenacher and Jules Cluzel. The German had widened a relatively large gap of 0.6 over the Swiss and the Frenchman. Behind this 100% Yamaha first row, Neapolitan Raffaele de Rosa placed his F3 675 MV Agusta in fourth position (despite a fall), ahead of the two official R6s of Lucas Mahias and Federico Caricasulo, who were more than a second behind. on Cortese. Note that these six men making up the first two rows were the first six in the provisional ranking of the World Championship.
With a track temperature of 38°, Jules Cluzel was the fastest to set off when the lights went out, ahead of Randy Krummenacher, Sandro Cortese, Raffaele de Rosa, Federico Caricasulo and Lucas Mahias. Cluzel immediately took a good pace and tried to outrun Krummenacher, whom Cortese had difficulty overtaking. The German overtook the Swiss and closed to 0.2 of the Frenchman. Federico Caricasulo fell without seriousness.
We are racing at #CzechWorldSBK!🇨🇿#WorldSSP is a GO! 16 laps to go! pic.twitter.com/N3lw5hx36h
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) June 10, 2018
Cluzel and Cortese dominated 14 laps from the checkered flag with 0.6 ahead of third Raffaele de Rosa and 0.9 ahead of Lucas Mahias. Krummenacher fifth lost ground, 1.8 behind Cluzel. The others, led by the Austrian Thomas Gradinger and the South African Sheridan Morais, seemed too far away to be able to claim victory.
👀 @Sandrissimo11 is hungry for victory!
German rider takes you lead now!#CzechWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/cm35EKM6Q8
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) June 10, 2018
Cortese took the lead, but Cluzel overtook him, followed very closely by de Rosa and Mahias. Krummenacher fifth was 2.3 behind the leader. Sheridan Morais fell without gravity in turn 5.
But not for too long! @JulesCluzel16 is back to the top!💥
What a fight!#CzechWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/ctanHCTqGT
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) June 10, 2018
Cluzel resisted Cortese's incessant attacks with vigor and motivation. De Rosa followed at 0.5 while Mahias lost a little ground at 1.4, ahead of Krummenacher at 3.6. Gradinger confirmed his potential with sixth position (at 5.4).
At mid-race, Cluzel still had Cortese stuck to his rear wheel, ahead of Rosa by 0.4. Mahias lost time at 2.2 (around 0.4 per lap slower than the leaders). Krummenacher was 4 seconds behind, Gradinger at 6 and Anthony West at 11.
It's SOOOO close at the top!🙈#CzechWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/WAwjy1w4Qc
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) June 10, 2018
Cluzel continued to resist Cortese, but de Rosa had joined the first two. One of his three men seemed likely to win, the fourth Mahias pointing at 3.3 ahead of Krummenacher at 4.9.
And now it's even closer as @RAFF_35 join the battle!!🔥
7️⃣ laps to go!#CzechWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/GgRIgww4GP
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) June 10, 2018
With 4 laps remaining, Cluzel and Cortese were still wheel to wheel, without overtaking, while de Rosa began to fall slightly behind at 1.3. With Mahias at 5.3, the MV Agusta driver seemed to secure the third step on the podium. Mahias fourth was joined by Krummenacher.
Jules Cluzel took the lead on the last lap, the two drivers touched each other slightly in a daring maneuver, and Jules finally won magnificently ahead of a brilliant Sandro Cortese who tried everything. Raffaele de Rosa finished third ahead of Lucas Mahias, Randy Krummenacher, Thomas Gradinger and Anthony West.
2️⃣ laps to go and the battle is still 🔛!
Who's gonna take the victory??#CzechWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/hIpMO57WN9
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) June 10, 2018
Race results:
And it's @JulesCluzel16 who takes the win!🏁🏁🏁
3️⃣rd 2018 victory for the Frenchman!#CzechWOrldSBK pic.twitter.com/8H3EKiE8h0
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) June 10, 2018
Provisional ranking of the World Championship:
Next World Championship race: Misano on July 8 (no Supersport at Laguna Seca on June 24).
Photos © worldsbk.com