Supersport 600, Jerez: Splendid domination of Caricasulo, Cluzel third

While Randy Krummenacher stole pole position on the green carpet from his teammate Federico Caricasulo (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) who had not respected a yellow flag, Jules Cluzel and Corentin Perolari for the GMT, after very difficult tests, went up the slope during the warmup with the second and eighth times.

The first row of the starting grid was made up of Randy Krummenacher (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) in front Federico Caricasulo (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team), after the Italian was demoted for failing to respect a yellow flag, and Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). Next came Raffaele De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), Thomas Gradinger (Kallio Racing), Hikari Okubo (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), Ayrton Badovini (Team Pedercini Racing), Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha), Isaac Viñales (Kallio Racing) and Peter Sebestyen (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda).

For its part, Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), which occupies seventh place in the World Championship, explains: “My goal has changed. I was planning to compete for the title and now I'm fighting to try to get on the podium. That's how it is, there are years during which things don't go as well as we want. I also think that it took me a little time to adapt to the bike and that we lack power... If we can put everything together, we will be able to fight for victory every weekend. We're not missing much anymore, we're getting closer. We must continue to believe in this podium and perhaps in a victory.”

To Jules Danilo, after his fall on Saturday “ Well, first accident of the year unfortunately. It's a shame because the bike is really, really good. The qualification could have been better, but I ruined everything and I'm sorry. I think Sunday could be a good day for us. I'm consistent, I'm not tired on the bike and I brake late. Yesterday morning we did a race simulation and I think I can go even faster if the conditions are similar. So we will have to get the good feeling back and have a good race ».

On the GMT94 Yamaha side, during the Superpole, while he set off for a good lap with a new tire, Jules cluzel saw his session interrupted following a fall in the last sector. The bike being too damaged, and the regulations prohibiting the presence of a second bike, the GMT94 rider's session was stopped. Corentin Perolari also set off on his fastest lap before being hit by a competitor. Another unlucky fall from which he emerged unscathed, just like his teammate. The two GMT94 drivers will have to start from 8th and 11th position for the start.

Federico Caricasulo on the top step of the podium

The air temperature was 24° and the asphalt temperature was 40°. When the lights went out, Lucas Mahias was the fastest to emerge from the grid ahead of Federico Caricasulo, Randy Krummenacher, Raffaele de Rosa, and Thomas Gradinger. Jules Cluzel was 7th ahead of his teammate Corentin Perolari, while Jules Danilo retired following a minor fall.

Mahias firmly held first place ahead of Krummenacher and Caricasulo, while Kyle Smith fell without injury. Jules Cluzel set the fastest lap in 1'42.846, the only driver under 1.43.

Randy Krummenacher and Federico Caricasulo overtook Lucas Mahias, then followed by de Rosa, Gradinger, Cluzel, Okubo and Perolari. Loïc Arbel retired, Gaëtan Matern was 24th.

Randy Krummenacher and Federico Caricasulo dominated but could not outrun Lucas Mahias, de Rosa, Gradinger and Cluzel. The fight between these 6 drivers was fascinating. Thus Mahias overtook Caricasulo, before having to give in to the Italian.

Randy Krummenacher and Federico Caricasulo with 13 laps remaining preceded Rosa, Mahias and Cluzel. The two Frenchmen could still hope for a podium. Caricasulo overtook Krummenacher, just in front of de la Rosa. Mahias and Cluzel followed very closely, with Gradinger sixth.

Randy Krummenacher overtook his teammate Federico Caricasulo 11 laps from the checkered flag, still threatened by de Rosa, Mahias, Cluzel and Gradinger. Perolari was eighth at 8 seconds while Matern twenty-second retired at his pit.

At the halfway point, Lucas Mahias set his personal fastest lap of the race in 1'43.243. Caricasulo regained command within 8 laps of the finish line, squeezed by Krummenacher, Cluzel who had just overtaken Rosa, Mahias and Gradinger.

Randy Krummenacher still led in front of Federico Caricasulo, but Jules Cluzel in third position dove inside Caricasulo and snatched second position from him.

With 4 laps to go, Caricasulo passed Cluzel again, behind Krummenacher. Then Caricasulo took the lead ahead of Cluzel, Krummenacher, de Rosa, Mahias and Gradinger. Perolari was still eighth, battling with Isaac Viñales.

Jules Cluzel took command with 3 laps remaining, but Caricasulo overtook him shortly after. The first six were very grouped together.

Caricasulo took the lead in the last two laps ahead of Krummenacher, Cluzel, de Rosa, Gradinger and Mahias. Caricasulo opened up a small gap of 0.6, with the best lap in the race in 1'42.532. Under the checkered flag, Federico Caricasulo won magnificently ahead of Randy Krummenacher, Jules Cluzel, Thomas Gradinger, Raffaele de Rosa and Lucas Mahias, while Corentin Perolari finished ninth.

Race results:

Provisional ranking of the World Championship:

Photos © Yamaha, GMT94, worldsbk.com, Mahias