[Supersport] Aragon, D3, Race: Randy Krummenacher takes the advantage over Jules Cluzel

For the first time in the history of the Supersport World Championship, an Austrian achieved the Superpole. It was Thomas Gradinger (Kallio Racing) who preceded Federico Caricasulo (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) and Randy Krummenacher (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) on the first row. The second row included Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha), Isaac Viñales (Kallio Racing) and Raffaele De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse).

We then found on the third Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), Corentin Perolari (GMT94 Yamaha) and Hikari Okubo (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). The three competitors of the FIM Europe Supersport Cup made their debut with Xavier Navand (DK Motorsport), Gaëtan Matern (Flembbo Leader Team) and Kyle Smith (Team Pedercini Racing).

Jules cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha), winner in Thailand, got off to a positive start to this Spanish weekend by climbing to second place in the first free practice session, with a time of 1'55.175. “ In the dry, the feeling was quite good, he declared. I felt comfortable on the bike and it was important to start the weekend well, so I'm pretty confident.” Jules was not discouraged by the rain during the second session. “It was my first outing in the rain this year and it gave us a first feeling that we will have to work on. It was a bit tricky, but I'm enjoying riding in these conditions and I think we'll adapt quickly. It was a positive day for me.” Fourth in qualifying, Cluzel qualified in sixth position on the starting grid at MotorLand last year and climbed to the third step of the podium. “ 4th is obviously not a disaster, but the first row would still have been an advantage for the race. It was a very achievable goal because I was ahead in the first sector, before being hampered in the following parts. The race will be very close and we will once again have to score points to stay at the top of the championship.”

According to Corentin Perolari : " I'm obviously a little disappointed because I could have aimed for a place on the second row, but this qualification remains the best of the year. I can’t wait to be in the race, I think I can fight a little more up front.” To Christophe Guyot : " The qualification could have been even better if the GMT94 drivers had enjoyed a little more success. We are still well placed for the race, during which we can aim to include our two drivers in the top 5 ».

According to Jules Danilo, who are " A little complicated weekend at the moment, but we're working hard and you can count on me for a good race on Sunday.” For its part, Lucas Mahias believed that “ My lap time is not bad because I was riding alone and had no aspirations on the long straight. For me you can lose three tenths, so if you take three tenths off my lap time we would be in the top three or four places. Of course I'm a little disappointed because we worked well, but the grid position is seventh. I only take the positives. I started going fast on my own and I feel good. This is the most important thing for the rest of the season. It is possible to overtake in the race because I am fast in the small turns and perhaps with the slipstream of a few others it will be possible to join the leading group ».

In the race, we had to be wary of the Austrian Thomas Gradinger who was in pole position. “ We started the weekend off really well, did he estimate. It's not really my favorite track, but I really like it. We did a lot of good work and we are confident for the race. I saw in FP3 that there were five or six drivers really close, so it will be a tough race with a lot of people and a lot of fighting! We will see after 16 rounds of battle which one will be first! ».

A royal quartet

On the starting grid, the air temperature was 11° and that of the ground 19°. Rob Hartog (injured) and Hector Barbera (separation from his team) were out. The fastest to start when the lights went out was Federico Caricasulo ahead of Thomas Gradinger, Jules Cluzel, Randy Krummenacher and Lucas Mahias.

Yamaha clearly dominated the start of the event with Caricasulo, Gradinger, Cluzel and Krummenacher. They were followed by the MV Agusta of Raffaele de Rosa and the Kawasaki of Mahias. Corentin Perolari brilliantly moved up to sixth position, ahead of Mahias, while Jules Danilo moved up to 14th.

Caricasulo and Gradinger stood out clearly with a 2 second lead over Krummenacher, Cluzel, de Rosa and Perolari. Caricasulo did well in the Championship against the leaders Krummenacher and Cluzel.

Jules seemed to be struggling a bit, having to give up 4th place to de Rosa. He was followed by his teammate Perolari and Mahias. Caricasulo and Gradinger remained together in the lead, but Krummenacher closed to 1.3 behind the two men. De Rosa and Cluzel were fighting for fourth place at 2.1. Mahias 6th was at 4.8 and Perolari 7th at 5.0.

De Rosa fourth set the best time in the race in 1'55.145. Five drivers were grouped in 2.5 at the head: Caricasulo, Gradinger, Krummenacher de Rosa and Cluzel. Perolari and Mahias fighting for sixth place were 7 seconds behind Okubo, Mahias' teammate at Puccetti Kawasaki.

At mid-race, Caricasulo retained the lead, with Gradinger, Krummenacher and de Rosa stuck to his rear wheel, and Cluzel at 2.4. Perolari dropped to eighth position.

Gradinger took the lead, just ahead of Caricasulo, Krummenacher and de Rosa. Cluzel fifth was 3 seconds behind, Mahias sixth at 9.8, Perolari eighth at 10.3 and Danilo fourteenth at 17.7.

The three Yamaha R6s of Gradinger, Caricasulo and Krummenacher led the way, but the MV Agusta of de Rosa followed without problem. The fight between the four men was magnificent. Cluzel followed them at 2.5, ahead of Smith, Perolari, Mahias and Okubo.

De Rosa took second position behind Caricasulo. We were starting to worry at Yamaha. But Krummenacher passed de Rosa, Caricasulo and Gradinger.

Then the MV overtook the three Yamahas, with de Rosa ahead of Krummenacher, Caricasulo and Gradinger. Cluzel was 5th, Perolari 6th, Mahias 7th and Danilo 12th.

Ultimately, Krummenacher won the race by 0.094 over de Rosa, thus regaining the lead of the World Championship. Caricasulo completed the podium ahead of Gradinger and the three Frenchmen Cluzel, Perolari and Mahias.

Supersport race standings:

Provisional ranking of the World Championship:

 

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