Supersport, Donington J3: Jules Cluzel wins the race superbly at the finish, Lucas Mahias third

Behind the Superpole man, Federico Caricasulo (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team), the French drivers made a nice group shot with Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in second position, ahead of Raffaele De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), while Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) set the fourth fastest time and placed himself on the second row of the grid with wildcard Brad Jones (Appleyard Macadam Integro) and Ayrton Badovini (Team Pedercini Racing).

Just like Álvaro Bautista who lost the leadership of the Superbike Championship and Manuel Gonzalez (first in SSP 300) who withdrew due to injury, the leading man in the Supersport ranking Randy Krummenacher (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) was a victim of the curse of Donington this year and only took the 11th^e chrono, his worst qualifying result of the season which forced him from the fourth row.

The French as a whole were not unhappy.

Lucas Mahias : " This is a good starting position for Kawasaki and me for the race. I'm a little frustrated with the rain because I only drove two laps on Saturday morning, then the same in the afternoon at Superpole. It was a strange qualification but this game is over. Yesterday I worked on a long sim run and my pace wasn't too bad, so I'm feeling confident. I hope for an even better result than in Misano and the first victory of the season ».

Jules cluzel : " We decided to take a gamble, and within 20 seconds luck would have been on our side and we could have been on the first row. We had a good pace yesterday in the dry, so we want to finish on the podium.”

Corentin Perolari : " I feel better today, I couldn't do the ideal lap, and I think I could have improved by half a second. I start from the 4th row, it is possible to have a very good race this Sunday ». Jules Danilo (18th): “ Saturday was a terrible day, we lost a lot of time. It was good to take a step forward, but we didn't do it, we'll see this Sunday. Tomorrow will be another day and we will start fresh ».

Superb triumph for Jules Cluzel at the finish

On the starting grid, the air temperature was 17° and that of the asphalt 37°. The track was dry, and well cleaned after the oil spilled during Race 2 in Superbike.

The fastest to start was Federico Caricasulo ahead of Lucas Mahias and Jules Cluzel. The Italian tried to widen the gap, but he was closely followed by Mahias, Cluzel, Jones, Okubo, Viñales, Soomer, de Rosa, Perolari and Krummenacher. Alen Gyiorfi fell without seriousness. Jules Danilo occupied eighteenth position.

Mahias moved into first position passing Caricasulo inside. Then it was Jules Cluzel's turn to overtake the Transalpin while braking. The two French people then occupied the first two places in the race!

Mahias led, followed closely by Cluzel and Caricasulo as well as the unexpected wildcard Brad Jones. Isaac Viñales fell without gravity. Perolari was the other good surprise at the start of the event by preceding Krummenacher and occupying seventh position in front of the Swiss.

Mahias, Cluzel and Caricasulo remained grouped and gradually broke away from Raffaele de Rosa fourth by 3 seconds. Krummenacher continued his comeback by overtaking Corentin Perolari. Loris Cresson, who had fallen, was transported to the medical headquarters.

Mahias, in the lead, resisted Cluzel and Caricasulo. De Rosa fourth at 3.4 tried to repel the attacks of Krummenacher very well back in fifth position. Perolari was tenth and Danilo seventeenth.

At mid-race, Mahias, Cluzel and Caricasulo were wheel in wheel and fighting for the podium. Jules Danilo left the circuit then returned to the track in 21st.

Randy Krummenacher managed to take fourth position to the detriment of Raffaele de Rosa. With 8 laps remaining, the Swiss was 3.1 behind the pack of the three leading men fighting.

Mahias, Cluzel and Caricasulo engaged in a very strategic fight, while Krummenacher came back to 2.5. Cluzel overtook Mahias on the straight in front of the pits. Caricasulo saw the danger and tried to do the same. Krummenacher fourth at 1.9 set the fastest lap since the start in 1'30.946.

Caricasulo overtook Mahias and found himself second, 0.8 behind Cluzel with 5 laps remaining. Krummenacher took the opportunity to get 0.2 closer to Mahias.

Cluzel led at the end of the race, threatened by Caricasulo, Mahias and Krummenacher. Perolari was ninth and Danilo twenty-first. Cluzel resisted his pursuers well and victory was entirely possible.

But Krummenacher in fourth was only 0.9 behind. Mahias set the best lap in 1'30.940.

Finally it was in the sprint that Jules Cluzel won superbly ahead of Federico Caricasulo, Lucas Mahias and Randy Krummenacher. Big congratulations to Jules and the GMT94 Yamaha!

Race results:

Provisional ranking of the World Championship:

Next race: Portimao on September 8

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