[Supersport] Exclusive interview with Jules Cluzel “I prefer to do my own race and not think about others”

After being pushed around and eliminated in a fall at Portimao by his main opponent in the Championship Sandro Cortese, Jules Cluzel reacted perfectly by winning the following two races at Magny-Cours and in Argentina. He is only 6 points behind and the grand final promises to be exciting between the two men on Saturday October 27 (the day before the Australian Grand Prix) in Doha at 16:30 p.m. French time.

Jules, last Sunday in Argentina, on the grid, fourth place behind Lucas Mahias, Federico Caricasulo and Sandra Cortese Was it satisfactory?

“To tell the truth, no, because I would have liked to continue my good momentum from the weekend, when I was first or second during each of the three free practice sessions and the warm up. Afterwards, we realized that we were less good during qualifying on one lap. It's always been one of my personal strengths, but not with this bike, not this year.

“I think the others found something on one lap, which is what we are missing but which is not the most important thing in the end. I reasoned with myself by remembering that at Magny-Cours I was not on pole (editor’s note: third), I was in the same conditions. It reassured me that we were still going to perform well in the race and that we had to stay motivated. »

In the race, you immediately took command. What was your strategy?

“My strategy was to do my best, without calculating, and to be on the same momentum as in Magny-Cours. I just tried to do my job, set my own pace and race intelligently. And it’s cool because it worked again! »

With 5 laps to go, you took the fastest lap in 1'44.119. Cortese saw the danger and overtook Mahias for second place. But you managed to open up a gap of 0.9 on the German. Cortese held on and set the best lap in 1'43.923. It was 0.5 from you. Sandro further progressed in 1'43.818, but you still kept him at 0.5. Was the race decided then?

" Certainly. There were giant screens on the circuit, I could see who was behind me. And I was also concerned about the gaps. I tried to stay focused and improve my pace.

“I understood that it was me who set the pace. For the driver behind, even if he is 2 or 3 seconds behind, it is always simpler because he has a point of focus. When he was at 0.9 as you said, that's when he went up a tenth, then two tenths... But I understood that it was still complicated for him, so I was really calm and above all focused on my speed and not making any mistakes. »

During the next final race in Qatar, you will arrive 6 points behind. The winner will score 25 points and the second 20. What attitude do you expect from the two other members who form the final four with you and Cortese, that is to say Lucas Mahias and Federico Caricasulo (the four of you riding on Yamaha) ?

“I expect them to go fast because they are fast drivers. Lucas was World Champion and he is a fast driver in Qatar. Caricasulo is hungry for victory. He's a talented driver and a little crazy.

“But I have to run my own race. We hope that something will happen, that they will be there, that they will be present. But I prefer to run my own race and not think about others. »

You finished in Qatar 2nd in 250 in 2009 on Aprilia, 3rd in Moto2 in 2010 on Suter, 2nd in Supersport last year on Honda and 3rd in 2014 and 2016 on MV Agusta.

Sandro Cortese finished 2nd in Doha in 125 in 2011 on Aprilia, 3rd in 125 in 2009 on Derbi and 3rd in Moto3 in 2012 on KTM. In 600, his best results are two seventh places in 2014 and 2015 on Kalex in Moto2. Which of the two of you do you think this circuit is more favorable to?

“I don’t know and it will be Saturday evening that all this will be discussed. Even already on Thursday during testing. Now, he and I have never ridden in the same conditions on the same bikes, so it's difficult to compare. »

Mrs. Yasmeen Kahn, wife of Vafi Khan and co-owner with him of your NRT team, was present with you on the podium in Argentina. Could we deduce from this that the financial situation was healthier?

“I don't want to answer that question because I think my strong point this year was doing my job and not thinking about everything that could happen in the team. I think I've handled it well so far. »

Is there anything new about your next season? I heard about you at Puccetti Kawasaki in Supersport with Lucas Mahias as a teammate.

“I don't have to worry about my future. But right now all I care about is what happens next week. »