WSBK Jerez Supersport Race 1: Locatelli knocks out Cluzel

The first row of the starting grid included Andrea Locatelli (Yamaha Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) with a time of 1'42.214, Jules cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) at 0.574 and Philipp Öttl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) at 0.854.

Just behind them took place on the second row Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) at 1.054, Corentin Perolari (GMT94 Yamaha) at 1.147 and Raffaele de Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse). Among the first 6, there were therefore 50% French. Andy Verdoïa (bLU cRU WorldSSP by MS Racing) started thirteenth.

The race was planned for a total of 17 laps of the 4,423 km circuit, for a total distance of 75,191 km. At the time of departure, the air temperature in Andalusia was 38° and that of the track 62°. It was the second race of the year for the Supersport World Championship, after that of Phillip Island which took place on March 1st, and the third which will take place this Sunday in Jerez.

Randy Krummenacher was withdrawn, no longer part of the MV Agusta Reparto Corse team which could only count on Raffaele de Rosa and Federico Fuligni. The MVs having been downgraded from the Phillip Island race, Jules Cluzel and Corentin Perolari were thus retrospectively classified second and third on the Phillip Island podium.

The fastest at the start was Andrea Locatelli ahead of Jules Cluzel, Phillip Öttl; Corentin Perolari, Hikari Okubo and Lucas Mahias. Cluzel took command, with Locatelli and Öttl in pursuit. Perolari fourth preceded Okubo and Mahias.

Cluzel, Locatelli and Öttl opened up a nice gap of 2.5 on the peloton led by Perolari, Okubo and Mahias. Verdoïa was in fourteenth position.

Cluzel, Locatelli and Öttl remained grouped in the lead while Mahias was more than 4 seconds behind, ahead of Perolari, Bassani and Okubo. Locatelli passed Cluzel with 13 laps to go, and he seemed to widen the gap quickly, while Öttl third struggled to keep up. Mahias fourth was at 5.7.

Sebestyen and Verdoïa went out together into a gravel trap, from which Andy emerged with the engine running. Isaac Viñales retired at the side of the track in the first turn due to a technical problem.

At mid-race Locatelli was ahead of Cluzel by 1.6, Öttl by 4.0, Mahias by 7.8, then Bassani, de Rosa, Perolari and Okubo by 12 seconds. Locatelli’s domination promised a soporific 2020 Championship…

Locatelli's lead increased to 2.7 over Cluzel with 6 laps remaining, with Öttl at 6.4, Mahias at 9.9, de Rosa at 11.9, Bassani, Perolari and Odendaal at 13.7. Okubo retired at his stand, and Verdoïa was running in 19th position.

Behind Locatelli, Cluzel and Öttl, Mahias' third place was threatened by Raffaele de Rosa. Perolari was seventh, battling with Bassani and Odendaal. In 1'43.893, Locatelli was the only driver to have run under 1'44.

Locatelli won with a lead of more than 3 seconds over Cluzel, followed by Öttl, Mahias, de Rosa, Odendaal and Perolari. Axel Bassani fifth fell two laps from the end, without seriousness.

Results of the first race:

Credit rankings: Worldsbk.com / Dorna

Provisional ranking of the World Championship:

Photos © Worldsbk.com / Dorna, Circuit de Jerez – Ángel Nieto