WSBK Supersport San Juan Race 1: Cluzel without rival!

The French driver preserved his invincibility during the first Supersport race held in Argentina, ahead of Manuel González and Can Öncü.

A real solo ride. This is how we must describe the first event held on the San Juan Villicum circuit in Supersport. Jules Cluzel has indeed won a third victory in as many races run on the Argentinian track since the arrival of the category at the foot of the Andes in 2018.

In short, the Auvergnat will have only ceded the reins for a few seconds, and a few tens of meters at most, to a Can Öncü author of a great start from fourth place on the grid (the latter's best qualification in the category) which allowed him to take the holeshot and dive inside in the lead at the first turn.

A very short-lived takeover since the Turk immediately handed over leadership to Cluzel, definitely not determined to have his law dictated to him in Argentina. From then on, the native of Montluçon led the race from start to finish to sign a second success in two rounds (he had already won two weeks ago in Portimão during Race 1). Waiting for a third victory tomorrow?

 

Öncü on the podium

Behind him, Öncü gave everything to finish on the podium. The Turk defended himself for a long time in second position against Manuel González, but the latter ended up winning his case. The winner of the 2018 Valencia Grand Prix in Moto3 nevertheless finished under the checkered flag in third position, completing a good first part of the weekend.

Fourth place was the subject of a fierce battle between Steven Odendaal and Dominique Aegerter, on paper the last two title contenders still in the running this season. The first city did not know how to make the best use of its second place on the starting grid, author of a laborious takeoff which forced it to cut the road in the peloton to finally scrap against its Swiss rival in the last few steps.

 

Odendaal wins a rearguard duel against Aegerter

The South African still held on until the end, regaining two now anecdotal points against the Helvetian as the gap between the two men, which now stands at 52 units, constitutes a chasm while There are only three races left to go.

We then find Valentin Debise in sixth place. The Frenchman delivered a top-notch performance today to finish ahead of Peter Sebestyen and Niki Tuuli, while Glenn Van Straalen and Vertti Takala completed the top 10.

Starting from 15th place on the grid, Philipp Öttl was unable to do better than 11th at the finish, and lost 15 new points to his rival for third place in the championship, González. The gap between the two men now peaks at 32 units, which seriously compromises the German's chances of finishing on the final podium this season. Finally, we can note the retirement due to a fall of Raffaele de Rosa four laps from the goal. Infuriating for the Italian, who qualified in a promising seventh place on the grid.

 

Supersport San Juan – Race 1:

Classification credit: WorldSBK.com