Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) secured his first MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship podium in almost two years on Sunday as he claimed third place in Race 2 at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. It was also a joyous moment for the Bonovo BMW team as they achieved their first WorldSBK podium.

For Gerloff his last podium result came in Race 1 of the 2022 Catalunya Round in the September of that season, when he was still on Yamaha machinery.

“First off I just want to say I wish the speediest recovery to Toprak (Razgatlioglu), it’s a shame to not have him out there and for sure it would have been a lot harder to get on the podium if he was here, but I was able to get it done,” said the Bonovo BMW rider as he reflected on a successful Race 2 at the Motul French Round.

He added, “This year I honestly thought we were going to start a lot stronger and have more podiums, at least one by now but this year has been a struggle since the beginning and we’re finally figuring things out. We’ve all had our heads down and we’ve all been focussed. To finally have it all pay off for the team, it’s a big relief, the emotions are high for everybody.”

Asked about his improving feeling and results at recent rounds Gerloff stated, “I think the biggest thing is we’ve just found a set-up that feels like it is working. It wasn’t perfect, but we just kept riding. It’s helped me a lot to predict the bike more and to ride in front of the bike, that’s helped me to be more consistent. We’re having to work with things that are completely different to last year so we’ve been through a metamorphosis, working through a bunch of stuff to get where we are now. But we’ve found something good and I feel like we’re here now for the most part.”

Gerloff will aim to continue on an upward trajectory at the remaining rounds of the 2024 season, before his switch from BMW machinery to Kawasaki Puccetti Racing for the 2025 campaign.

Bonovo Action BMW team manager Michael Galinski said of the team’s first WorldSBK rostrum result, “We are very proud now, it’s been a really, really long time. We have a very good team, so I want to thank everybody. It was good that we came back with fourth in the first race with Scott (Redding), but now the first podium for us it’s really unbelievable. Garret is not always a fast starter, but coming from the middle of races he gets faster and faster. He manages the tyres very well in the end and if he can go a little faster in the first three or four laps he could also win a race.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) ended his wait for his second victory in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship as he fended off Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) in the Tissot Superpole Race during the Motul French Round. The #11 finished just 0.115s clear of his rival when the chequered flag fell at the end of the 10-lap race to win his first race since the season-opening encounter at the Australia Round, before backing that up with a commanding Race 2 victory ahead of Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team).

BULEGA’S HARD-FOUGHT SUPERPOLE RACE WIN: fending off the in-form Alex Lowes

Bulega crashed out of Race 1 on the opening lap on Saturday and was looking to bounce back, and he did so in style. Lowes got the holeshot from pole position when the lights went out but ‘Bulegas’ wasted no time in passing the #22 as he moved up the inside of Turn 5 on Lap 1 to move into first. From there, he looked to build up a gap to the chasing pack and, in the first half of the race, was able to do. However, Lowes started to close the gap in the final five laps.

With three laps to go, Lowes moved his Kawasaki ZX-10RR machine ahead of Bulega at Turn 5 but the Ducati rider cut back at the Adelaide Hairpin and re-took P1 heading into the Nurburgring chicane. Lowes then tried to pass his rival again at Turn 13 on the penultimate lap, but ran wide, allowing Bulega to take a larger gap into the final lap. Despite the #22 closing up in the second half of the final tour, Bulega held on to take victory and return to the top step for the first time in 21 races.

BACKING IT UP WITH RACE 2 VICTORY: Bulega untouchable on Sunday afternoon

Bulega followed up his Superpole Race win with victory in Race 2 by beating Petrucci by around two seconds. The #11 got the holeshot when lights went out and immediately built up a gap to Alex Lowes in second before the Brit ran wide at Turn 8 and fell to 19^th. That handed second place to Petrucci but the Independent Ducati rider was unable to catch Bulega out in front, with the factory Ducati rider claiming victory.

Reflecting on his Sunday double, Bulega said: “It’s incredible. I needed a day like this after Saturday because that was a very bad day for us. I was fast all weekend from the beginning, but it was very difficult to put it all together especially with the strange weather conditions. I felt that I had the speed, but it was difficult to put it all together. Today, finally, I put it all together and won the Superpole Race and Race 2. It’s incredible, thanks to all my team and all the doctors because they helped me have less pain after Race 1’s huge crash.”

RACE 2 STRATEGY REVEALED: “I tried to push from the beginning… I knew that from half race distance, I could start to have problems…”

After his crash in Race 1 at the Turns 16-17 chicane, Bulega was reviewed in the medical centre on Saturday and was declared fit on Sunday morning after a reassessment although he was suffering from right shoulder and collarbone contusions. With 21 laps of racing to come in Race 2, managing this would be crucial in determining the outcome of Bulega’s race and he revealed after that he had devised a strategy which he hoped would help him.

On his Race 2 strategy, the Ducati rider said: “I tried to push a lot from the beginning because I knew that maybe from half race distance, I could start to have problems with my shoulder. I tried to make a gap in the opening laps, so I was able to reduce the rhythm a little bit at the end of the race if I needed to. Petrucci was very fast today so I tried to maintain the gap. In the end, it was a perfect race.”

THE CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT: 55 points behind Razgatlioglu

With Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) declared unfit after his Free Practice 2 crash, Bulega closed the gap in the Championship standings to 55 points after gaining 37 on the #54. Although he played down his chances of clinching the World Superbike title in his rookie season, Bulega did discuss the opportunity to fight for the title with the BMW star.

Asked whether he was the main contender to Razgatlioglu, Bulega said: “I don’t know. I’m really sorry that Toprak had this problem because he crashed in a very fast and difficult point. I’m sorry for him. I knew that I had the opportunity to take some points and I tried to do my best today; I tried also on Saturday, but it wasn’t like Sunday! Toprak will be very fast like always, so he’ll be strong. I don’t know if can beat him but, for sure, I will try.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was peerless in Race 2 of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the Motul French Round, leading from start to finish to complete a perfect day. Reacting to his Saturday afternoon crash at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in style, Bulega followed up on a fantastic Tissot Superpole Race win with a 2.3s victory over second placed Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), who took his third podium of the weekend.

PETRUCCI & GERLOFF: podium results for the Italian and the American

Petrucci chased hard throughout the race and was Bulega’s nearest challenger, though in truth the factory Ducati rider was never under significant threat from his compatriot, having built a 2.5s lead by the end of lap 4, a gap that remained stable until the chequered flag. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) made it up into third in front of Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) on lap 10 and the American did not look back from there as he charged on for his first BMW podium.

REMARKABLE FIGHTBACK: Lowes from last to fourth

Starting in second on the grid Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) ran wide at Turn 8 on lap 1 – dropping to the back of the race. Lowes then fought back brilliantly, making his way through the pack, eventually getting on front of his former Yamaha teammate Van der Mark for fourth with four laps to go. Race 1 winner Van der Mark notched another solid top five result, 7.5s down on Bulega, whilst just over four seconds behind the Dutchman Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) came home sixth.

TOP TEN BATTLES: Vierge the top Honda rider

Just over half a second behind Gardner was Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) in seventh place, the Honda rider benefitting from a penalty for Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW), who was finally awarded eighth, the Briton being demoted one position for exceeding track limits on final lap. The top 10 was rounded out by Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and Iker Lecuona (Team HRC), after Lecuona was given a three second penalty in lieu of a Long Lap Penalty for shortcutting a corner during the final laps.

EVENTFUL RACE FOR BASSANI: Italian was briefly up to third

Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) had charged through from 10^th on the grid to take over from Van der Mark for third on lap 5, the Italian dropping back to fifth before he was demoted to 11^th after a Long Lap Penalty for an earlier shortcut of Turn 6. There was also a DNF for Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) due to a technical issue.

The top six from WorldSBK Race 2, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)

2. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +2.841

3. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) +4.300s

4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +6.576s

5. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +7.521s

6. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +11.620s

Fastest lap: Nicolo Bulega, Ducati – 1’36.717s

Championship standings:

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 365 points

2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 310

3. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 243

4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 235

5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 190

6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 170

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The FIM Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup title fight swung in favour of Marc Vich in Race 2 at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours after the Spanish star used all his experience to take a vital victory, he now has a nine-point lead going into the final round. Eduardo Burr and Gonzalo Sanchez completed the podium.

In complete contrast to Saturday’s Race 1, the second race in France was held under sunny skies and with warm temperatures. Japan’s Takumi Takahashi started from pole thanks to setting the fastest lap in the first race, and he was joined on the front row by Saturday’s victor Cameron Swain and Alessandro Di Persio.

In a typically thrilling and unpredictable race, the lead group swapped places several times with no one rider able to make a significant break from the pack. Brazil’s Burr had a go at leading, but he was quickly joined by title rivals Vich and Sanchez as well as Pietro Anastasi and Peruvian wildcard Aymon Bocanegra. Showing his skill with every passing race, Di Persio had excellent pace but a double long lap penalty cost him the chance of a good points haul. The Italian title hopeful nevertheless took 11^th place and remains in mathematical contention.

Back at the front, bLU cRU stalwart Vich used all his experience and race craft to keep putting his R3 in the lead. The Mallorcan charged to his third victory of the season and now takes over the head of the standings by nine points with one round remaining. Burr returned to the podium with a great second place, while Sanchez recovered brilliantly from a Race 1 DNF to take an important third.

FULL RESULTS – R3 bLU cRU World Cup – RACE TWO

The FIM Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup will return to action for the final round in Aragón from September 27^th – 29^th.

Marc Vich said: “I feel really happy because these points today were very important. Yesterday I needed to careful and concentrate on finishing, and we came into this race level with Gonzalo. Today I’ve moved into the championship lead but I know it’s going to be difficult and I don’t want to think too far ahead. MotorLand Aragón is a track with a long straight and I think the action will be intense. Let’s see what happens in a few weeks!”

Source: WorldSBK.com

In Race 2 of the FIM Supersport World Championship at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) took a classy win, holding off a late charge from Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) to secure maximum points in the second race of the day. An eventful weekend at the Motul French Round for Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) saw him finish the race in third place and still in the championship lead, though now by a reduced advantage of 14 points over Montella.

MONTELLA’S LFYING START: Italian determined to make up ground

Montella made a great start getting up into P2 from sixth place on the grid on the opening lap, determined to claw back as many points as possible after a costly penalty which had seen him finish Race 1 sixth after a long lap penalty. White flags were briefly shown as the riders began lap 2 with light rain falling at Magny-Cours, though Montella was not perturbed and took over in the lead on lap 3. Huertas had dropped back at the start but fought his way up to fifth by the end of lap 2, before joining the fight at the front. By lap 5 Montella was leading by 2.5s, with Huertas by then up into second. 

MANZI ON THE CHARGE: fast pace from the Yamaha rider

On lap 14 Manzi took over in the lead from Montella, with Huertas close by in third. Montella got back in front with three laps to go, with Huertas running wide at Turn 5 on the last lap and therefore having to settle for third. In the lead Montella had to keep it absolutely full gas to hold on for a vital win over Manzi, with the Yamaha rider setting the fastest lap of the race, his 1’40.027 being a new race lap record.

CAREER BEST FINISH FOR BOOTH-AMOS: fourth place for the Briton

Whilst Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph) may have finished the race over 12 seconds behind winner Montella it was still a superb performance from the Briton as he notched the best result of his WorldSSP career, with Spaniard Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) just behind him in fifth.  Glenn van Straalen (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) took sixth place, whilst French wildcard

Corentin Perolari (CBO Racing Honda France) will be happy with his seventh place finish. Rounding out the top ten, meanwhile, were Race 1 winner Niki Tuuli (EAB Racing Team), pole man Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse).

 

FRENCH HEARTBREAK: Debise and Mahias crash out

Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) crashed on the first lap and then there was big disappointment for the Magny-Cours crowd at the end of lap 13, when the two Frenchman Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) and Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) crashed out together at Turn 13, making it a frustrating end to their home round. Mahias was later declared unfit with a right displaced collarbone fracture.

The top six from WorldSSP Race 2, full results here:

1. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team)

2. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +0.171s

3. Adrián Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) +1.380s

4. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph) +12.230s

5. Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +12.626s

6. Glenn van Straalen (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +14.148s

Fastest lap: Stefano Manzi, Yamaha – 1’40.027 (new race lap record)

Championship standings:

1. Adrián Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 289 points

2. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) 275

3. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 239

4. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) 162

5. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 148

6. Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) 139

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Double World Champion Jeffrey Buis (KTM Freudenberg-Paligo Racing) secured the win in Race 2 in the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship class at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, coming from tenth on the grid to fight his way to the top step of the podium. Buis took his 13th win – increasing his tally as the record holder for victories in the class – also notching a seventh victory for KTM and his 23rd podium. Brothers Galang Hendra Pratama (ProGP NitiRacing) and Aldi Satya Mahendra (Team BrCorse) proudly represented Indonesia on the podium again, as Mahendra increased his Championship lead to 12 points.

PLENTY OF DRAMA: 100^th race was another dramatic affair

The 100^th WorldSSP300 race in history was not short of incident. After the initial start Unai Calatayud (ARCO SASH MotoR University Team) took the holeshot, before Mahendra quickly took over at the front, with Daniel Mogeda (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kawasaki) leading by Turn 5. A technical problem for David Salvador (MS Racing) resulted in him suffering a big impact after a highside crash at Turn 5 on Lap 2, which saw the race red flagged as the marshals cleaned the track. Salvador was taken to the medical centre for a check up and would not take part in the restarted race due to a left elbow fracture.

RACE SHORTENED AFTER RE-START: the riders blast-off again

The Quick Start procedure was followed for the restart with a new race distance of seven laps for the WorldSSP300 riders over which to contest the win. Mahendra took the lead early after the restart, before Buis came from the fourth row on the grid to take over at the front by Turn 5. On the second lap of the restarted race Kevin Sabatucci (Team Flembbo-PL Performances) had made it into the lead, but Buis would not yield and soon got back in front and began to pull clear. KOVE Racing Team pair Marc Garcia and Julio Garcia were riding well and forced their way into the top four with five laps to go.

BUIS POWERS ON TO WIN: battles rage behind him

Entering the penultimate lap Buis had the lead, with Mahendra hot on his tail and Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) also joining the party. Pratama came out of the chasing pack setting a blistering pace on the penultimate lap, briefly leading on the final lap, only for Buis to retake the lead and push on for the win. Iglesias crashed on the final lap after fighting with Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki). Gennai crossed the finish line second but was penalised by three seconds for irresponsible riding and was therefore relegated to 14^th place.

A HECTIC FINISH IN FRANCE: crashes on the final straight

Crossing the line one second behind the front three Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) was fourth, with Marc Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) fifth and Phillip Tonn (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing) in sixth for a career best result. A hectic incident arriving at the finish saw Humberto Maier (MS Racing), Julio Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) and Elia Bartolini (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSSP300 Team) crash, but they were given seventh, eighth and ninth respectively as they crossed the line. Pepe Osuna (DEZA-BOX 77 Racing Team) completed the top ten, 2.324s behind winner Buis.

The top six from WorldSSP300 Race 2, full results here:

1. Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing)

2. Galang Hendra Pratama (ProGP NitiRacing) +0.546s

3. Aldi Satya Mahendra (Team BrCorse) +0.548s

4. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) +1.526s

5. Marc Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) +1.674s

6. Phillip Tonn (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing) +1.848s

Fastest lap: Aldi Satya Mahendra, Yamaha – 1’52.744s

Championship standings:

1. Aldi Satya Mahendra (Team BrCorse) 164 points

2. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) 152

3. Íñigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) 138

4. Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing) 111

5. Marc Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) 102

6. Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki) 101

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Source: WorldSBK.com

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) made up for the disappointment of his MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship Race 1 crash at the Motul French Round, storming to a fantastic Tissot Superpole Race win at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours on Sunday morning. The 2023 WorldSSP Champion took the lead on the opening lap from Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and kept the English rider at bay in an exciting finale to secure his first win since his stunning rookie victory in the opening race of the season in Australia.

@nbulega WINS THE SUPERPOLE RACE

Alex Lowes is second an @petrux9 completes the podium #FrenchWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/0E9UwlvRz3

— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) September 8, 2024

LOWES PUSHES HARD: Late mistake costs Kawasaki rider

Lowes made a great start on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR, but was overtaken by Bulega at Turn 5, with those two pulling clear for the victory to be contested between the pair. An early crash for Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) ended his race at Turn 7 on the opening lap with the WorldSBK Champion taken to the medical centre for a check-up. Bautista was subsequently declared unfit for Race 2 due to a fracture of the eighth rib on his left side. On the penultimate lap Lowes had put himself in a position to challenge Bulega for the lead before a small error from the Kawasaki rider gave the Ducati star the initiative and the Italian would not look back from there.

PETRUCCI ON PODIUM AGAIN: Aggressive ride pays off

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) crashed out at Turn 5 on lap 5 after fighting with fellow Italian Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), as Petrucci pushed on to secure a strong third place, after starting in tenth on the grid. Petrucci’s podium finish was a repeat of his Race 1 result, as was the fourth place for Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) – indeed it was the fourth time in 2024 that Redding has ended a race in fourth. The experienced Briton was able to get the better of Xavi Vierge (Team HRC), who ended up fifth in a feisty mid-pack battle, with Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) sixth and Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) seventh.

rd yesterday in Race 1 and rd today @petrux9

The #9 records his 9th podium #FrenchWorldSBK pic.twitter.com/bapzRWPhPz

— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) September 8, 2024

VAN DER MARK DROPS OFF: Dutchman unable to reproduce Race 1 win

After his excellent ride to victory in the wet in Race 1 yesterday Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was amongst the front runners in the early laps, riding in third place, thought he would ultimately end up in eighth place. Van der Mark was followed across the finish line by Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) in ninth and tenth places respectively.

The top nine from WorldSBK Superpole Race, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)

2. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.115s

3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +3.677s

4. Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) +3.903s

5. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) +5.710s

6. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) +5.854s

7. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) +6.613s

8. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +7.788s

9. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +8.397s

Fastest lap: Alex Lowes, Kawasaki – 1’36.873s

Be sure to connect for Race 2 at Magny-Cours on Sunday at 15:30 Local Time (UTC +1) and watch the action live with the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 50% off!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Niki Tuuli (EAB Racing Team) took a fine win in the rescheduled and shortened 12-lap Race 1 early on Sunday in the FIM Supersport World Championship at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, flying across the finish line 2.938s ahead of second placed Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing). Riding brilliantly in mixed conditions on slick tyres at the Motul French Round the result is Tuuli’s first win with Ducati and his first victory since winning in Indonesia 2022. It’s also his third win with a different manufacturer, making him the first rider to achieve such a feat in the class.

CARICASULO RETURNS TO PODIUM: Strong performance by MV Agusta rider

Caricasulo also made his own piece of personal history with his first rostrum result of 2024, having now featured on the podium with four different manufacturers in WorldSSP. Completing the podium behind the front two was Glenn van Straalen (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing), making it three different manufacturers in the top three as he finished 3.248s off Tuuli and just over a tenth of a second over fourth placed Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team).

HUERTAS & MONTELLA CLASH: Rivals go head-to-head

Title rivals Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) and Huertas clashed on lap 8 with Huertas again lucky to stay upright after his huge ‘moment’ in Warm Up on Saturday. Montella was given a Long Lap Penalty for irresponsible riding for his part in that incident and he finished the race in sixth place, just over nine seconds down on Tuuli and five seconds adrift of fifth placed Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). Oncu set the fastest lap of the race on the final lap, to put him at the head of the grid for Race 2.

TOP TEN BATTLES: early leader Debise drops back on rain tyres

Behind sixth-placed Montella, Tom Edwards (D34G Racing WorldSSP Team), Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing VerdNatura), Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph) and Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) completed the top ten. Debise took the lead on the first lap, going three seconds clear by the start of lap 2 on rain tyres, before he was caught by the chasing group at the end of lap 7 and then swallowed up by the pack.

COSTLY CRASHES: Mahias and Manzi caught out by the conditions

Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) started with a bang and took the holeshot, only to crash out of the lead seconds later at Turn 2. Another big name crasher was Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) who went down at Turn 15 on lap 3, which is a huge blow to his Championship aspirations. Luke Power (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) got into second place early in the race and remained towards the front before he crashed out of fourth place at Turn 12 on lap 5, with Tuuli having to take avoiding action.

The top six from WorldSSP Race 1, full results here:

1. Niki Tuuli (EAB Racing Team)

2. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) +2.938s

3. Glenn van Straalen (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +3.248s

4. Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) +3.390s

5. Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) +4.121s

6. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +9.119s

Fastest lap: Can Oncu, Kawasaki – 1’43.122s

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The sun was out in abundance for WorldSBK morning Warm Up at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, with the eighth round of the season into its final race day of the weekend. Without big names such as Championship leader Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) after his FP2 fall and six-time World Champion Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) after his Race 1 crash on the opening lap, it’s a depleted field for the last day of action. As well as that, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) is injured with a collarbone contusion but declared fit nonetheless. Warm Up itself took place as a wet session but with the sun beating down, the track dried throughout the ten-minute session with… taking control at the top.

With only ten riders setting lap times, reigning World Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was back on top of the running in the damp conditions, heading home a Ducati 1-2 with Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) in second place. Always a dark horse in tricky conditions, Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONIAS MIE Honda Racing) completed the top three, ahead of Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) and Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), making it four Ducatis in the top five.

Super-sub Alessandro Delbianco (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) carried on his top ten form from Race 1 on Saturday with P6 in Warm Up on Sunday, taking top Yamaha honours too. He was ahead of teammate Remy Gardner, whilst Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) made it a trio of Yamahas. Ivo Lopes (PETRONIAS MIE Honda Racing) took P9 with Nicolo Bulega going out for some laps but finishing tenth. Everybody else remained in pitlane, including no action at all from the Team HRC box, Race 1 winner Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) or Race 1 leader Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK).

Top six after WorldSBK Warm Up, full results here:

1 Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’52.742
2. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.441s
3. Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) +1.648s
4. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) +1.749s
5. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +1.963s
6. Alessandro Delbianco (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +2.283s

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Source: WorldSBK.com