Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had to fight his way through the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field in Race 1 of the Pirelli French Round after he dropped from second to last in the opening laps. The reigning Champion finished the race at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours inside the top ten after a technical issue forced him to briefly stop his Panigale V4 R before he could restart it and re-join the race.

Bautista had started Race 1 from the front row and moved into the lead with teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi just behind, but title rival Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) was soon in front after passing the #1 on Lap 2 at Turn 13. A lap later, with Bautista looking to respond on the Yamaha star, he dropped down to 24^th and last. On the exit of Turn 5, the reigning Champion pulled over and off the track with his bike coming to a halt.

He was swiftly able to get the machine running again but he had to fight his way through the entire WorldSBK field and eventually managed to finish in tenth place, limiting the damage in the Championship standings as Razgatlioglu won. The swing between the pair was 19 points in the #54’s favour. The gap is now 55 points between them with 11 races remaining.

Explaining what happened in Race 1, Bautista said: “It’s been a strange afternoon. In the morning, I had a good feeling, and we made a really good lap time in Superpole, and the bike was fantastic. In the end, we chose the softer compound on the rear at the minute because, in the morning, I felt good, so I thought it was a good choice for the race. I had a good start, but I suddenly felt the engine had some problems because I felt like the power was too low. In the first two laps, the engine wasn’t pushing like normal. When I got to Turn 5 on Lap 3, I re-opened the gas and the engine stopped. I thought maybe the power was not good in the first two laps because there was a problem. When I stopped the bike, I read a message on the display that it was on, only the engine stopped.

“I read a message that said I could start. It was the message that mechanics see when they switch on the bike. I tried to restart the bike and go, the engine started again, and I thought I’d go to the box with the bike. But the bike started to work like normal. The power was normal. I just did the race and I’m happy with the performance and because I had a lot of fun catching the riders and passing all of them! Without that problem, maybe we could fight for the win.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) resisted Stefano Manzi’s (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) late-race pressure to claim Race 1 victory in the FIM Supersport World Championship at the Circuit de Nevers Mangy-Cours as he pulled out another five points over his title. The pair finished ahead of Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) whose strong pace at the Pirelli French Round translated into his first WorldSSP podium which he got to celebrate in front of his home fans.

TOP TWO BATTLE, EMOTIONAL PODIUM: Bulega vs Manzi, Debise celebrates

Championship leader Bulega got off to a flying start as the lights went out and the #11 instantly pulled out a gap over his rivals to more than two seconds by the end of Lap 5 as he looked to extend his Championship leader over title rival Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha). Despite the 2024 factory Ducati rider’s early pace, Manzi pulled off his usual tactic of closing in on Bulega as the race progressed, with the gap down to 1.5 second at the end of Lap 7.

Manzi, who took advantage of Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) running wide at Turn 3 on Lap 2 to move into second, kept closing the gap on his rival as he lapped around a tenth quicker than the Championship leader. While Manzi was closing in on Bulega, home hero Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) was going with them as he went in search of a maiden WorldSSP podium with the #94 remaining within around a second of Manzi until just after the halfway stage of the 19-lap race.

As the final third started, the gap dropped under a second between Bulega and Manzi as the pair dropped Debise to leave the fight for victory between the two Italians. At the end of Lap 17, the gap was down to just three tenths, but the Championship leader extended the lead again on the final lap to more than half-a-second to claim victory and extend his lead to 51 points; giving the #11 two race wins worth of advantage over his rival. With the duo pulling away from Debise, the Frenchman was able to take a comfortable but emotional maiden podium in front of his home fan.

Bulega’s victory was his tenth of the season, tying him with Dominique Aegerter’s total from his first title-winning campaign in 2021 while he was only two behind Andrea Locatelli’s 12 wins in 2020. It was Manzi’s 16^th podium since his switch to WorldSSP while Debise became the 104^th rider to stand on the World Supersport rostrum and the 12^th French rider.

NOTHING TO SEPARATE: a huge fight for the points

Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki), fresh from his Kawasaki WorldSBK test, took fourth as he finished three seconds away from the podium, but he also had a similar advantage over Niki Tuuli (PTR Triumph) in fifth as four different manufacturers finished in the top five in Race 1. Tuuli’s P5 came off the back off an incredible move on Montella after he went around the outside of the #55 at Turn 5 at around the halfway stage of the race. After a strong start, Italian rider Montella had to fend off a late challenge from Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) in seventh with just two tenths separating them.

SCRAPPING IT OUT: Dalla Porta takes first points

There was a big scrap for the lower end of the top ten positions with Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) securing P8, eight seconds clear of Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) in ninth and tenth respectively. On the final lap, the #54 fell behind the WorldSSP-newcomer but he was able to re-pass the 2019 Moto3™ World Champion. Despite losing out on P9, Dalla Porta scored his first points since his switch from Moto2™ to WorldSSP.

SECURING POINTS: French riders celebrate points at home

Home hero Andy Verdoia (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team) was 11^th and just half-a-second away from the top ten, and he was clear of compatriot Johan Gimbert (GMT94 Yamaha). Gimbert, competing as a wildcard this weekend, scored his first points in WorldSSP with 12^th although he was 11 seconds down on Verdoia. Tom Booth-Amos (Motozoo MIE AIR Racing) was 13^th and the lead WorldSSP Challenge rider, as well as the only one to score points, and he extended his lead in the Challenge standings. He was just two tenths clear of Simon Jespersen (VFT Racing WEBIKE Yamaha) in 14^th as he took two points on his return to the Championship, while John McPhee (Vince64 by Puccetti Racing) took 15^th.

FIGHTING BACK: De Rosa goes from last to just outside the points

Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) was 16th after battling back from last after a lap one spill. He went down at Turn 5 and dropped to the back of the field but slowly worked his way up the order to claim 16^th, 2.5 seconds away from the points. He was directly ahead of Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) who finished 17^th in his first WorldSSP race since April on his return from injury. Tom Edwards (Yart-Yamaha WorldSSP Team) was 21^st after he had to serve a Long Lap Penalty for a Turn 6 shortcut and not losing sufficient time, with Ondrej Vostatek (PTR Triumph) having the same penalty for the same offence and finishing 22^nd. Luke Power (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) was 28^th and the last classified rider after he had a Lap 2 crash at Turn 15 but re-joined the race.

HOUSEKEEPING: three retirements from Race 1

Jorge Navarro’s (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) race came to an early end when he crashed out on Lap 3 at Turn 7 while running in the top ten. Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) was in the points when he was ordered to stop with a technical issue with this Yamaha machine, making him the second retirement. Wildcard Matthieu Gregorio (Moto Ain) brought his bike into the pits towards the end of the race to retire.

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

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team)

2. Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) +0.587s

3. Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) +4.898s

4. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) +7.701s

5. Niki Tuuli (PTR Triumph) +9.969s

6. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +12.013s

Fastest lap – Valentin Debise (Yamaha), 1’40.928s

Watch WorldSSP Race 2 from 12:30 Local Time (GMT+2) on Sunday using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Race 1 at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours provided yet another twist in what has been an incredible 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship campaign as Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) took his seventh victory at the French venue to close the gap on Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in the title fight. The #54 battled hard to get to the front before resisting pressure from Bautista’s teammate, Michael Ruben Rinaldi, to claim a hard-fought win during the Pirelli French Round.

The 2021 Champion started from fourth on the grid but was immediately in contention at the head of the field with a superb launch, and, while the #1 was ahead in the opening laps, Razgatlioglu made his move on his rival on Lap 2 at Turn 13. Bautista stayed close to the Turkish star but dropped down the order when he seemingly had a technical issue coming out of Turn 5. Bautista fell to last although he was able to recover to finish tenth.

While Bautista was fighting his way through the field, Razgatlioglu was going head-to-head with Rinaldi for victory. The Italian made his way past the Yamaha rider on Lap 5 at Turn 11, with Razgatlioglu running wide, and he was able to remain ahead until Lap 14. Razgatlioglu tried to make a move at Turn 5, but Rinaldi responded on the exit with his adversary sticking close through the Nurburgring chicane and the 180-degree hairpin. At Turn 11, Razgatlioglu pulled a similar move to the one Rinaldi made on him to claim the lead and eventually, despite the #21’s best efforts, pulled away from the Ducati for victory.

With Bautista able to manage P10 after his charge through the field, and Razgatlioglu claiming a maximum 25-point haul for his win, the gap between the pair has reduced from 74 points to 55 with 11 races remaining in the 2023 season. Although there’s not long left in the season and with time running out for the #54 to overhaul his rival, Razgatlioglu has set out his position as he looks to end his Yamaha stint with a second title.

Reflecting on his win and the title fight, Razgatlioglu said: “I’m happy to win again at Magny-Cours as it is one of my favourite tracks! We won like last year and, in the same way by fighting with Michael! Anyway, a big thanks to the team as they were working really well this weekend and we made a step. It’s not enough to just be good when braking, we need more power on the exit of the corner, especially from the slow ones. Everyone knows the Ducati is so good on the straights, but we’ll keep fighting! I saw Alvaro had some technical problems; I’m not thinking about the Championship, I’m focused race by race as I need to win. I forget about the Championship. We have two more races on Sunday. I’m more relaxed than Alvaro because I’m not thinking in the Championship. If we win every race, we’re World Champions. In 2021, that was how I thought and it’s how I still think. We’ll just try to enjoy every race.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

It was a memorable day in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship for Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW), as the American rider shone throughout the day and continued his good form onwards from Friday running. The #31 BMW star enjoyed a career-first pole in the Tissot Superpole session, whilst in Race 1, he was a podium contender before ultimately finishing fourth.

Setting an all-time lap record for the track in Superpole with a 1’35.453, Gerloff went from the front row of the grid for just the second time in his career after a Superpole session, whilst it was BMW’s first front row of the year. In the race, Gerloff got a mega start but was just edged to Turn 1 by Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). However, Gerloff rode a solid first lap and whilst dropping to P4, it wasn’t such a drop in comparison to other times throughout his time with Yamaha in recent years. This meant that Gerloff put himself in contention and was able to fight with the likes of Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and his teammate, Alex Lowes. Whilst Rea broke clear, Gerloff was able to keep the #22 of Lowes throughout the race; the Kawasaki rider had spontaneous puffs of smoke at various points and on the penultimate lap, he got ahead of Lowes into Turn 5, taking fourth.

Speaking about his ride to a best result of the 2023 season, Gerloff said: “Across the line, I was a little bit disappointed because I thought we had a bit more but, in the end, it’s the first time starting from pole position, so I wanted to start decent and settle in. I did that and it was good, but I just didn’t really have anything more once Alex and Jonny got around me. It is what it is, we learnt some stuff and we still have the chance to start from pole on Sunday. All in all, I can be happy.”

It was a big result for BMW, matching their best finish of the 2023 campaign. It was previously set by Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) at Donington Park, whilst Gerloff’s best result was a seventh place in the Superpole Races in Barcelona and at Donington Park. BMW have always performed strongly at Magny-Cours, with Eugene Laverty and Tom Sykes heading a 1-2 on the grid there in 2020, and they’ve been on the front row every year since. Last year, the #45 of Redding took a podium at the track – his most recent rostrum – and this weekend, Gerloff’s been the one lighting up the timing screens since the start of Friday.

Talking about the progress made by the team with the BMW M1000RR, Gerloff confirmed that teamwork with himself and teammate Loris Baz is helping: “We’ve been closing our window in terms of what setups work for myself and Loris. We tried to help each other in Superpole a little bit and I was able to get pole and he started from P6. He’s a really good racer and I imagined he’d be there in the early laps. I’m really happy that we can keep improving and be the best BMWs.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) won a dramatic Race 1 at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours and closed the gap in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship standings to Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). The #1 suffered technical problems in the early stages of the race before fighting back to the top ten. The Pirelli French Round provided yet another twist in what has been a stunning title fight with the gap now 55 points between the #54 and Bautista.

FIERCE FIGHTS, BATTLING BACK: Razgatlioglu on top, Bautista P10

The race was reduced to 20 laps after a technical problem when riders took their positions on the grid following the warm-up lap, with the start delayed by a few minutes and a lap lost from the original race distance. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) got the holeshot and instantly looked to pull out a gap on his rivals, but Razgatlioglu overtook him on Lap 2 at Turn 13 by outbraking his Ducati.

A lap later, Bautista dropped down the order to 24^th and last after a technical issue on the exit of Turn 5 although the #1 was able to get his V4 R moving again. While Bautista was making a comeback to finish in tenth, Razgatlioglu and Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) fought at the front of the field. The #54 was leading until Lap 5 when the Ducati rider made an aggressive move at Turn 11 to claim the lead.

On Lap 12, Razgatlioglu made a move at Turn 5 on the #21 to briefly move into the lead but the Italian was able to respond on the exit of the Adelaide hairpin and on the way to Turn 6 to re-take the lead. Two laps later and it was a familiar story but the 2021 Champion remained closer through the 180-degree hairpin, allowing him to make a move into Turn 11 with Rinaldi running wide through the chicane; as Razgatlioglu looked to take the racing line, Rinaldi was re-joining with the pair almost making contact but both continuing.

With Razgatlioglu remaining ahead, he was able to pull away from Rinaldi in second to claim his sixth win of the season and his 38^th overall, while Rinaldi secured podium six of 2023 and his 20^th in WorldSBK. Behind them, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) secured third after making gains before an early-race fight with teammate Alex Lowes, who initially passed the six-time Champion at Turn 5 for third, before falling behind the Ulsterman. It was Rea’s 257^th WorldSBK podium.

DRAMA THROUGHOUT: Gerloff takes Independent honours, Lowes drops back

Polesitter Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) initially dropped down the order over the first few laps but his tenacity and taking advantage of misfortune for others meant he was able to claim fourth for his best result since switching to BMW. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) continued his strong form with fifth after a late-race battle with compatriot Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), with the #9 coming through on the Yamaha rider at Turn 11 on Lap 18 for what was sixth but turned into fifth when Lowes dropped down the order in the final few laps. Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was seventh with Lowes in eighth. The #22 had been behind Rea until the final laps, but he lost time when running across the Turn 11-12 chicane and losing four seconds on Lap 19, which dropped him down the order.

RECOVERING FOR THE TOP TEN: Bautista’s surge through the field

German rider Phillip Oettl (Team GoEleven) took his first top-ten finish since Race 2 at Donington Park by claiming ninth place, finishing 0.627s ahead of Bautista who was able to secure tenth and limit the damage in the Championship fight. With Razgatlioglu’s win, the gap between them is now 55 points. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) took 11^th after he was unable to withstand Bautista’s late charge, with the two-time WorldSSP Champion only 1.671s down on the reigning Champion.

SECURING POINTS: a big battle for P11 to P15…

Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) led home a train of four riders all fighting for the lower end of the points-paying positions, finishing just three tenths clear of Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW). The Frenchman had celebrated his home round with a stunning second row performance in Superpole but fell down the order to 13^th at the end of the 20-lap race. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) was 14^th, less than two seconds behind Baz, while Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) completed the points scorers.

JUST MISSING OUT: closing in on the points-paying positions

Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was 16^th and 5.5 seconds away from the points, but he was four seconds ahead of Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) in 17^th as the #47’s difficult weekend continues. It was Bassani’s first non-score since the Tissot Superpole Race in Barcelona. Malaysian rider Hafizh Syahrin (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) was 18^th ahead of Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in 19^th. Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) was 20^th with Estonia’s Hannes Soomer (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) was 21^st. Soomer had to serve a Long Lap Penalty for cutting the Turn 6-7 chicane and not losing sufficient time.

Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) crashed at Turn 3 on Lap 8 as he looked to give his team a strong home result, but the Italian brought his bike into the pits following the crash to retire. Isaac Vinales (TPR Team Pedercini Racing) retired from the race when he brought his bike into the box, as did Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) on Lap 17.

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

1 Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK)

2. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +2.656s

3. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +4.773s

4. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) +6.266s

5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +8.987s

6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +9.740s

Fastest lap – Alvaro Bautista (Ducati), 1’36.911s

Watch the Tissot Superpole Race on Sunday from 11:00 Local Time (GMT+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) took his second FIM Supersport 300 World Championship win of the season in a hard-fought battle at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours as the Championship battle got even closer. The results of Race 1 at the Pirelli French Round mean just five points separate the top three, and 21 separate the top five, heading into Sunday’s Race 2 after a dramatic and action-packed start to the weekend.

RACE-LONG BATLTE: Buis fights to top spot

As always in WorldSSP300, the action was fierce, hard-fought and unpredictable as Buis claimed his second win of the season with the 2020 Champion taking advantage of squabbling behind him in the final few laps to pull out a gap of almost two seconds over his rivals. The #6 made his move for the lead on Lap 11 at Turn 5 and, despite getting sideways under braking often, was able to pull away from his rivals to claim victory at Magny-Cours, his second win at the French venue after he took victory in Race 1 in 2020.

Behind him, the fight for the podium was decided right at the line. Veteran Kevin Sabatucci (Team Flembbo – PI Performances) claimed his third podium and his first since 2019 when he won at Donington Park. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) had been strong all weekend and the young Dutchman converted it into a maiden World Championship podium as he finished 0.278s behind Sabatucci.

Buis’ win was his ninth in WorldSSP300 as he extended his lead at the top of the all-time win list while it was also his 17^th podium as he closes in on compatriot Scott Deroue’s record of 17. It was a milestone podium for Kawasaki with the Japanese manufacturer now on 150 in the Championship. Sabatucci’s rostrum was Italy’s 30^th and he also equalled the record for longest timespan between podiums. His five-year, three-month, 27-day wait is the same as Marc Garcia’s wait when he claimed a podium last year. Coincidentally, both spans spanned from Imola to Magny-Cours, with Sabatucci’s starting in 2018 and ending this year while Garcia’s was between 2017 and 2022. Veneman became the 50^th rider to stand on the podium in WorldSSP300. In the Championship standings, the top five are separated by only 21 points.

CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS FIGHT HARD: the fight closes up

Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) had been fighting for the lead throughout the 13-lap battle but dropped down to fourth in the closing stages as he finished less than a tenth behind Sabatucci; the battle for second went right to the line. Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing BGR) was fifth as he gained places in the final few laps to maintain his consistent form of eight top-five finishes in 11 races. Daniel Mogeda (Kawasaki GP Project) rounded out the top six.

POST-RACE PENALTY IMPACTS TITLE FIGHT: Vannucci drops one place…

Matteo Vannucci (AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha) crossed the line in sixth place but was demoted one place for irresponsible riding at Turn 16 on the final lap, dropping him to P7. The #91 had been one of the fastest riders all race but he lost ground in the final few laps before being classified in seventh. Britain’s Fenton Seabright (Kawasaki GP Project) had a dramatic end to the race. He finished in eighth after a crash with Jose Manuel Osuna Saez (Deza-Box 77 Racing Team) at Turn 13, with the Spaniard finishing in 24^th. Ruben Bijman (Arco Motor University Team) finished in ninth with Devis Bergamini (ProGP Racing completing the top ten.

SECURING POINTS: a dramatic battle…

German star Lennox Lehmann (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) took 11^th after missing out on a place in the top ten by just 0.033s, with Marc Garcia (China Racing Team) in the points after overcoming a five-place grid penalty. Petr Svoboda (Fusport – RT Motorsport by SKM – Kawasaki) was 13^th ahead of Mirko Gennai (Team BrCorse) and Mattia Martella (ProDina Kawasaki Racing) as the two Italian riders rounded out the points-scoring positions. Galang Hendra Pratama (Sublime Racing by MS Racing) was 16^th but had crossed the line in the points. The Indonesian rider was given a three-second penalty for shortcutting the Turn 6-7 chicane and not losing sufficient time.

HOUSEKEEPING: home hero crashes out

Samuel Di Sora’s (ProDina Kawasaki Racing) search for home glory ended on Lap 2 at Turn 5 when he crashed out after contact with Margo Gaggi (Team BrCorse), with the Italian able to re-join the race and finishing in 25^th. The incident was placed under investigation by the FIM Stewards. Enzo Valentin (Yamaha MS Racing/AD78 Latin America Team) retired on Lap 7 when he had a technical issue with his Yamaha machine. Teammate Maier retired from the race while Julio Garcia (Team Flembbo – PI Performances) crashed out on the exit of the final chicane on the last lap. The incident involving him was placed under investigation by the FIM Stewards and Garcia was taken to the medical centre for a check-up. Garcia was later declared fit.

The top six from WorldSSP300 Race 1, full results here:

1. Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki)

2. Kevin Sabatucci (Team Flembbo-PI Performances) +1.890s

3. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) +2.168s

4. Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing) +2.238s

5. Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing BGR) +2.589s

6. Daniel Mogeda (Kawasaki GP Project) +2.654s

Fastest lap: Fenton Seabright, Kawasaki – 1’53.133

Watch WorldSSP300 Race 2 from 13:45 Local Time (GMT+2) on Sunday using the WorldSBK VideoPass!

Source: WorldSBK.com

In what was a spectacular Tissot Superpole session for the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the Pirelli French Round, the times tumbled and the lap record challenged. Come the close of the action in what was a very warm Magny-Cours, Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) took a phenomenal pole position, the first American pole in 12 years and the first BMW pole since 2021.

STORY OF SUPERPOLE: one rider bursts through into contention when it matters

Getting straight down to business with the first riders out being Gerloff and home-hero teammate Loris Baz, the track was laced without activity and stories throughout right from the off. Whilst Gerloff went quicker than he had done at any point during the weekend, it was Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) who fired in a mighty 1’35.970, ahead of Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) who found big gains, whilst Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was also right there. After the first stint, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) had also popped up onto the front row provisionally. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), who had a first lap cancelled for yellow flags due to a crash for Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), made it up to P4, whereas title rival Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) was only eighth.

With five minutes left on the clock, Garrett Gerloff was flying and the American was a mighty three tenths up on Rea’s time, who set a new lap record at Magny-Cours with a 1’35.453. Half a second quicker than anyone else, Rea was his nearest competitor but he had traffic in the shape of his teammate on one of his flying laps, as well as a plethora of other riders. Elsewhere, a crash for Scott Redding at Turn 8 wasn’t what he needed. Up at the front, reigning World Champion Bautista was up into P2, ahead of Razgatlioglu in P3.

SUPERPOLE SENSATION: Gerloff on pole at Magny-Cours

As the chequered flag came out, Gerloff’s mighty lap time wasn’t able to be beaten neither matched, and he took a career-first pole position, the first American pole in WorldSBK since John Hopkins aboard a Suzuki at in 2011 at Silverstone. With good pace right the way through the weekend, especially when temperatures come up, the Texan is right in podium contention. Bautista secured second and it was his teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi who made it two Ducatis on the front row.

RAZGATLIOGLU IN P4: work to do from row two

Heading up the second row, Toprak Razgatlioglu will have to fight Championship leader Bautista from behind, and with a short run to Turn 1 followed by a long straight, hard braking will be needed to get his elbows out. Jonathan Rea was off the front row in Superpole at Magny-Cours for the first time since 2013. Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) made it two BMWs inside the top six, and both Independent too, taking P6 in front of a massive home crowd.

THIRD ROW: Locatelli in P7, three BMWs inside the top ten

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) secured P7 and the front of the third row, whilst Alex Lowes was in eighth place and will hope he can fight for a podium at a track he usually goes well at. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was a solid ninth on his return to the French circuit, whilst Scott Redding recovered from his tumble to make it three BMWs inside the top ten with P10. It is the first time that has happened since Brno 2012, although no BMW featured on the front row that day.

BIG NAMES NEED TO CLIMB: Lecuona a headline on the fifth row

From the middle of the fourth row and fighting for his WorldSBK future, Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) was 11^th, ahead of Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), who had a very quiet session. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was 13^th, ahead of top Honda Iker Lecuona (Team HRC), in another difficult session for the Japanese manufacturer. Remy Gardner, after a crash, completed the fifth row in P15.

Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) heads row six from P16, ahead of Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team), Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), a disconsolate Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) who was only 19^th, and Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) who completed the top 20. Hannes Soomer (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team), teammate Hafizh Syahrin, Isaac Vinales (TPR Team Pedercini Racing) and Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) round out the order. 

UPDATE: Andrea Locatelli, Xavi Vierge, Brad Ray and Lorenzo Baldassarri have been given a three-place grid penalty for Race 1 due to riding slowly on the racing line during Superpole.

Top six after WorldSBK Superpole, full results here:

1. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’35.453s

2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.059s

3. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.367s

4. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +0.415s

5. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.506s

6. Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) +0.551s

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Source: WorldSBK.com

It was a record-breaking Tissot Superpole session for the FIM Supersport World Championship as Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) claimed his seventh pole in the Championship after he obliterated the existing lap record at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. Bulega’s incredible pace meant he denied Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) an emotional maiden pole position on home soil at the Pirelli French Round with the #94 continuing his strong form from Friday.

BATTLE FOR POLE: Bulega and Debise go head-to-head

Friday pacesetter Debise continued his form at the start of the Tissot Superpole session as he set the fastest lap of the weekend with a 1’40.905s, initially six tenths clear of his rivals, before Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) closed the gap. Championship leader Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) was fastest of all in the first three seconds before losing ground in the fourth as he set a 1’40.945s for second; three tenths down on Debise as the #94 set a 1’40.639s. However, on his second flying lap, Bulega went 0.394s quicker than Debise to smash the lap record and move into provisional pole, four tenths clear of his rivals.

At the halfway stage of the session, the red flags were deployed after an incident involving Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and Maximilian Kofler (D34G Racing) at Turn 13, with both riders able to walk away from the crash; Oncu took 21^st on the grid on his return from injury with Kofler 30^th. With the session resuming, Debise immediately closed the gap to just 0.003s behind the Ducati rider in an epic fight for pole. The #11 improved on his penultimate flying lap to 1’40.074s as he extended his gap and edged closer to the 1’39s bracket as he secured his seventh pole position. Debise will line up from second place after taking his best ever Superpole result and his first front row, while Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) claimed third after a late improvement to a 1’40.366s. Bulega’s pole position also secured him the Tissot Superpole Award for 2023.

IN CONTENTION: can Manzi stop Bulega when racing begins?

Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) posted a 1’40.398s to take fourth as he looks to fight for victory and close the gap on Bulega in the Championship standings, with Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) in fifth after he, like De Rosa, put in a late lap so surge up the orders. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) was the lead Kawasaki rider on the grid as the #99 claimed sixth place, just over half a second down on Bulega’s new lap record.

13 RIDERS IN ONE SECOND: an unpredictable race in store

Finland’s Niki Tuuli (PTR Triumph), who took pole position here in 2017, took seventh as he lapped 0.628s slower than the #11, while Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) ensured five of the six manufacturers on the grid were in the top ten, with rookie Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) in ninth. The Italian had been in the top three at points during the 20-minute session but fell down the order despite an impressive session. Home hero Andy Verdoia (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team) rounded out the top ten, just 0.004s behind Dalla Porta. Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) was 11^th with rookie Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) in 12^th. The returning Simon Jespersen (VFT Racing WEBIKE Yamaha) claimed 13^th and was the last rider within a second of Bulega’s time.

HOUSEKEEPING: to note from Superpole

Andreas Kofler’s (D34G Racing) Superpole session got off to a disappointing start when he had an issue on his outlap, with the Austrian able to re-join the session around the halfway point. He qualified 24^th.

The top six from WorldSSP Superpole, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 1’40.074

2. Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) +0.174s

3. Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +0.292s

4. Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) +0.324s

5. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.458s

6. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) +0.566s

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) claimed a hard-fought pole position for the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. The German star was quick throughout the 20-minute Tissot Superpole session for the Pirelli French Round and faced stiff competition from his title rivals but was able to withstand their pressure to claim a third WorldSSP300 pole position ahead of Championship leader Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing BGR).

EVERYONE WANTS TO LEAD: riders swap top spot consistently

The first laps came in with Geiger in the 1’53.803s with times generally in the 1’53s and 1’54s, and the second flying laps were lost due a yellow flag following a crash for Unai Calatayud (Arco Motor University Team) at Turn 3; with the Spaniard taken to the medical centre for a check-up following his highside and he was later declared fit. With the yellow flags withdrawn, the times began to fall again. Geiger improved to a 1’53.668s but Championship leader Perez Gonzalez went four tenths quicker to claim provisional pole position.

With around six minutes left in the session, 2020 Champion Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) surged to the top of the timesheets with a 1’53.109s to lead Perez Gonzalez by a tenth before the #60 responded with the first lap in the 1’52s. On the final lap of the session, Perez Gonzalez was fastest of everyone in the first three sectors but was unable to overhaul Geiger, whose time of 1’52.710s allowed him to take his third pole position and KTM’s fifth in WorldSSP300. Perez Gonzalez will line up second with his fourth front row start while Veneman claimed his maiden front row with third after enjoying a stunning French Round so far.

IN THE MIX: title contenders aiming for the rostrum

Championship contender Matteo Vannucci (AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha) will line up from fourth as he looks to close the gap in the standings to Perez Gonzalez, while Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) – one of the previous winners at Magny-Cours on the grid – claimed fifth. The top five were separated by just 0.399s after a closely packed Superpole session. Daniel Mogeda (Kawasaki GP Project) will complete the second row as he took sixth place, three tenths down on Buis directly ahead of him.

MAKING GAINS: strong Saturday results so far

Two Italian riders will line up alongside each other with Kevin Sabatucci (Team Flembbo – PI Performances) as he set a 1’53.424s, finishing two tenths clear of compatriot Marco Gaggi (Team BrCorse). Troy Alberto (Fusport – RT Motorsport by SKM – Kawasaki) will start ninth after posting a 1’53.787s, the first rider more than a second away from Geiger’s scincilating pace at the top of the field.

CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS FALTER: outside the top ten

While several title contenders are in the top ten, a few will have work to do in the two races. Mirko Gennai (Team BrCorse) will line up from 12^th, while Brazil’s Humberto Maier (Yamaha MS Racing/AD78 Latin America) took 18^th in Superpole and Petr Svoboda (Fusport – RT Motorsport by SKM – Kawasaki) 24^th. Two riders have grid penalties for Race 1: Marc Garcia (China Racing Team) and Devis Bergamini (ProGP Racing) both have a five-place grid drop for the opening race of the weekend for irresponsible riding during FP2.

The top six from WorldSSP300 Tissot Superpole, full results here:

1. Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) 1’52.170s

2. Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing BGR) +0.161s

3. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) +0.357s

4. Matteo Vannucci (AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha) +0.375

5. Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) +0.399s

6. Daniel Mogeda (Kawasaki GP Project) +0.699s

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is back in action at the Pirelli French Round at Magny-Cours and on Saturday morning, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) reasserted himself as the fastest rider before Superpole with a 1’35.895. He was under the race lap record and not far from the Superpole record and enjoyed a good gap of 0.427s over his rivals.

After taking P6 on day one, a late lap at the end of the session saw Championship leader Alvaro Bautista move into top spot at Magny-Cours, as Ducati certainly seem to have found a step at form. Man of the moment Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) continued to shine for BMW, with a strong FP3 showing that sees him go into the opening race day as one of the favourites for a podium, taking P2. In third place, fastest from FP2 Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was once again competitive, whilst Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) secured fourth; the most successful rider at Magny-Cours was top British rider ahead of Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), who made it two BMWs inside the top five.

Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was in sixth place after FP3, as the Italian continued to find pace on his return to Magny-Cours, whilst Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) took P7. P8 belonged to Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) as the Australian got to grips with the intricate French circuit. Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) was ninth but suffered a technical issue right at the end of the session, whilst Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team). One of the big talking points was that Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) and teammate Andrea Locatelli were 11^th and 12^th respectively, although they’ll be sure to find pace in Superpole. Brady Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) and Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) were both outside the 105% time, with the latter not setting a time at all and losing time in the pits as his team worked on his machine.

Top six after WorldSBK FP3, full results here:

1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’35.895s

2. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) +0.427s

3. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.536s

4. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.673s

5. Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.790s

6. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.931s

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Source: WorldSBK.com