FIM Supersport World Championship

Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, France

October 2, 2016

Race Results (all on Pirelli tires):

1. Jules CLUZEL, France (MV Agusta F3 675), 19 laps, Total Race Time 32:31.738, Best Lap Time 1:42.328

2. Niki TUULI, Finland (Yamaha YZF-R6), -0.248 second, 1:42.095

3. Ayrton BADOVINI, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), -0.525, 1:42.299

4. Axel BASSANI, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-6R), -2.232 seconds, 1:42.190

5. Randy KRUMMENACHER, Switzerland (Kawasaki ZX-6R), -4.643, 1:42.108

6. Federico CARICASULO, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), -16.261, 1:42.551

7. Kyle SMITH, UK (Honda CBR600RR), -21.470, 1:42.984

8. Illia MIKHALCHIK, Ukraine (Kawasaki ZX-6R), -28.259, 1:42.517

9. Lorenzo ZANETTI, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), -30.763, 1:43.512

10. Zulfahmi KHAIRUDDIN, Malaysia (Kawasaki ZX-6R), -32.302, 1:43.584

28. Brandon ORTT, Canada (Honda CBR600RR), -80.968, 1:46.097

33. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Kawasaki ZX-6R), -8 laps, DNF, crash, 1:42.188

37. PJ JACOBSEN, USA (Honda CBR600RR), -19 laps, DNF, crash, no lap time recorded

World Championship Point Standings (after 10 of 12 races):

1. Sofuoglu, 171 points

2. Krummenacher, 129

3. Cluzel, 116

4. Jacobsen, 109

5. Smith, 84

6. Gino Rea, 81

7. Caricasulo, 75

8. Baldolini, 74

9. Badovini, 68

10. Khairuddin, 46

More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:

WorldSSP: Cluzel Takes Glory On Home Soil

Home hero climbs to the top step while the Championship remains open

The win is even sweeter when it’s at home

WorldSSP gave French fans a reason to celebrate on Sunday at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, when local hero Jules Cluzel won the race after a dramatic race saw Kenan Sofuoglu crash out, keeping the Championship open for another round. Kallio Racing’s Niki Tuuli came home in second and Ayrton Badovini (GEMAR Balloons – Team Lorini) finished in third.

The sun was shining on Sunday morning when WorldSSP lined up on the grid. Sofuoglu shot to the front and led into the first corner while GRT Racing Team’s Gino Rea stormed past the pack of riders bunched into the first corner to take second position, while Kawasaki Puccetti Racing’s Randy Krummenacher struggled behind in eighth. Honda World Superbike Team’s PJ Jacobsen crashed out on the opening lap, before GRT Racing Team’s Michael Canducci caused carnage wiping out Alessandro Zaccone (San Carlo Team Italia) at the Adelaide Hairpin to hold up the riders behind.

Sofuoglu pushed ahead at the front trying to put space between him and his rivals but he couldn’t get away from MV Agusta Reparto Corse’s Jules Cluzel. The Frenchman overtook Rea in second and before long was hot on Sofuoglu’s tail, not letting him get away. It took Kallio Racing’s Niki Tuuli a few laps to get to grips with the track but once he did the young Finn took the challenge straight to the front putting pressure on both Cluzel and Sofuoglu, with the reigning World Champion desperately trying to hold them off. Not long after on lap 8, Gino Rea pushed too hard on the entry of Estoril Corner getting flicked off his MV Agusta, which ended his race early. The young Brit walked away disappointed with the result.

Then on lap 12 disaster struck as Kenan Sofuoglu who was in a position to win his fifth World Championship crashed out on turn 3, while his chance at sealing the title at the Fassi French Round slid away with him. Tuuli instantly took advantage of this to get in front of second placed Cluzel to lead.

Then a last lap duel saw Cluzel take fuel from his home fans to steal the lead and go on to win, causing the crowds to go wild. Axel Bassani (San Carlo Team Italia) came home in fourth, adding to his lead in the FIM Europe Supersport Cup, which will be decided in Jerez.

Randy Krummenacher fought hard to finally finish in fifth, keeping the WorldSSP Championship alive. Federico Caricasulo brought his Honda home in sixth for BARDAHL Evan Bros. Honda Racing, while Kyle Smith (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) finished the race in seventh. ESS rider Illia Mikhalchyk (DS Junior Team) gave a solid performance to end the race with an eighth place in front of Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) with Orelac Racing VerdNatura’s Zulfahmi Khairuddin in tenth.

Kyle Ryde (Schmidt Racing) finished the French Fassi Round in P11 ahead of Hannes Soomer (Kallio Racing) in P12 with Ondrej Jezek (Team GOELEVEN) in P13. Xavier Pinsach (GEMAR Balloons –Team Lorini) and Luke Stapleford (Profile Racing) rounded out the points in P14 and P15.

The 2016 FIM Supersport World Championship will now go down to the wire at the next round in Jerez where reigning World Champion Kenan Sofuoglu will have another shot at sealing the Title.

Quotes from the top three riders:

1st Place

J.Cluzel (MV Agusta): “I’m so happy I’m nearly crying, because I gave it everything. It wasn’t easy for me because I was losing on the straight, but I was so strong on the brakes and in some fast turns. I was pushing really, really hard and I’m really happy. The season was difficult because of many technical reasons. In the end at Lausitzring the team made a step forward and we have kept improving in this race. I’m so happy, I was quick in the rain where the bike is not so nice to ride. I gave it everything and it’s incredible!”

2nd Place

N.Tuuli (Yamaha): “We have had two awesome weekends. This weekend it wasn’t so easy for me because the last time I came here was a year ago and with Superstock 600. The race pace was really good. At the start I struggled a little bit with the tyres, but by the middle of the race I was faster than the top guys so I just pushed and pushed. Jules was really good on the brakes. I just did my best but I couldn’t push and on the last lap he passed me. I’m really happy, thanks to my team and everybody who supports me.”

3rd Place

A. Badovini (Honda): “I’m really happy, the first five laps I was fast but I needed to wait some time. I wanted to push over the last eight laps. During the race on a pass, another rider pushed me outside and I had to recover the distance. It was very difficult because we had to push, push, push. The last two laps the front tyre was really finished. But I’m really happy, it was a good fight and it’s my first podium in the dry conditions in Supersport.”

More, from a press release issued by MV Agusta:

JULES CLUZEL WON THE RACE AT MAGNY-COURS 

Jules Cluzel dominates and wins the WorldSSP Race at Magny-Cours and brings the MV Agusta F3 675 on the highest step of the podium.

Jules Cluzel started very fast when the light went off and place himself in 2° position behind the World Champion Kenan Sofuoglu, waging a fierce battle for the lead. With Sofuoglu forced to pull out because of a crash after 11 laps, Cluzel began a long fight with the Finnish rider Tuuli Niki until the last lap, when Cluzel took full advantage of the good feeling with the MV Agusta F3 675 , passing Tuuli and going on to win the race under the thunderous applause of the French crowd.

With this victory, Cluzel steps up 3rd in WorldSSP Championship Standing.

The second MV Agusta F3 675 in the race ranking is the one rode by Cluzel’s teammate Lorenzo Zanetti, with the italian rider starting from the 34th position due to a technical problem and going to finish in 9th position, earning + 7 points.

Team MV Agusta Reparto Corse will be back on track in 15 days for the penultimate round of the WorldSSP Championship, which will be held in Spain, at Jerez de La Frontera.

Jules Cluzel #16 WorldSSP – I’m really happy with this victory here, winning at your home race is always a strong emotion. Today the bike was perfect and since the Warm Up we showed we had the chance to stay with the first. I want to thank my team for this great victory because we really did a great job today.

Lorenzo Zanetti #87 WorldSSP – All in all we fixed a definitely difficult weekend, since yesterday I just did one or two laps. I am quite satisfied because starting from the back and make it to the top 10 is a result that is worth almost as a podium.

More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:

Sofuoglu Or Krummenacher Will Be Champion But Battle Goes On

The 2016 FIM Supersport World Championship will be won by one of two official Kawasaki riders – either Kenan Sofuoglu or Randy Krummenacher – after a dramatic 19-lap FIM Supersport World Championship race at Magny Cours, which saw Kenan fall and Krummenacher score a top five finish.

Long time race leader Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was in the lead and heading for his fifth championship win until he fell on lap 12, losing the front at turn three. With Randy Krummenacher (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in fifth place after moving up from 11th on the grid, the championship fight between the Puccetti Racing team-mates will go on until at least the next round. After Magny Cours, all their other rivals are too far behind to gather the required points before the end of the year.

In dry and sunny conditions Sofuoglu rode strongly from pole position, leading a field of 37 riders in the first laps. Without warning he lost the front, slid off at speed, and was unable to continue because of crash damage to his machine.

With Krummenacher too far behind in the early laps to get into podium contention around the 4.411km circuit, the Swiss rider kept up a high pace to finish fifth, gathering enough points to keep his championship hopes alive. He is now 42 points behind Kenan, with a total of 50 available for any rider who wins both of the remaining races, which will be held in Spain and Qatar.

Jules Cluzel won the race in France, from Niki Tuuli and Ayrton Badovini. Young ESS rider for Kawasaki, Axel Bassani (San Carlo team Italia Kawasaki) was fourth – the top ESS rider today – and the best Ninja ZX-6R rider in the Magny Cours race. The part-time rider was just 2.232 seconds from the outright win.

The next round of the championship will take place on Sunday 16th October, at Jerez in Spain.

Randy Krummenacher, stated: “I had some problems from the beginning as I did not have a lot of grip. We made the wrong tyre choice in the front but what was good is that from lap one, although I struggled, it stayed the same all race long. So I was able to develop my style to improve my lap time. At a certain point of the race I was faster than the front guys. I am definitely back. My shoulder is perfect and I am riding at my best. This gives me very good confidence for Jerez. I am sorry for Kenan and for the team. In the championship, it is not over until it is over. I will keep on fighting.”

Kenan Sofuoglu, stated: “I took it easy at the start of the race and I cannot say I was pushing, I was riding easy and in a safe way. After seven or eight laps I thought we had a rhythm, the tyres were hot enough, and I thought I would push a little bit. In the last two laps before the crash, step-by step, I was doing faster lap times. Honestly I cannot say why I crashed. This was really an unexpected fall. I wanted to win the race and the championship here but it did not happen. We have two more races and the chances will be bigger at the next one. In two weeks’ time we will be ready to try and win the title.”

Behind Bassani and Krummenacher today, Illia Mykhalchik (DS Junior Team Kawasaki) finished eighth and Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) tenth. Kyle Ryde (Schmidt Racing Kawasaki) was 11th, Ondrej Jezek (Team GOELEVEN Kawasaki) 13th – and the last Ninja ZX-6R rider to score points. Nacho Calero (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) was 17th, Lachlan Epis (Response RE Racing Kawasaki) 20th. Christian Gamarino (Team GOELEVEN Kawasaki) and Alessandro Zaccone (San Carlo Team Italia Kawasaki ESS) failed to finish. In the ESS Championship, Bassani leads Mykhalchik by 14 points.

More, from a press release issued by Honda Supersport Team:

Early end to WorldSSP race for Jacobsen at Magny-Cours

Round 10 – France

Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours, France

The Honda WorldSSP Team has come out empty handed from the French Round of the FIM Supersport World Championship, as PJ Jacobsen crashed out at turn 7 during the opening lap of the WorldSSP race at Magny-Cours. Despite the efforts, the 23-year-old American could not jump back on board his Honda CBR600RR and, therefore, was forced to an early retirement.

After qualifying in second place yesterday, Jacobsen was fifth at the end of this morning’s warm up, showing some signs of improvement on dry track. As the race got underway, Jacobsen got an OK start from the front although, before the crash occurred at the Nürburgring, he had already lost some positions.

The penultimate round of the 2016 FIM Supersport World Championship takes place at Spain’s ‘Circuito de Jerez’ in a fortnight’s time.

Patrick Jacobsen 2

DNF

I knew it would be difficult today in the dry, but I wasn’t expecting this outcome at all. Losing the front on the opening lap is never good and that’s the last thing we needed. We need to figure out what the problem is with our performance in the dry because I haven’t been anywhere near where I’d like to be in these conditions. I can’t wait to be back at Jerez, which along with Misano is my favourite race track on the calendar.

Pieter Breddels

Technical Manager

There’s really not much to say, because our race was a really short one. PJ didn’t have the best of starts but more importantly, he got boxed in a little bit and ended up at the back of a four-way pack. Then, he simply lost the bike at the chicane while changing direction. An unfortunate end to a difficult weekend, but we need to keep our heads down and work hard for the next race.