High stakes for the penultimate round at Magny-Cours

Barcelona (Spain), Monday 29 September 2014 – The penultimate round of the 2014 eni FIM Superbike World Championship will take place this weekend at Magny-Cours. The stakes are high for this year’s title as series leader Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) heads to France with a 31 point advantage with Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team). The reigning champion is looking to return to his previous winning form to seal what would be his second title in a row after being a little bit on the back foot at Jerez, where aboard his ZX-10R he struggled to keep the pace of the two factory Aprilia machines of Guintoli and Melandri.

Last year the 29 year Briton dominated in France by taking pole position, winning both races and setting the fastest lap in each of the two encounters. In 2012 Sykes won the second race on the 4411m, challenging venue located in the heart of France only to miss the ultimate price by half a point.

Other title contender Guintoli came out victorious in wet conditions at Magny-Cours two years ago in race one, while in 2013 he crossed the line second and third. On his home track he has never finished below sixth and has always stepped onto the podium in the last two editions of the French Round.

Last time out at Jerez Guintoli missed a great opportunity to further narrow the gap to the top as he was twice edged out for the win by teammate Marco Melandri, who got his second double of the year and proved once more to be the man to beat in the closing part of the season. The Italian rider currently sits fourth in the standings only 18 points away from third place Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike). The Ulsterman, who was fourth and fifth in the two Spanish races, was able to step on the podium at Magny-Cours twice before, in 2009 and 2012 (race 2).

With two rounds left, many riders are looking for a strong performance to improve their position in the overall standings. Local rider Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) and the Ducati Superbike Team duo of Chaz Davies and Davide Giugliano are yet to step atop the podium this year and have never made it into the top 3 at Magny-Cours before, meaning the French Round will be very important for all three riders.

The Voltcom Crescent Suzuki Team will face the penultimate round with both sides of the garage knowing their 2015 plans. Eugene Laverty is officially heading to MotoGP, while rookie Alex Lowes recently agreed to extend his partnership with the squad for one more year.

MV Agusta Reparto Corse’s Claudio Corti and Team Hero EBR’s Geoff May and Aaron Yates will have another chance to improve their performance as the season enters the final stretch. A second MV Agusta F4 RR will be run by the Dream Team Company and ridden by 27 year old Nicolas Salchaud.

Three more Ducati 1199 Panigale R machines will line-up on the grid at Magny-Cours as Team 3C Racing will take part in the French Round with 2014 German Superbike Champion Xavi Fores and his IDM teammates Max Neukirchner and Lorenzo Lanzi.

The EVO class sees David Salom (Kawasaki Racing Team) with one hand on the trophy having a 41 point lead over Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing Team Ducati), while local riders Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Kawasaki) and Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia) are third and fourth respectively with a lot of ground to make up in the standings. However expect them fighting to uphold their honor at home.

After 15 years of racing spent in the WSBK paddock, Fabien Foret will contest his final race in the series by joining regular Team Pedercini rider Alessandro Andreozzi and replacing the still injured Luca Scassa.

Standings (Round 10 of 12): 1. Sykes 352; 2. Guintoli 321; 3. Rea 285; 4. Melandri 267; 5. Baz 262; 6. Davies 188; 7. Laverty 154; 8. Giugliano 153; 9. Elias 151; 10. Haslam 150; 11. Lowes 126; 12. Salom 95; 13. Canepa 54; 14. Guarnoni 41; 15. Camier 37; 16. Barrier 32; 17. Morais 24; 18. Andreozzi 21; 19. Scassa 16; 20. Foret 14; 21. Corti 14; 22. Staring 12; 23. Allerton 6; 24. Bos 5; 25. Goi 5; 26. Russo 5; 27. Rizmayer 3; 28. Pegram 2; 29. Toth 2; 30. Fabrizio 2; 31. Lanusse 1. Manufacturers: 1. Kawasaki 369; 2. Aprilia 368; 3. Honda 285; 4. Ducati 249; 5. Suzuki 220; 6. BMW 69; 7. MV Agusta 21; 8. EBR

World Supersport

After clinching his first World Title last time out at Jerez and being confirmed as a new WSBK rider for the Pata Honda team in 2015, Michael van der Mark will continue with his usual World Supersport duties as a champion in France.

With the ultimate prize already sealed, the battle for the runner-up spot sees Frenchmen Florian Marino (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki) and Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) separated by only two points at 109 and 107 respectively, while the other Pata Honda rider Lorenzo Zanetti (90) heads a tight pack that includes Kev Coghlan (DMC-Panavto Yamaha), PJ Jacobsen (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki) and Kenan Sofuoglu (San Carlo Puccetti Racing), who are all within 5 points of each other.

Irishman Jack Kennedy (CIA Insurance Honda), who has been performing well in the recent rounds, will be joined by Colombian rider Martin Cardenas, who steps in for Raffaele De Rosa, as he looks to return to the podium in the penultimate race of the year.

Kevin Wahr (RS Wahr by Kraus Racing) will be back in action after missing from the WSS grid since the Riviera di Rimini Round at Misano, while Ferran Casas and the Team Torrento Yamahawill take part in their second consecutive round after making their World Supersport debut at Jerez. Vladimir Leonov (Rivamoto Honda) and Matt Davies (AARK Racing Honda) will also be part of the show, as will local riders Lucas Mahias (MG Competition Yamaha) and Cédric Tangre (Yohann Moto Sport Suzuki).

Standings (Round 9 of 11): 1. Vd Mark 185; 2. Marino 109; 3. Cluzel 107; 4. Zanetti 90; 5. Coghlan 88; 6. Jacobsen 87; 7. Sofuoglu 86; 8. Rolfo 71; 9. De Rosa 67; 10. Kennedy 56; 11. Tamburini 54; 12. Wilairot 43; 13. Bussolotti 30; 14. Nocco 27; 15. Wahr 26; 16. Russo 25; 17. Gamarino 23; 18. Menghi 20; 19. Leonov 19; 20. Gowland 9; 21. Roccoli 8; 22. Schmitter 8; 23. Zaidi 7; 24. Coveña 7; 25. Debise 4; 26. Calero 3; 27. Rogers 1. Manufacturers: 1. Honda 206; 2. Kawasaki 155; 3. MV Agusta 121; 4. Yamaha 98; 5. Triumph 9.

Superstock 1000

The FIM Superstock 1000 Cup is set for a thrilling season finale at Magny-Cours, as the only two riders left in the title race will square off for one last exciting battle. With two race wins each, series leader Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing Ducati) and Lorenzo Savadori (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) are separated by only five points, meaning the Kawasaki rider will aim for the win at any cost to secure the title, hoping to get the better of his strong Argentinean rival.

Given the points situation, the other potential podium finishers could play a crucial role this weekend: Mercado’s teammate Ondrej Jezek, Fabio Massei (EAB Racing Ducati), David McFadden (MRS Kawasaki), Matthieu Lussiana (Team Garnier by ASPI Kawasaki) and Kyle Smith (Agro-On Wil Racedays Honda) will try their best to get in the mix for the top 3 in what is expected to be an exciting finale to the year.

Team Pedercini Kawasaki will be back to the early season’s five rider line up with the returning Simone Grotzkyj Giorgi, whilst the six additions in terms of wildcard and one event riders will bring the number of entrants for the round to a rounded 30.

Standings (Round 6 of 7): 1. Mercado 104; 2. Savadori 99; 3. Jezek 69; 4. Massei 67; 5. McFadden 63; 6. Lussiana 59; 7. Smith 55; 8. Lanusse 53; 9. Valk 44; 10. Day 42; 11. D’Annunzio 39; 12. Nemeth 28; 13. Muresan 21; 14. Bergman 13; 15. Suchet 13; 16. Grotzkyj G. 10; 17. Pagaud 10; 18. Alarcos 8; 19. Schacht 8; 20. Castellarin 7; 21. Walraven 6; 22. Alviz 6; 23. Sandi 5; 24. Calia 4; 25. Moser 3; 26. Egea 2; 27. Butti 1; 28. Ayer 1. Manufacturers: 1. Ducati 125; 2. Kawasaki 124; 3. Honda 71; 4. BMW 46; 5. Suzuki 6; 6. Aprilia 4.

Superstock 600

An impressive total of 40 riders (32 regulars and 8 one off riders) will take part in the last round of the 2014 FIM Europe Superstock 600 Championship this weekend at Magny-Cours. New champion Marco Faccani (San Carlo Team Italia Kawasaki) will try to add yet another race win to his impressive tally with no more pressure on his shoulders having wrapped up the title in Spain, before taking on the next step of his career.

Wayne Tessels (Wayne Racing Team Suzuki) leads the battle for the runner-up spot with 15 and 17 points over Andrea Tucci (San Carlo Team Italia Kawasaki) and Federico Caricasulo (Evan Bros. Racing Team), who scored an impressive second last time out at Jerez (second STK600 podium of his career).

Standings (Round 6 of 7): 1. Faccani 131; 2. Tessels 83; 3. Tucci 68; 4. Caricasulo 66; 5. Tuuli 58; 6. Mikhalchik 48; 7. Salvadori 42; 8. Duwelz 39; 9. Manfredi 38; 10. Rinaldi 29; 11. Casalotti 27; 12. Lahti 24; 13. Bodis 20; 14. Nestorovic 19; 15. Stirpe 16; 16. Zaccone 16; 17. Marchal 15; 18. Hartog 13; 19. Puffe 12; 20. Sabatino 11; 21. Morrentino 10; 22. Rouse 9; 23. Caruso 7; 24. Baken 6; 25. Mercandelli 5; 26. Gobbi 5; 27. Lewis 5; 28. Pittet 5; 29. Zeelen 5; 30. Canducci 3; 31. Monti 2; 32. Lagonigro 1; 33. De Gruttola 1; 34. Patronen 1.

European Junior Cup

One point stands between Augusto Fernandez (Wil Sport) and the 2014 Pata European Junior Cup crown, ahead of the final round of the year at Magny-Cours. The young Spaniard, who has a 24 point advantage to compatriot Javier Orellana (Europ Food SL), only needs to finish 15th in Sunday’s final encounter but as the EJC has already shown this year, many potential winners could spoil the party for the runner up last year as Fernandez aims to go one better this time around.

Standings (Round 7 of 8): 1. Fernandez 139; 2. Orellana 115; 3. Licciardi 84; 4. Fernandez 79; 5. Harland 72; 6. Miralles 62; 7. Perez 61; 8. Hubner 51; 9. Soomer 49; 10. Grassia 35; 11. Van Sikkelerus 35; 12. London 33; 13. Wisdom 26; 14. Geissler 21; 15. Ciprietti 20; etc.

More, from a press release issued by Pirelli:

Pirelli at Magny-Cours for the penultimate round of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship

With the Supersport and Superstock 600 titles already assigned in Jerez, the French event will be crucial to determine the winners of the Superstock 1000 class and European Junior Cup

Magny-Cours (France), September 29, 2014 – The eni FIM Superbike World Championship is approaching the grand finale, and next weekend will see the French circuit of Nevers Magny-Cours host the penultimate round of the season.

Pirelli, strengthened by the recent renewal of the contract as Official Tire Supplier for all classes of the Championship until 2018, will accompany the teams and riders towards the end of the season, as always, by providing them with various solutions and the professionalism of its service, which have been present at every race over the past 11 years.

For the premier class riders, the French event is the penultimate round before the finale, which will be held in November in Qatar. The closed gap of 31 points between Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) will definitely assure an exciting end of the season.

Since the titles of the Supersport and Superstock 600 have already been decided in Spain during the last round, this will instead be the decisive moment for riders of the Superstock 1000 and European Junior Cup; classes which will not take part at Qatar.

In the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup, laurel contenders include the Argentinian Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing Team), who leads the Italian Lorenzo Salvadori (Team Pedercini) with only 5 points over the Ducati rider.

The European Junior Cup now seems more like a formality: the Spanish rider Augusto Fernandez only needs 1 point to win the championship. If he fails to score points, the only person who can gain the title is his compatriot Javier Orellana, with a gap of 24 points.

Magny-Cours Vs tires: stress on the front under downhill heavy braking

The Circuit of Nevers Magny-Cours will host the production derived series Championship for the twelfth consecutive year (out of a total of 13 altogether) on this track, located near Nevers in Burgundy.

Opened in 1960 by Jean Bernigaud, the circuit has a particular layout because it reproduces some curves already present in other circuits, such as Estoril, Adelaide, Imola and Nürburgring.

The circuit is 4411 meters long, with nine left-handers, 11 right and a finishing straight which measures 250 meters. The maximum slope uphill is 2.38%, while falling by 2.68% with a minimum bend radius of 5 meters and a maximum of 474.45 meters.

The French track is very diverse, arranged in a hilly landscape and because of its layout it makes overtaking difficult, an element which is not particularly loved by the riders. It is characterized by sudden deceleration and starts, interspersed with medium long straights. It also features a hairpin (Adelaide) with one of the heaviest braking points present among the international circuits, which riders arrive at from quite a fast straight.

The track has a very smooth surface which does not create particular problems for tires except in the heavy braking zones on steep gradients. In this case, the front tire (in particular those in soft compound) may be subjected to a moderate level of stress, while those in hard compound can usually provide better support in corner entry and are therefore usually preferred by riders.

As is often the case, the most important factor could be the weather which in October in this part of France is very variable, which could make it more difficult in selecting the rear tire. In the case of sufficiently high temperatures, Pirelli predicts that all of the Superbike riders will use a SC0 rear solution; in case of rain for this round riders will have the opportunity to choose between two rear wet solutions, in addition to the intermediate tire.

Pirelli solutions for the Superbike and Supersport classes:

Pirelli brings to Magny-Cours a total of 5072 tires for all classes of the Superbike World Championship and for the European Junior Cup – 2130 for the premier class, 1560 for Supersport, 512 for the Superstock 1000, 630 for Superstock 600 and 240 for the European Junior Cup.

Each rider of the Superbike class will have 72 DIABLO™ Superbike tires for the entire race weekend, including 34 front and 38 rear.

The three front solutions – the standard SC1, SC2 and the development SC1 S1699 tires – have been chosen frequently over the year following a successful debut at Aragón and were also the most widely used at Assen, Imola, Donington, Misano, Portimão, Laguna Seca and Jerez.

Regarding the slick rear options, in addition to the supersoft rear tire dedicated just to the 20 riders who will participate in Superpole, all riders will have three options, two of which are available to all and one that is different for EVO and Superbike riders.

The two solutions available for all riders include the standard SC0, the soft solution ideal for tackling smooth asphalt and high temperatures, as it offers maximum tread contact on smooth asphalt and maximum traction development at high temperatures, as well as a higher resistance to thermal performance decay. The development SC1 S1185, initially available only for the Superbike riders and starting from Portimão, is also available to EVO riders.

The third solution for the Superbike riders will be the development T0722 as an alternative to the standard SC0 and a first solution in soft compound dedicated exclusively to the Superbike class, which saw its debut at Misano and should appear more consistently than that of the standard range; while the EVO Superbike riders will be able to rely on another alternative to the standard SC0, the R1368, which uses a very soft compound and can offer a lot of grip when used in high temperatures.

In the Supersport class, in which riders use DIABLO™ Supercorsa SC tires, there will be 52 tires per rider, 26 front and 26 rear.

Standard SC1 and SC2 are the options for the front, while on the rear there is the S1485, a development solution in SC1 compound which debuted at Misano and has also been taken to Portimão and Jerez, which should ensure greater support in corner entry for better steering precision.

At the rear, in addition to the standard SC0 riders will have a new specification, the T0957, a soft alternative to the standard SC0 and the S0624, a SC1 development as an alternative to the standard one with respect to which is more robust and offers more grip. The last was also present at Aragón, Assen, Imola, Donington and Portimão.

The support classes of the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup and Superstock 600 UEM European Championship will have available, as for the whole season, the DIABLO™ Supercorsa SC tires of the range: specifically in the 600 class riders use the 120/70 front in SC1 compound and on the 180/60 rear the SC2, in the 1000 using in both cases the SC2 compound in 120/70 front and 200/55 rear.

In addition to dry tires all classes can rely on intermediate DIABLO™ Wet tires, which have a tread with a number of grooves and a compound halfway between a slick solution and a wet one which enable it to work well in conditions of wet asphalt with some puddles or in conditions of drying asphalt and with already dry lines, and on wet tires DIABLO ™ rain, a grooved solution for rain. At Magny-Cours Superbike riders will be able to choose between two rear wet tires since Pirelli has developed a new specification, the T0905, to be tested.

The 2013 Pirelli statistics for Magny-Cours:

• Total number of tires Pirelli brought: 4352

• Number of solutions (dry, intermediate and wet) for the Superbike class: 5 front and 6 rear

• Number of tires available for each Superbike rider: 32 front and 34 rear

• Number of solutions for the Supersport class (dry, intermediate and wet): 4 front and 5 rear

• Number of tires available for each Supersport rider: 23 front and 27 rear

• Superbike Best Lap Awards won by: Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), 1’38.345 (Race 1, 4th lap) and 1’37.932 (Race 2, 4th lap)

• Supersport Best Lap Award won by: Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport), 1’41.690 (6th lap)

• Temperature in Race 1: air 61F, asphalt 62.6F

• Temperature in Race 2: air 62.6F, asphalt 70F

• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Superbike tires: 183miles/h, in Race 1 by Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) at 11th lap.

• Maximum race speed reached by Pirelli DIABLO™ Supercorsa SC tires in Supersport race: 166 miles/h, Kenan Sofuoglu (MAHI Racing Team India) at 11th lap