Top six result for experienced Lagrive
French veteran Matthieu Lagrive was delighted to register a top six result in Race 1 at Magny-Cours
Riding as a substitute this weekend at the #FrenchWorldSBK round at Magny-Cours, veteran Frenchman Matthieu Lagrive (Pedercini Kawasaki) had a busy day on Saturday in front of the home fans, completing Race 1 in the top six.
On the Kawasaki ZX-10R Lagrive was a graduate from Superpole 1 alongside Honda World Superbike Team’s former MotoGP™ World Champion Nicky Hayden, as they rode well in the slippery conditions to make it into Superpole 2.
Indeed, Frenchman Lagrive briefly led the Superpole 2 session at a track which he knows so well, eventually qualifying in ninth place.
In Saturday’s WorldSBK race Lagrive played a starring role and he ran right with the frontrunners at one stage, as the grid jostled for positions, the riders having to judge when to switch tyres as they raced around a wet-drying Magny-Cours track.
Lagrive would ultimately cross the finish line in sixth place, a highly creditable result in his first appearance in the series since his last WorldSSP ride in 2013.
Afterwards he stated, “I’m really, really surprised, but maybe I’m good in this track in these conditions! I have ridden many, many laps here. So maybe for me it is easier to ride in the difficult conditions. I’m really happy, I was riding with a smile! I have a good bike, everything was ok and it is much easier in these track conditions.”
