News

Cluzel returns to the track at the Carole Circuit

Wednesday, 17 June 2020 14:21 GMT

After long months of waiting, the Frenchman and the GMT94 Yamaha team carried out three days of testing on the French circuit

After finishing on the third step of the podium at the Yamaha Finance Round in Australia, Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) had to wait many months before returning to his YZF-R6.

And it was during three days of driving organised on the Carole Circuit that the Yamaha rider has resumed training with many of his counterparts in recent weeks. “From Australia, I never got back on a motorcycle,” he says. “A bit of trial, but other than that, I’ve only cycled. It was not easy, especially at Carole; a very demanding circuit, small, very narrow, with lots of traps. For a recovery, it was not the simplest...”

On Tuesday, the rider from Montluçon covered no fewer than 70 laps of the French circuit. “I was tired at the end of the day, but I had more or less recovered my feeling. After a good night, I was able to leave in better conditions on Wednesday. I think I quickly got back into the rhythm.”

And for good reason! Cluzel broke the track record on Wednesday with a time of 59.266s. “It was not a goal,” he admits. “I was happy to take up this challenge while not losing sight of the fact that this test aims to get us back on track. To ride like that, you have to take risks, maybe a little too much compared to the stakes. Today was the right time. We still have a few weeks left and we have time to recover from an injury. You can run with your body and your free spirit.”

GMT94 will complete the three days of riding on Thursday, after which Cluzel will return home to continue his training. “I will go home and deepen the physical preparation that I have been doing for three months now. I still have some goals to reach before the next race in the mountains of Andorra, but I clearly made progress during the confinement, I feel very strong. I base myself on my experience and I never give up ... "

"I even hired a nutritionist," he adds. “My goal is to gain 2 to 3kg. Being lighter is sometimes a disadvantage. Since we no longer have traction control, I still lack a bit of grip. So, I am working on this point to earn more. I optimise everything!”

Follow the WorldSSP 2020 season and relive the most beautiful races in history by subscribing to the WorldSBK VideoPass now!