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Soomer pips Mahias in drenched WorldSSP FP1 at Magny-Cours

Friday, 2 October 2020 10:30 GMT

    • The Estonian star grabbed the advantage over the home hero, whilst Champion Locatelli was nowhere to be seen in the top five

    The 2020 FIM Supersport World Championship returned to action at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in the pouring rain for the penultimate round of the season. With track conditions proving treacherous, numerous stars fell in the closing stages as they set about improving their lap times. Coming out on top was Hannes Soomer (Kallio Racing), with a late lap to put him at the head of the field.

    Heading the field after the first session of the day, Soomer put in a good string of laps to slot in at the head of the pack in the slippery conditions. 2019 race winner Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was second and he aims for a repeat performance this year. Third place was another late crasher and Kyle Smith (GMT94 Yamaha), with the British rider once again substituting for the injured Jules Cluzel. Fourth went to South Africa’s Steven Odendaal (EAB Ten Kate Racing), who came good in the dying moments of the session. In fifth was his Spaniard Isaac Viñales, carefully going about his business throughout FP1.

    Completing the top half-dozen was Peter Sebestyen (OXXO Yamaha Team Toth) as the Hungarian shone in the rain, whilst Kevin Manfredi (Altogoo Racing Team) was a mighty seventh, one place higher than Andrea Locatelli (BARDHAHL Evan. Bros WorldSSP Team) , with the 2020 Champion taking it steady in the early stages of what is set to be a very wet weekend. Raffaele De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was ninth, one place higher than Can Öncü (Turkish Racing Team). Notable fallers in the session included Catalunya race winner Andy Verdoïa (bLU cRU WorldSSP by MS Racing) and rookie Danny Webb (WEPOL Racing Team).

    Top six after FP1, full results here!

    1. Hannes Soomer (Kallio Racing) 1’57.444
    2. Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) +0.091s
    3. Kyle Smith (GMT94 Yamaha) +0.103s
    4. Steven Odendaal (EAB Ten Kate Racing) +0.448s
    5. Isaac Viñales (Kallio Racing) +0.638s
    6. Peter Sebestyen (OXXO Yamaha Team Toth) +0.740s

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