The 2021 FIM Supersport 300 World Championship hit the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours for the Motul French Round on Friday morning in treacherous conditions. A rain shower had left the circuit wet, although the rain wasn’t falling. With times improving constantly throughout the session, it was Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) who grabbed the advantage early in the morning, setting a 2’03.770, over a tenth clear of his rivals.

Leading the way after the opening session, Huertas got down to a good time with him being in the 2’03 bracket. The Championship leader stamped his authority going into the remainder of the weekend, resisting a late charge from fellow countryman Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing), whilst Most race winner Victor Steeman (Freudenberg KTM WorldSSP Team) completed the top three. Another Most race winner in Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) came home in fourth as the defending Champion continued his strong form, ahead of Inigo Iglesias (SMW Racing) who was fifth.

Sixth place honours went to Gabriele Mastroluca, whilst the first of the home-heroes was Samuele Di Sora (Leader Team Flembbo) in seventh. Marc Garcia (Prodina Team WorldSSP300) returned to World Supersport 300 action in eighth place after a solid opening session, ahead of Australia’s Harry Khouri (Fusport – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) and Ton Kawakami (AD78 Brasil by MS Racing), with the Brazilian completing the top ten. Second in the Championship, Tom Booth-Amos (Fusport – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) was only 22^nd.

In the opening minutes, Bahattin Sofuoglu (Biblion Yamaha Motoxracing) highsided out of the last corner, although the Turkish ace was OK as he remounted. Sylvain Markarian (Leader Team Flembbo) was another crasher, but he made it back to the pits to go out again, whilst Vincente Perez Selfa (Machado CAME SBK) suffered a technical issue. Filippo Maria Palazzi (ProGP Racing) crashed in the second half of the session, with Alejandro Carrion (Kawasaki GP Project) having to take avoiding action at the Nurburgring chicane. Antonio Frappola (Chiodo Moto Racing) also crashed and rejoined, this time at Turn 13. With just over a minute to go, Dutchman Koen Meuffels (MTM Kawasaki) suffered a nasty highside out of the final corner but was thankfully up on his feet.

Top six after FP1 in WorldSSP300, full results here!

1. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) 2’03.770s

2. Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing) +0.117s

3. Victor Steeman (Freudenberg KTM WorldSSP Team) +0.711s

4. Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) +1.142s

5. Inigo Iglesias (SMW Racing) +1.178s

6. Gabriele Mastroluca (ProGP Racing) +1.212s

Watch the WorldSSP300 title fight continue this weekend with the WorldSBK VideoPass!