The FIM Supersport 300 World Championship burst into life at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours with Championship leader Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) heading Friday’s running in both wet and dry conditions, with his time over eight tenths clear of his nearest rivals on the dry track ahead of the Motul French Round.

HUERTAS OUT IN FRONT, BUT IT’S CLOSE BEHIND…

Huertas was fastest in the first 30-minute session in wet but drying conditions and continued that form into the second session with a time of 1’52.859s, comfortably the fastest time of the day. The only dry running in the afternoon was interrupted by a Red Flag with just over two minutes to go when Miguel Santiago Duarte (Yamaha MS Racing) suffered a mechanical issue at Turn 8, with the session ending early.

Reigning Champion Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) was in second as he looks to close in on the Championship leader, but he was eight tenths back from Huertas. Reigning Champion Buis had a four-tenths advantage of Tom Booth-Amos (Fusport – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) in third place, with the field closing up behind Booth-Amos; with the top three in the Championship also the top three in the standings after Friday.

Bahattin Sofuoglu (Biblion Yamaha Motoxracing) claimed fourth place after a challenging day which included a highside crash at the final corner in this morning session, but he was able to re-mount and re-join the session. Australian Harry Khouri (Fusport – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) claimed fifth place in a strong session, only one tenth behind Booth-Amos.

COMPLETING THE TOP 15…

Samuel di Sora (Leader Team Flembbo) was another who had a strong session with sixth place, finishing ahead of Daniel Mogeda (Team# 109 Kawasaki) who claimed seventh on his WorldSSP300 return. Inigo Iglesias (SMW Racing) secured eighth after the two 30-minute sessions with Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing) and Hugo de Cancellis (Prodina Team WorldSSP300) rounding out the top ten.

Dutchman Koen Meuffels (MTM Kawasaki) had a crash in Free Practice 1 after a highside exiting the final chicane but was able to re-join the session and responded by taking 11^th place in the combined classification. Victor Steeman (KTM Freudenberg WorldSSP Team) was 12^th with Yeray Ruiz (Yamaha MS Racing) in the top 15 on his debut. Gabriele Mastroluca (ProGP Racing) was 14^th with Marc Garcia (Prodina Team WorldSSP300) in 15^th upon his return to the Championship.

TO NOTE…

Wildcard entrant Alexy Negrier (Alexy Moto Racing) crashed during the second practice session in the afternoon and was unable to re-join the session, with the crash occurring in the opening stages of the 30-minute outing at Turn 15. Filippo Maria Palazzi (ProGP Racing) was declared unfit after Free Practice 1 after a crash at Turn 7. Although he was able to re-join the session, he was taken to the medical centre and ruled out of the weekend with a right wrist contusion.

Sylvain Markarian (Leader Team Flembbo) also suffered from a crash in Free Practice 1, but was able to take his bike back to the pit lane and go out, while Antonio Frappola (Chiodo Moto Racing) crashed and returned to the circuit at Turn 13; Markarian claiming 30^th place and Frappola 39^th.  Vicente Perez Selfa (Machado Came SBK) had a technical issue in FP1 but was able to claim 18^th place after Friday’s running.

The top six following Friday WorldSSP300 action, full results here:

1. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) 1’52.859

2. Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) +0.822s

3. Tom Booth-Amos (Fusport – RT Motorsport by SKM – Kawasaki) +1.224s

4. Bahattin Sofuoglu (Biblion Yamaha Motoxracing) +1.295s

5. Harry Khouri (Fusport – RT Motorsport by SKM – Kawasaki) +1.310s 

6. Samuel Di Sora (Leader Team Flembbo) +1.386s

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