Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) claimed a hard-fought pole position for the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. The German star was quick throughout the 20-minute Tissot Superpole session for the Pirelli French Round and faced stiff competition from his title rivals but was able to withstand their pressure to claim a third WorldSSP300 pole position ahead of Championship leader Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing BGR).

EVERYONE WANTS TO LEAD: riders swap top spot consistently

The first laps came in with Geiger in the 1’53.803s with times generally in the 1’53s and 1’54s, and the second flying laps were lost due a yellow flag following a crash for Unai Calatayud (Arco Motor University Team) at Turn 3; with the Spaniard taken to the medical centre for a check-up following his highside and he was later declared fit. With the yellow flags withdrawn, the times began to fall again. Geiger improved to a 1’53.668s but Championship leader Perez Gonzalez went four tenths quicker to claim provisional pole position.

With around six minutes left in the session, 2020 Champion Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) surged to the top of the timesheets with a 1’53.109s to lead Perez Gonzalez by a tenth before the #60 responded with the first lap in the 1’52s. On the final lap of the session, Perez Gonzalez was fastest of everyone in the first three sectors but was unable to overhaul Geiger, whose time of 1’52.710s allowed him to take his third pole position and KTM’s fifth in WorldSSP300. Perez Gonzalez will line up second with his fourth front row start while Veneman claimed his maiden front row with third after enjoying a stunning French Round so far.

IN THE MIX: title contenders aiming for the rostrum

Championship contender Matteo Vannucci (AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha) will line up from fourth as he looks to close the gap in the standings to Perez Gonzalez, while Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) – one of the previous winners at Magny-Cours on the grid – claimed fifth. The top five were separated by just 0.399s after a closely packed Superpole session. Daniel Mogeda (Kawasaki GP Project) will complete the second row as he took sixth place, three tenths down on Buis directly ahead of him.

MAKING GAINS: strong Saturday results so far

Two Italian riders will line up alongside each other with Kevin Sabatucci (Team Flembbo – PI Performances) as he set a 1’53.424s, finishing two tenths clear of compatriot Marco Gaggi (Team BrCorse). Humberto Maier (Yamaha MS Racing/AD78 Latin America) will start ninth after having a previously deleted lap time of 1’57.784s reinstated, with Troy Alberto (Fusport – RT Motorsport by SKM – Kawasaki) completing the top ten.

CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS FALTER: outside the top ten

While several title contenders are in the top ten, a few will have work to do in the two races. Mirko Gennai (Team BrCorse) will line up from 12^th, while Petr Svoboda (Fusport – RT Motorsport by SKM – Kawasaki) will line-up from 24^th. Three riders have grid penalties for Race 1: Marc Garcia (China Racing Team) and Devis Bergamini (ProGP Racing) both have a five-place grid drop for the opening race of the weekend for irresponsible riding during FP2 and Mattia Martella (ProDina Kawasaki Racing) has the same penalty for irresponsible riding.

The top six from WorldSSP300 Tissot Superpole, full results here:

1. Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) 1’52.170s

2. Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing BGR) +0.161s

3. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) +0.357s

4. Matteo Vannucci (AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha) +0.375

5. Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) +0.399s

6. Daniel Mogeda (Kawasaki GP Project) +0.699s

Don’t miss out on Race 1 from 12:40 Local Time (GMT+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass!