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The French round was a case of what might have been for Can Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and one to completely forget for Bahattin Sofuoğlu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse). Both riders struggled for pace in the Superpole qualifying session, with Öncü  qualifying in seventh while Sofuoğlu could only manage an 18th place start position.

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Ever the fast starter, Can made a clean getaway in Race 1 and rode forcefully from the get go. He quickly worked his way to the front and took the lead on the second lap.

However, as has been the case too often this season, the Puccetti rider found himself in a detached fourth place by the halfway point and unable to maintain the pace of the lead group which consisted of Lorenzo Baldassari (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team), Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) and reigning champion Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha).

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Further down the field, Bahattin was involved in a tussle for 15th with Hannes Soomer (Dynovolt Triumph) and Kyle Smith (VFT Racing). And it was as a consequence of this battle that led to the race being red-flagged on Lap 12; as Bahattin tipped into the Adelaide Hairpin, Smith came charging up the inside completely broadside and carrying way too much speed. He smashed into the side of the MV and yet somehow managed to stay upright and continue!

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In the immediate aftermath Sofuoğlu lay stricken as he was tended to by the track doctors. Smith was handed a double long-lap penalty for Race 2 as a consequence of his reckless action; a somewhat lenient punishment given Bahattin was forced to miss the second race.

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Baldassari took his third race victory on the bounce to close in further on title rival Aegerter who finished in third, with Öncü a distant fourth. With only five points separating the Swiss and the Italian heading into Race 2, the stage was set for a tantalising showdown…

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After a slow start, the No.77 Ten Kate rider set about closing the gap to the leading group and with just over five laps remaining he inherited second place when Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing) ran wide at Chateaux d’Eau.

 

The hard-charging Aegerter made his move on Lap 15 as he squeezed past ‘Balda’ on the brakes into Adelaide. The Evans Bros. rider then shadowed his Yamaha stablemate until the last lap – desperate to make a pass, he asked too much of his R6’s front-end and crashed out at the corner that provided so much drama throughout the weekend across all classes - Chateaux d’Eau. He re-joined the race and crossed the line fifth, just pipping Öncü  who had to settle for a disappointing sixth.

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‘Domi’ triumphed to put some daylight back between himself and Baldassari (19 points). Can sits in fourth in the championship while despite leaving France with no points, Bahattin leads the WSS Challenge with 36 points ahead of Mercel Brenner (VFT Racing) who sits in second on 23 points.