Joerg Teuchert
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After a very good qualifying (sixth), the Briton finished Race 1 in tenth place. A tough Superpole session meant a fifth row start for Alvaro Bautista, but a comeback saw him cross the finish line in solid sixth.
The eighth round of the Superbike World Championship continues as the HRC team finishes the first of the weekend’s races on the French track at Nevers Magny-Cours. Earlier today, conditions remained dry for the all-important Superpole. With just 15 minutes to set the best possible lap time and secure a good grid position, Bautista and Haslam wereted no time. A record of 1’36.258 for the Briton saw him qualify for a solid sixth place, which means a second row start for him in the first of the weekend’s races. Bautista had more difficult times, struggling to complete a clean lap. A best time of 1’37.269 places him in fourteenth place at the end of the session, so a start in the fifth row for the Spaniard.
At 2 p.m. local time, the riders lined up for the first 21-lap Superbike race. Today’s race marked Haslam’s 300e start in the Superbike class; he is only the fifth pilot in history to cross this milestone. Sixth on the grid, the Briton held this position in the opening laps. Meanwhile, Bautista is doing well, eleventh at the end of the first round. The eighth lap saw him move to eighth place, just behind his teammate Haslam, whom he was able to pass on the following lap. The Team HRC duo advanced to sixth and seventh in the sixteenth round, after which Haslam unfortunately lost a few positions in the finals. Bautista scored a solid sixth place, while Haslam finally crossed the finish line tenth.
