Friday

Positive WorldSBK free practice for Mahias at Magny-Cours

Conditions were very hot and sunny at Magny Cours in France for the start of the ninth WorldSBK round. At what is his home round, Frenchman Lucas Mahias is standing in for Tito Rabat (who is competing in MotoE) aboard the ZX-10RR of Kawasaki Puccetti Racing. Lucas previously competed for two years in SBK with Manuel Puccetti’s team, while this year has seen him stand in for injured Can Oncu in World Supersport, which meant that he spent today working with his team to readapt his riding style to the Ninja Superbike.

During the morning’s first practice, Lucas set a time of 1’39”713, while in the afternoon, which was characterised by very high temperatures and hence a slippery track, he was nevertheless able to improve further, recording a best of 1’39”108 and placing twenty-first in the day’s combined standings.

Circuit Nevers – Magny Cours – France
Superbike World Championship
Combined free practice results: 1) Rea (Kawasaki) – 2) Rinaldi (Ducati) – 3) Gerloff (BMW) – 4) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 5) Locatelli (Yamaha) …… 21) Mahias (Kawasaki)

Lucas Mahias: “Considering this was my first day riding in Superbike for a long time, things went quite well. I still need to find good pace of course, but this morning I didn’t push it, just focusing on finding feeling with my Ninja at this track again. Conditions were more difficult in the afternoon with the heat, but I was still able to lower my time. It’s not easy to go from Supersport to Superbike, but I’m pleased to be able to do so in France in front of my fans and I want to thank Manuel and the entire team for giving me this opportunity.”

Oncu returns to the track for WorldSSP practice at Magny-Cours

The first day of practice making up round nine of the Supersport World Championship played out today at the Nevers-Magny Cours circuit in France. For Kawasaki Puccetti Racing, the most important news is that its rider Can Oncu, injured at Assen in April and absent from the tracks for more than four months, is now back aboard the Italian team’s ZX-6R. He is not yet in ideal shape, due both to his long break and the fact that his injured arm still needs to regain the right muscle tone, but riding again will help him to return to full fitness.

During today’s first practice, Can finished nineteenth with a time of 1’42”811. Temperatures rose significantly in the afternoon, making work difficult for both the technicians and rider, who set a best of 1’43”631 and placed twenty-first in the day’s aggregate standings.

Circuit Nevers-Magny Cours – France
Supersport World Championship
Combined free practice results: 1) Debise (Yamaha) – 2) Bulega (Ducati) – 3) Huertas (Kawasaki) – 4) Manzi (Yamaha) …..….. 21) Oncu (Kawasaki)

Can Oncu: “After my long absence, today’s two sessions were a sort of test for me, a training session. I didn’t force it and just tried to regain feeling with my bike and get back to working with my team. I’m really pleased to be back on track and together with all my Kawasaki Puccetti Racing friends. I don’t have any particular ambitions for this French round other than to gradually rebuild my competitiveness. Thanks to the entire team for their amazing support, and I hope I can soon give them the kind of results they deserve.”

Saturday

Mahias nineteenth as he returns to WorldSBK with Puccetti Kawasaki Racing

The Superpole and first race of the ninth Superbike World Championship took place today at the Nevers Magny Cours circuit in France. Lucas Mahias is standing in for Tito Rabat (who is competing in the MotoE world championship) aboard the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing Ninja. At what is his home round, the French rider’s bike features the Gi.Vi. brand as main sponsor, in that the prestigious Italian motorcycle accessories brand is an historic sponsor of Kawasaki Puccetti Racing.

Yesterday saw Mahias take part in the two practice sessions. The Frenchman finished twenty-first with a time of 1’39”108. This morning he was back out for the third and final practice and was able to improve on his best of yesterday, recording a 1’39”026. Then came the Superpole, in which Lucas took a significant step, placing eighteenth with a best of 1’37”236. This result meant that the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider lined up on the sixth row of the grid for the afternoon’s race. Having made a good start, the French rider was unable to find sufficient pace to make up positions. Maintaining a consistent rhythm and avoiding any mistakes, Mahias crossed the line in nineteenth place.

Circuit Nevers – Magny Cours – France
Superbike World Championship

Superpole: Superpole: 1) Gerloff (BMW) – 2) Bautista (Ducati) – 3) Rinaldi (Ducati) – 4) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 5) Rea (Kawasaki) – 6) Baz (BMW) ………. 18) Mahias (Kawasaki)

Race 1: Gara1: 1) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 2) Rinaldi (Ducati) – 3) Rea (Kawasaki) – 4) Gerloff (BMW) – 5) Petrucci (Ducati) – 6) Locatelli (Yamaha) ……… 19) Mahias (Kawasaki)

Lucas Mahias: “This was my first Superbike race for a long time and it wasn’t easy, also due to the heat. My feeling with the bike wasn’t enough to be able to maintain a very fast pace. I nevertheless did my best to achieve the best possible result and collected data that will be useful for tomorrow’s races, in which I hope to do better. Thanks to my team for all their help again today.”

Oncu just misses out on the points in WorldSSP Race One at Magny-Cours

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing and rider Can Oncu were back on track at the Nevers Magny Cours circuit in France today, as round nine of the Supersport World Championship continues. The young Turkish rider only returned to competition yesterday after a long break owing to injury sustained in a crash at Assen in April. Although not yet back to full fitness, Can gritted his teeth and completed Friday’s practice sessions in twenty-first place with a fastest time of 1’42”811.

This morning he was out for Superpole and improved on his best time by almost a second (1’41”860), holding twenty-first place which meant a seventh-row start for the afternoon’s first WorldSSP race which ran over a distance of 19 laps.

Oncu made a good start and immediately gained a few positions. Battling as part of the chasing group, the young Turk climbed to final seventeenth position, just a few seconds from the points zone, which is his objective right now.

Circuit Nevers – Magny Cours – France
Supersport World Championship

Superpole: 1) Bulega (Ducati) – 2) Debise (Yamaha) – 3) De Rosa (Ducati) – 4) Manzi (Yamaha) – 5) Montella (Ducati) – 6) Huertas (Kawasaki) ………. 21) Oncu (Kawasaki)

Race 1 – 1) Bulega (Ducati) – 2) Manzi (Yamaha) – 3) Debise (Yamaha) – 4) Huertas (Kawasaki) – 5) Tuuli Triumph) – 6) Montella (Ducati) ……. 17) Oncu (Kawasaki)

Can Oncu: “In Superpole I wasn’t able to complete a clean lap in order to set a good time. It’s never easy to start from further back on the grid in Supersport. I got away well anyway, and moved into the group fighting for the points zone. I had consistent pace and finished seventeenth in the end, but the important thing is that I was able to complete the race after such a long break – this is the main thing for now. I want to thank my team and all my supporters.”

Sunday

Following a solid sprint race, Mahias retires from WorldSBK Race Two at Magny-Cours

Lucas Mahias and Kawasaki Puccetti Racing have completed the second and final day of racing making up the ninth WorldSBK round at the Nevers Magny Cours circuit in France. For the French rider, who is standing in for Tito Rabat (who is competing in MotoE), this was a return to World Superbike at his home round, in front of his fans.

Mahias’ bike livery has featured the prestigious Gi.Vi. brand as main sponsor this weekend, marking the historic collaboration between the Italian firm and Kawasaki Puccetti Racing.

Yesterday Lucas was out for Superpole, a session he finished in eighteenth place before crossing the line nineteenth in race 1. This morning the French rider lined up for the Superpole Race, the sprint race that runs over just ten laps. Having started well, Mahias held his position but was able to up his pace from mid-race on to make up two positions and cross the line sixteenth, the first of the Kawasaki privateers.

Race 2 ran in the afternoon, but it did not last long for the French rider who was forced to retire on lap five due to a technical problem.

The next WorldSBK round will take place on 22-24 September at Motorland Aragon in Spain.

Circuit Nevers – Magny Cours – France
Superbike World Championship

Superpole Race: Superpole Race: 1) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 2) Bautista (Ducati) – 3) Rea (Kawasaki) – 4) Locatelli (Yamaha) – 5) Petrucci (Ducati) …….. 16) Mahias (Kawasaki)

Race 2: 1) Bautista (Ducati) – 2) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 3) Rea (Kawasaki) – 4) Locatelli (Yamaha) – 5) Gerloff (BMW) – 6) Bassani (Ducati) – 7) Petrucci …….. DNF) Mahias (Kawasaki)

Lucas Mahias: “The Superpole Race went well. I found a good rhythm and was quick and consistent. I improved my feeling with the bike every time I went out on track this weekend and would have liked to do the same in race 2, but unfortunately a technical problem meant I had to retire. I’m sorry because I would have liked to give the team a strong result after all their help and hard work this weekend.”

Fourteenth place for Oncu in WorldSSP Race Two as full fitness yet to return

The Nevers Magny Cours circuit in France today staged the second and final race making up round nine of the Supersport World Championship. For Kawasaki Puccetti Racing, the most important factor this weekend is that Can Oncu is back after a long absence, with the young Turk having sustained injury in a crash in race 2 at Assen back in April.

Oncu is not yet back to full fitness, but riding his ZX-6R will no doubt help him to regain both his strength and competitiveness. Yesterday Can finished Superpole in twenty-first place, before crossing the line seventeenth in the race, just a few seconds from the points zone. Today saw race 2 get underway in the late morning in hot and sunny conditions. Oncu got away well and held his starting position through the first laps. As the race went on, the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider was able to pick up the pace and climb up as far as fourteenth place. This result saw him earn two championship points. An exceptional result if we consider that this is only Can’s second race after more than four months away from the track.

The next WorldSSP round will run on 22-24 September at Motorland Aragon in Spain.

Circuit Nevers – Magny Cours – France
Supersport World Championship

Race 2 – 1) Bulega (Ducati) – 2) Debise (Yamaha) – 3) Manzi (Yamaha) – 4) Schroetter (MV Agusta) – 5) Tuuli (Triumph) – 6) Dalla Porta (Yamaha) ………..14) Oncu (Kawasaki)

Can Oncu: “I’m pleased to have finished the race in the points zone, but more importantly that I’m back racing at all. I was really missing my team, the bike and the races and I’m happy to be able to compete again. Today’s race was tough, but I had fun and was able to improve lap by lap. Now I’ll head back to Turkey where I’ll resume my training so as to be even stronger for the next races. A big thank-you to the whole team for all their support!”