The GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team are back in action this weekend for Round 10 of the FIM World Supersport Championship at Circuit de Nevers in Magny-Cours, France. Federico Caricasulo heads into the weekend off the back of two consecutive race wins and with his sights set firmly on the World Championship title. For Lucas Mahias the Magny-Cours race is an opportunity to get his championship campaign back on track in front of his home crowd, after missing out on points in Portimão, where he was disqualified for a track limits infraction after the race had been red flagged. Alfonso Coppola heads to France keen to repeat the success of Portimão, where he finished the race as the highest placed European Supersport Cup rider.
All three GRT Yamaha riders will be hoping for a slightly less dramatic weekend in Magny-Cours than they experienced last time out in Portugal. Mahias looked all set to claim his second victory of the season as the race drew to a close in Portimão, with Caricasulo secure in second place. A rear tyre failure for Mahias followed by disqualification from the results after the race was red flagged, saw the victory handed to the reigning World Champion’s GRT Yamaha teammate, Caricasulo.
The 25 points for the race win, Caricasulo’s second in succession, saw the Italian move up the championship standings to third place, just 20 points behind series leader and fellow Yamaha rider Sandro Cortese. With just three races remaining this season, t’s a gap that Caricasulo is determined to close further with another strong result at Magny-Cours this weekend.
Mahias will be guaranteed strong support from a partisan French crowd for his home race in Magny-Cours; the circuit at which he secured his first ever WorldSSP podium finish back in 2015. The reigning World Champion has slipped to fifth in the series standings as a result of a crash in Misano and the disqualification in Portimão, a situation he’s keen to rectify with a return to race winning form in France.
Alfonso Coppola rescued what had been a difficult weekend in Portimão with an outstanding performance in the race, which he finished as the top European Supersport Cup rider in 18th place. The Italian youngster is determined to try and replicate that success this weekend in Magny-Cours, the final round of the European Supersport Cup.
Lucas Mahias
GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team – 6th – 103 Points
“Overall Portimão was a really good weekend for me. I was fast in every session and had a commanding lead in the race until the penultimate lap when the rear tyre let me down. While the final result was bitterly disappointing, we can take confidence from the pace and consistency we showed in Portimão. This weekend is a big one. Firstly it’s my home race, which is always special, and secondly it’s at a track that holds good memories for me, as it was here that I secured my first ever WorldSSP podium finish. I’m ready to go, the weather looks like it will be perfect and I’m looking forward to giving the French fans something to cheer about this weekend.”
Alfonso Coppola
GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team – 31st – 2 Points
“While this will be my last appearance this season because it’s the final round of the European Supersport Cup. I’m happy it will be at a Magny-Cours, as this is one of my favourite circuits. I am fully motivated for the weekend ahead. It’s been a steep learning curve for me this year and it would be good to sign off my debut season in this class with a good result this weekend in France.”
Filippo Conti
GRT Yamaha Offical WorldSSP Team Manager
“We left Portimão after a good weekend for the whole team. Federico took his second win in succession, which was extremely important for the championship. Although Lucas left Portugal with no points after the disqualification, which he didn’t deserve, he showed good pace and consistency throughout the weekend and was clearly the fastest rider. It means we are now in a very strong position and fully motivated to fight for the championship title in the final three races of the season, starting this weekend in Magny-Cours. Federico heads to France with some confidence given his recent form and we know that Lucas will want to win in front of his home crowd, so I’m confident we will see both riders fighting at the front this weekend. This will be the last race of the season for Alfonso, as Magny-Cours is the final round of the European Supersport Cup. He has learnt a lot this year; he has improved with every race and he is fully motivated to end his rookie season with another strong performance this weekend.”
Federico Caricasulo
GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team – 3rd – 129 Points