Pata Maxus Yamaha Return from Summer Break for Magnifique Magny-Cours

Pata Maxus Yamaha Return from Summer Break for Magnifique Magny-Cours

Andrea Locatelli and Jonathan Rea return from summer break to start the final four rounds of the 2025 FIM Superbike World Championship for Pata Maxus Yamaha, with Magny-Cours from 5-7 September this weekend in France.

“The weather has historically played havoc at Magny-Cours, but the asphalt surface has been updated in recent years which has improved the grip level dramatically,” Yamaha’s Rider Coach Eugene Laverty explains. “There are quite a few fast changes of direction, therefore an agile bike is a fast one. However, there is also a lot of acceleration points from low speed and so wheelie plays a major factor! Tyre life has never really been a mitigating factor which means the riders can spin the rear tyre to help turn the bike on corner exit without having to worry about running out of rubber come race end. That makes for a fun race, both as a rider and a spectator!”

Magny-Cours has often suited the Yamaha R1 WorldSBK in the past, the site of a number of double podiums for the Pata Maxus Yamaha squad – including one podium for Locatelli alongside four notable fourth-place finishes since 2021. Rea’s record in France stands at 21 podiums in his long and illustrious career.

The French Round will no doubt deliver plenty of action in WorldSBK but also as the penultimate venue for the 2025 FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship. Ampito Crescent Yamaha’s Beatriz Neila is just nine points shy of the series leader, with a maximum of 100 points left to play for across four races – at Magny-Cours and the finale in Jerez.

Friday’s schedule remains with Free Practice 1 and 2 for WorldSBK at 10:20 and 15:00 CEST, and WorldWCR’s single Free Practice at 9:00 before Superpole in the early afternoon at 13:30. Fans should take note of the later start for WorldSBK Race 2 on Sunday with lights out at 15:30.

Andrea Locatelli:

“Magny-Cours is a good track for us, last year the conditions were strange with the rain during the race and I lost a bit the chance to fight for a good result but overall, we have another good opportunity with the Yamaha R1 there in 2025. We will arrive off the back of a number of strong results from Misano, Donington and Hungary. The plan is to keep going in this way – I am really motivated for the final rounds of the season, also off the back of our fantastic result with Yamaha Racing Team in Suzuka 8 Hours in the summer. I am quite happy in this moment and I feel good coming back to ride my bike, so let’s see what we can do – we will try to do our best! It’s a flowing track, stopping track – quite technical, but we know it works well with the Yamaha R1 and so we will try to push for the maximum result again.”

Jonathan Rea:

“It’s race week and so strange – after announcing my retirement at the end of 2025 – it will be the last time that I’m going to race at Magny-Cours. I have mixed emotions, and whilst it is something I’ve been thinking about for a long time, it was important to share the decision in the summer break with the sole target of arriving in France without any pressure and to give a really good account of myself and the Yamaha R1. Magny-Cours is special for many reasons and I won my first title there, but last year was marred with injury when I needed surgery on my thumb after crashing in Race 1 with Bulega at the final chicane. This year I hope to put the “demons” of 2024 to bed. I really enjoy the track – it suits my style and it suits the Yamaha R1 as well. It’s a circuit where you must have a bike that changes direction very well, turns and maximised in the braking area. I’m looking forward to working through Friday with the crew – like most Magny-Cours weekends, we have to pay attention to the weather because in September you can experience super high temperatures or showers and rain! We have to be prepared whatever comes our way. It’s going to be a special weekend and I’m looking forward to getting started after the long summer break without riding, so just step-by-step in the beginning and try to sharpen the set-up to be ready for the three races over the weekend.”