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Toprak Razgatlioglu has made his first triplet in the World Superbike Championship. The Turkish Yamaha rider also prevailed in the second long race despite the attacks of a Jonathan Rea who did not want to give up, but had to do it when he almost fell to the ground with five laps to go.
Razgatlioglu leaves France thirteen points ahead of Rea, while Scott Redding has greatly improved his performance on Sunday to rescue at least one podium, although it falls too far from the title fight. Good comeback for Álvaro Bautista to sixth position, while Tito Rabat was fifteenth.
Razgatlioglu leaves France thirteen points ahead of Rea
In the Superpole Race victory went to Toprak Razgatlioglu, but not without a fight, because Jonathan Rea came to lead until the last turn, but he could not contain the Turk. Great comeback for Scott Redding, who this time was finer and finished in fifth place, which allowed him to fight for a podium in the second long race.
At the exit Toprak Razgatlioglu was able to keep the first place, but Jonathan Rea attacked him hard. Alex Lowes was very active, who even allowed himself the luxury of surpassing his teammate, doing him a disservice. Redding was already in fourth place, trying not to get off the fight.
Another fall from Lowes, completing a lousy weekend, as Rea took the lead. Although Razgatlioglu had more pace, Rea had no intention of letting him put first, which was slowing the pace enough that Redding also sticks with the leading duo.
Razgatlioglu did let Rea throw so Redding could at least get off the hook, which happened immediately. The Ducati was left alone in third position, and the duel for victory was once again a matter of only two riders, the two world leaders. Twelve laps from finishing Razgatlioglu regained the lead.
The tension was maximum, because the two were taking passes very to the limit. Razgatlioglu managed to make his first full lead lap, but Rea pulled his kidneys to prevent him from escaping. Again the champion was on the ropes and forcing more than he would like to chase his nemesis.
Álvaro Bautista was returning to make a career from less to more, and had already been climbing positions. He was going sixth, and Chaz Davies wasn't that far off to make it back to a top five. Rea was still very close to Razgatlioglu, showing him the wheel in a corner. The last word for victory was not said.
Five laps from the end, Rea got a great scare that almost sent him to the ground. That was the final blow for the champion to throw in the towel. The difference opened up to more than a second and Rea settled for another second position in a weekend in which Razgatlioglu has been much superior
Victory for Toprak Razgatlioglu, the fourth in a row that is worth him to complete his first triplet in the World Superbikes. Rea minimizes damage with second place and Scott Redding at least leaves with a podium from Magny-Cours. Bautista in the end finished in sixth place, behind Davies.
