Double World Champion Jeffrey Buis (KTM Freudenberg-Paligo Racing) secured the win in Race 2 in the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship class at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, coming from tenth on the grid to fight his way to the top step of the podium. Buis took his 13th win – increasing his tally as the record holder for victories in the class – also notching a seventh victory for KTM and his 23rd podium. Brothers Galang Hendra Pratama (ProGP NitiRacing) and Aldi Satya Mahendra (Team BrCorse) proudly represented Indonesia on the podium again, as Mahendra increased his Championship lead to 12 points.

PLENTY OF DRAMA: 100^th race was another dramatic affair

The 100^th WorldSSP300 race in history was not short of incident. After the initial start Unai Calatayud (ARCO SASH MotoR University Team) took the holeshot, before Mahendra quickly took over at the front, with Daniel Mogeda (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kawasaki) leading by Turn 5. A technical problem for David Salvador (MS Racing) resulted in him suffering a big impact after a highside crash at Turn 5 on Lap 2, which saw the race red flagged as the marshals cleaned the track. Salvador was taken to the medical centre for a check up and would not take part in the restarted race due to a left elbow fracture.

RACE SHORTENED AFTER RE-START: the riders blast-off again

The Quick Start procedure was followed for the restart with a new race distance of seven laps for the WorldSSP300 riders over which to contest the win. Mahendra took the lead early after the restart, before Buis came from the fourth row on the grid to take over at the front by Turn 5. On the second lap of the restarted race Kevin Sabatucci (Team Flembbo-PL Performances) had made it into the lead, but Buis would not yield and soon got back in front and began to pull clear. KOVE Racing Team pair Marc Garcia and Julio Garcia were riding well and forced their way into the top four with five laps to go.

BUIS POWERS ON TO WIN: battles rage behind him

Entering the penultimate lap Buis had the lead, with Mahendra hot on his tail and Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) also joining the party. Pratama came out of the chasing pack setting a blistering pace on the penultimate lap, briefly leading on the final lap, only for Buis to retake the lead and push on for the win. Iglesias crashed on the final lap after fighting with Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki). Gennai crossed the finish line second but was penalised by three seconds for irresponsible riding and was therefore relegated to 14^th place.

A HECTIC FINISH IN FRANCE: crashes on the final straight

Crossing the line one second behind the front three Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) was fourth, with Marc Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) fifth and Phillip Tonn (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing) in sixth for a career best result. A hectic incident arriving at the finish saw Humberto Maier (MS Racing), Julio Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) and Elia Bartolini (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSSP300 Team) crash, but they were given seventh, eighth and ninth respectively as they crossed the line. Pepe Osuna (DEZA-BOX 77 Racing Team) completed the top ten, 2.324s behind winner Buis.

The top six from WorldSSP300 Race 2, full results here:

1. Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing)

2. Galang Hendra Pratama (ProGP NitiRacing) +0.546s

3. Aldi Satya Mahendra (Team BrCorse) +0.548s

4. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) +1.526s

5. Marc Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) +1.674s

6. Phillip Tonn (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing) +1.848s

Fastest lap: Aldi Satya Mahendra, Yamaha – 1’52.744s

Championship standings:

1. Aldi Satya Mahendra (Team BrCorse) 164 points

2. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) 152

3. Íñigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) 138

4. Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing) 111

5. Marc Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) 102

6. Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki) 101

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