After two red flag stoppages for incidences of spilt oil, the second free practice session for the WorldSSP riders at Magny Cours was completed more than half-an-hour late.
Local rider Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) was clearly at the top of the opening day standings, fast from the outset after losing his championship lead at the previous round in Portugal. Mahias, also spurred on at his home round, ended day one almost 0.6 seconds ahead of the rest.
After a crash because of the second oil spill of the session, and one near miss from another rider’s machine as he crashed just behind the Turkish superstar, Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was deprived of the chance to improve on his best time until near the very end. With his machine in the pits for repairs Sofuoglu had to wait until the last minutes to get back on track and had to remain second in the Friday rankings.
Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) placed third and Patrick Jacobsen (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) fourth.
Team-mates Niki Tuuli (Kallio Race System Yamaha) and Sheridan Morais (Kallio Race System Yamaha) ended Friday fifth and sixth, with ESS part-time rider Alessandro Zaccone (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) seventh – and second best MV rider.
At home Jules Cluzel (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) was eighth. Michael Canducci (3570 Puccetti Racing FMI Kawasaki) qualified ninth and British rider Gino Rea (Team GO ELEVEN Kawasaki) tenth, despite being involved in one of the red flag incidents.
WorldSSP Superpole takes place on Saturday, with rainy conditions expected to arrive overnight to drive away the sunshine that graced the first day at Magny Cours.
Mahias, WSS, French WSBK 2017