Heading into the final laps of the World Superbike Championship, with three rounds of the series remaining fans could see three potential titles wrapped up at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, but they won’t be secured without an intense fight.
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) is on the cusp of securing his historic third world championship in a row in Race One this weekend, as the Pirelli French Round could hold a lot of importance for the Northern Irish rider.
With an 120 point advantage over his team-mate Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), all Rea has to do on Saturday is win the race and he will be crowned 2017 World Superbike Champion. However it is worth noting the other situations in which the Northern Irish could be crowned champion:
- If Rea finishes in 2nd, Sykes will have to finish 4th or lower
- If Rea finishes in 3rd, Sykes will have to finish 5th or lower
- If Rea finishes in 4th, Sykes will have to finish 8th or lower and Davies has to finish 2nd or lower
- If Rea finishes in 5th, Sykes will have to finish 10th or lower and Davies has to finish 2nd or lower
If Rea is in with a chance to secure the title on Saturday in Race One, he has to finish in the top 12.
In the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship, Alfonso Coppola (SK Racing) could be crowned the first ever WorldSSP300 Champion in France.
Leading the championship heading into the penultimate round by one point, the Italian could take the title providing he wins the race and Marc Garcia (Halcourier Racing) finishes below 15th. On top of this Scott Deroue (MTM HS Kawasaki) and Mika Perez (WILSport Racedays) will need to finish outside of the top two.
The third title of the weekend could be secured in the European Superstock 1000 Championship, as it’s Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Junior Team)’s second chance to take the title this season. With an eight point lead in the standings ahead of the penultimate round of the European championship, providing the Italian wins the race, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) must finish in eighth position or lower.
If Rinaldi finishes in second position, Razgatlioglu must cross the line in 12th or lower whilst Florian Marino (Pata Yamaha Official STK1000 Team) should finish in 2nd position.