GMT94’s Jules Cluzel claimed a stunning late-race victory as WorldSSP’s 2021 season came to a close at Mandalika.
MV Agusta’s Niki Tuuli and Ten Kate Yamaha’s Dominique Aegerter completed the podium celebrations after denying Federico Caricasulo at the final corner.
The final race of the Supersport season saw World Champion Aegerter back on pole for the last 19-lap battle of the year. Manuel Gonzalez and Caricasulo joined him on the front row with race one winner Raffaele de Rosa lining up fourth. Cluzel back in 13th after a gearing issue in qualifying.
Caricasulo took the lead as the lights went out, Aegerter sitting second with de Rosa through to third before the champion dropped down to fifth. Cluzel was making moves from the off as he advanced to ninth in the opening action, continuing to climb the lap unfolded with Can Öncü taking charge out front.
Gonzales ran third as his final race in the championship got underway ahead of a move to Moto2, before the Spaniard crashed out at turn seven on lap two. Drops of rain registering around the 4.3km layout.
Öncü held a half-second lead on lap three ahead of the two Italians, Tuuli setting a fastest lap on his way to fourth with Aegerter and Cluzel circling fifth and sixth.
Caricasulo began to challenge next time around, the VFT rider just two-tenths off the wheel of the Puccetti Kawasaki as Tuuli did likewise on de Rosa behind.
Philipp Oettl was into the top 10 after five laps of action, dispatching Unai orradre for ninth with Hannes Soomer and Peter Sebestyen ahead.
Öncü continued to defend from Caricasulo out front, the battle allowing Tuuli to advance into the mix with 13 laps to go as the Italian finally found a way through.
Lap eight and Caricasulo’s lead swung from three-tenths to nothing as Öncü attempted to hit back, Tuuli biding his time as he looked to pick up the pieces with de Rosa and Aegerter joining the now five-rider battle.
Tuuli took charge as they crossed the line having challenged three deep around the final corner at half-race distance. Öncü running second as Caricasulo dropped to third with de Rosa now narrowly behind.
Tuuli began to build a gap with another fastest lap and eight to go, half a second distancing him from the pursuing group with Öncü still in charge from second as he dragged the battle back towards the Finnish rider.
Caricasulo captured second as Öncü dropped to sixth next time around, de Rosa frustrating Cluzel as he held up the following riders, allowing a breath for the pair out front.
Cluzel broke through for third with five to go, immediately pushing hard to recover the leaders as Steven Odendaal crashed out at turn eight - his bike coming to a stop two corners later. Aegerter advancing to fourth one lap later and joining the fight as the final three laps began.
Caricasulo hit the front after a move through turn 10 before a moment seconds later almost derailed the progress. The Italian had his French ex-teammate for company with two to go as Cluzel took charge emulating the move at the 10th corner, Caricasulo’s fortunes fading as Aegerter too found a way through as the final lap came into sight.
A late-race charge saw the World Champion reiterate his dominance before Cluzel struck in the final sector to secure the win in breathtaking style. Tuuli stealing second with Aegerter third as the trio denied Caricasulo the podium celebrations having run him wide in the last corner.
De Rosa came home fourth from Öncü, Soomer and a subdued Randy Krummenacher with Oettl and Sebestyen completing the top 10.
