Ten Kate Yamaha’s Dominique Aegerter secured his ninth victory of the 2021 WorldSSP season after a restarted 12-lap sprint at Magny-Cours.
Evan Bros.’ Steven Odendaal joined his title-rival on the podium in second, after a fight through the pack from 13th on the grid, with Jules Cluzel defending hard to complete the celebrations at his home race.
Luca Bernardi headed the grid as the 19-lap supersport race ignited but it was championship leader Aegerter quick to take charge as the lights went out. Bernardi struck back four corners in, taking Jules Cluzel with him - up from sixth - as they battled the Swiss rider, Niki Tuuli’s MV Agusta sat on the sidelines from the off with the red flag brought out due to a crash from Michel Fabrizio and David Sanchis Martinez.
The restart was reduced to a 12-lap sprint after the clean up was completed. Tuuli able to rejoin the front row after the technical issue was resolved in time but Valentine Debise was collected on the warm up lap as the riders left the grid, Vincent Falcone
Aegerter claimed the lead as the race eventually pulled away from the lights, Manuel Gonzalez taking second as Cluzel returned to third. Bernardi was dropped to fourth, Tuuli sixth as Philipp Oettl slotted in between on the opening lap. A turn 13 incident ending Christoffer Bergman’s race before it had begun.
Lap two saw Cluzel up to second as Steven Odendaal and Can Öncü battled for sixth, the pair demoting Tuuli into the clutches of Federico Caricasulo, in ninth.
Turn 13 claimed another victim as the race unfolded, Galang Hendra Pratama succumbing on lap three.
Cluzel looked to be on the attack next time around, Aegerter defending as Bernardi came through to third, then second but the Frenchman was quick to return the Sammarinese to the final podium position. The battle, however, provided the leader the peace he needed to break free out front, to hold more than a one-second advantage at the halfway stage.
The top-seven continued to squabble as the race played out. Odendaal stealing third and taking Gonzales with him as Bernadi dipped to fifth, Caricasulo on a charge for seventh with Oettl the next in his sights.
Five to go saw Tuuli down with his bike laying in the middle of turn 13, his difficult race finally at an end.
Odendaal took Cluzel on the penultimate lap with the Frenchman left to fend off the advanced of Gonzales to maintain his podium contention. The trio remained inseparable as the final lap wound down with Cluzel utilising his experience to defend his position and take third at the flag.
Aegerter claimed the victory to consolidate his title lead, Odendaal keeping his challenge alive in second, as the Swiss prepares to sacrifice one round due to MotoE commitments. Gonzales, Bernardi and Caricasulo completed the top-six.
