Once Krummenacher and Caricasulo had despatched early race leader Lucas Mahias on lap three, with both outbraking him into turn one, it looked as if it would be another two-way battle for the win between the Bardahl Yamaha teammates. Cluzel, Mahias, Raffaele De Rosa and Kallio Racing Yamaha Supported WorldSSP rider Thomas Gradinger remained in close contact and looked threatening throughout the 19-lap race, but only Cluzel was able to mount a serious challenge on the two front runners.
The Frenchman led the race briefly, after passing Caricasulo into the final turn on lap 16, but then Caricasulo made his move with two laps to go, taking the lead on the brakes into the newly christened Dani Pedrosa corner and then pulling away to take the win with two successive record breaking laps.
Krummenacher passed Cluzel in the same place on the penultimate lap and took the chequered flag in second place, with the Frenchman claiming his first podium finish since his race win in Thailand in third.
Gradinger added to his championship points tally with fourth place, with his Kallio Racing Yamaha teammate, Isaac Viñales finishing four places further back in eighth. GMT94 Yamaha’s Corentin Perolari secured a top ten finish in ninth on his return from injury, while Loris Cresson also finished in the points in 12th position.
MS Racing Yamaha rider Maria Herrera also finished in the points today, crossing the line in 14th position to secure her best ever result in WorldSSP.Krummenacher continues to lead the championship with 135 points, but today’s win means that, although still placed second in the standings, Caricasulo has closed the gap to his teammate to just 17 points, with Cluzel third on 94 points.
