Mettet (Belgium) – 5 October – The GP of Belgium, scheduled at the city circuit of Mettet, kicked off on Friday with the S1GP free practice. The large crowd who attended the event enjoyed a beautiful show and saw Lukas Hollbacher (KTM) taking pole position, in front of Steve Bonnal (Team 11) and Thomas Chareyre (SGR Grau Racing). Standings leader Marc-Reiner Schmidt (L30 Racing TM Moto) set the fourth time only. In the Rookies Cup the best time was set by Eddy Frech.
Free practice
Sun was shining during the free practice of the GP of Belgium at the city circuit of Mettet. Marc-Reiner Schmidt (L30 Racing TM Moto) was the fastest rider in both sessions of the free practice, followed by Austrian Lukas Hollbacher (KTM), who got back to the World Championship after a long break due to the injury suffered last year. Lukas proved to be in good shape and his distance from the provisional pole position was just over a tenth of a second.
Excellent third place for Andreas Buschberger (Husqvarna) who qualified in front of Steve Bonnal (Team 11). Tough session for Thomas Chareyre (SGR Grau Racing) and Elia Sammartin (Gazza Racing) as they both struggled a bit in the free practice on their Honda bikes and did not shine. However, there is a minimal gap among the first six riders, and anything can happen. In the Rookies Cup, the fastest rider was German Eddy Frech (KTM) who finished in front of mate Julen Avila Cortes (KTM Mtr Racing).
Time practice
The time practice was packed with emotions and several riders swapped the lead of the standings. The first one to set the best time was Lukas Hollbacher (KTM), but close to the end of the practice Thomas Chareyre (SGR Grau Racing) took the lead. The leader of the World Championship pushed harder as the time was running out and took back the lead of the standings. The other riders who battled it out in the Super Pole and made it to the top six were Steve Bonnaln(Team 11), Elia Sammartin (Gazza Racing) and Andreas Buschberger (Husqvarana). In the time practice the fastest rider of the Rookies Cup was once again Eddy Frech (KTM).
Superpole S1GP
The Super Pole saw mistakes made by the two best performers of the season. Thomas
Chareyre first and then Marc-Reiner Schmidt. Both made small errors which prevented them from achieving a perfect lap. Lukas Hollbacher was the only rider who improved the time set in the qualifying and came home with the Metzeler pole position. Second place went to Steve Bonnal, who was very fast, and his growth in the final part of the season predicts a bright future for the young French rider. Chareyre was third and Schmidt fourth.
Elia Sammartin, who started from pole position twice this season, did not find the right feeling for the fast lap and had to feel happy with sixth place.
S1GP Time Practice Top Ten:
SCHMIDT Marc Reiner (GER, TM) 1:32.985; 2. CHAREYRE Thomas (FRA, Honda) 1:33.154; 3. HOLLBACHER Lukas (AUT, KTM) 1:33.178; 4. SAMMARTIN Elia (ITA, Honda) 1:33.541; 5. BONNAL Steve (FRA, TM) 1:34.003; 6. BUSCHBERGER Andreas (AUT, Husqvarna) 1:34.068; 7. KAIVERS Romain (BEL, TM) 1:34.288; 8. FRECH Eddy (GER, KTM) 1:34.898; 9. AVILA CORTES Julen (ESP, KTM) 1:34.995; 10. MESTRES PLA Ari (ESP, Honda) 1:35.612
S1GP Superpole:
HOLLBACHER Lukas (AUT, KTM) 1:32.759; 2. BONNAL Steve (FRA, TM) 1:33.178; 3. CHAREYRE Thomas (FRA, Honda) 1:33.206; 4. SCHMIDT Marc Reiner (GER, TM) 1:33.276; 5. BUSCHBERGER Andreas (AUT, Husqvarna) 1:33.638; 6. SAMMARTIN Elia (ITA, Honda) 1:33.868;
Time Table:
Saturday
10:30 Warm Up – 12:25 RaceOne – 16:50 FastRace
Sunday
08:45 Warm Up – 15:00 SuperFinal
Complete results available HERE.
SUPERMOTO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – GP of BELGIUM METTET – QUICK FACTS
Circuit length: 2043 mt (1.358,5 mt asphalt, 684,5 mt off-raod)
Temperature: 14°
Weather conditions: Sun
The FIM Supermoto Worldchampionship will be broadcasted delayed, by clicking HERE you will obtain the full tv list.
In the photo: SuperPole Winner #72 Lukas Hollbacher
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