Cluzel finishes 2021 WorldSSP season with ‘crazy’ 13th to first win

After a disappointing start to the season, Jules Cluzel finished 2021 in stunning fashion as he claimed WorldSSP race two victory in Mandalika despite starting from 13th on the grid. 

Cluzel’s win completed a brilliant final three rounds in which he took four wins from six races and was the highest points scorer. 

The GMT94 Yamaha rider started his winning streak in race two at Portimao, before backing that up with a double at Portimao. 

After coming from 13th to first in Mandalika race two, a race that saw him better 2021 WorldSSP champion Dominique Aegerter on the final lap thanks to a move at turn 15, Cluzel added: "It was great starting from 13th to then win. We didn’t have the best warm-up this morning, but the team and my teammate Valentin really worked hard to analyse the data together and we improved the bike a lot. 

"Yesterday was also a great race to finish fourth, and today I pushed a little bit more. The last lap was crazy, I’m sure it was great to watch also! Really happy to end the season like this."

While it wasn’t the end to proceedings that Aegerter would have liked as he eventually got relegated to third by Niki Tuuli, the Swiss rider’s podium did mean he clinched the team’s title for Ten Kate. 

"The main goal was to take the teams’ championship for Ten Kate Yamaha, which we managed to achieve," said Aegerter.

"Again on the podium, I tried to fight for the victory and for a small time I was first, but there was a big battle with five or six riders. 

"Everybody enjoyed the race, I was a bit unlucky to be third, but we’ve had a great season. 

"Big thanks to the organisers for making this weekend possible in Indonesia. Thank you also to my team, sponsors, family and everybody who has supported me this season."