Cluzel edges out Cortese for Brno victory

Full World Supersport race results from Brno

Jules Cluzel fended off World Supersport title rival Sandro Cortese in a race-long battle at Brno to take victory and ramp up his championship charge.

The NRT Yamaha rider stormed into the lead into Turn 1 ahead of Randy Krummenacher before the Swiss rider made a mistake and ran wide to allow pole-sitter Cortese through into second place.

Cluzel, Cortese and Raffaele De Rosa gradually pulled away from the chasing pack over the opening laps before the front two began to drop the MV Agusta rider to set-up a straight fight for the win.

While Cortese briefly moved into the lead on lap four, only to see Cluzel strike back a lap later, the Kallio Racing Yamaha rider spent the entire race in his rival’s shadow sizing up a late move.

The race ignited on the final lap with the pair almost tripping over each other at Turn 4, forcing both riders to stand their bikes up on corner exit, but Cluzel was able to fight off Cortese for a third victory in four races.

With De Rosa holding on for a third place, his fourth third place in a row, defending World Supersport champion Lucas Mahias held on to fourth place for GRT Yamaha ahead of Krummenacher on the Bardahl Evan Bros Yamaha.

Thomas Gradinger secured his best World Supersport result with sixth place for NRT Yamaha ahead of EAB Racing Kawasaki’s Anthony West.

Kyle Smith produced a solid first race back on the CIA Landlords Insurance Honda, having switch from Gemar Team Lorini Honda, to take eighth place ahead of Sterkman Motorsport Suzuki’s Eemeli Lathi who record the best World Supersport result of his career as Loris Cresson (Kallio Racing Yamaha) completed the top ten.

Rob Hartog ended the race in 11^th place thanks to a late race charge ahead of Hannes Soomer and Hikari Okubo as Alfonso Coppola and Alex Baldolini rounded out the points places.

Sheridan Morais (Puccetti Kawasaki), Ayrton Badovini (MV Agusta) and Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha) all crashed out in Brno early on.