Cortese second in Argentina – The world champion will be crowned in Qatar

Kallio Racing’s Sandro Cortese fought his way to the podium at the penultimate race of the FIM World Supersport Championship season that was held today in Argentina at the Circuito San Juan Villicum. Loris Cresson did also a great job ending up tenth.

Sandro Cortese who started from the third place slipped down to fourth in the beginning of the GP of Argentina meanwhile his biggest rival Jules Cluzel got a dream start making his way from fourth place of the grid to first. The German improved his position step by step and five laps before the chequered flag he managed to pass the pole man Lucas Mahias ending up second. On the last lap Cortese tried to pass Cluzel but in the end he had to settle for the second position.

Cortese now leads the championship with six points which means that the FIM World Supersport Champion will be crowned after two weeks at the season final in Qatar.

Kallio Racing’s Belgian rider Loris Cresson got his best qualifying time of the season with tenth position. He had a great race being eight until the last lap when he went out a bit while avoiding not to crash into another rider who was breaking hard in front of him.

Sandro Cortese:
It was a bit tough race in the beginning. I had big grip problems to be honest. As the race got longer I felt more comfortable and I was able to attack. My goal was that if I can´t beat Jules I will stay just behind him and that´s what I did. We still lead with six points and that’s the most important thing when going to Qatar.

Loris Cresson:
This was one of the best weekends of the season! On Friday we made a good base for the bike. On Saturday I felt so good in the SP1 that I pushed and managed to get in SP2 for the first time of the season! Then in SP2 I kept pushing and I got my best qualifying position of the year being tenth. At the race I took a good start being ninth. Then I pushed all the race being in eight position. Unfortunately, in the last lap the rider in front of me made so hard breaking that I went a bit out and another rider overtook me and I finished tenth. But I am happy with the third top10 of the season! Now I fully focus on Qatar for the last race of the season! Kiitos (thank you) to the team!

Team leader Vesa Kallio:
This was a tough race. Sandro had problems in the beginning and he struggled finding the right rhythm. The last five laps were good but that wasn´t enough today to beat Cluzel. However, we can be pleased with the result as this circuit didn´t really suit for Sandro as well as for Cluzel. We will have extremely tight weekend in Qatar as Sandro knows the track well but also Cluzel has been always strong there. No one couldn´t wish for a more exiting end for the season!
Loris had a good weekend over here. Tenth position from Superpole and from the race and he managed to keep the eight position until the last lap so he can be pleased with his work.

Results of GP of Argentina: http://resources.worldsbk.com/files/results/2018/ARG/SSP/001/CLA/Results.pdf?version=3f254ea62985e67d70d5751fd79112ed

World Championship standing:
http://resources.worldsbk.com/files/results/2018/ARG/SSP/001/STD/ChampionshipStandings.pdf?version=67e649219847fb6e7ff3ae98ae3ca54c


« Back to News