Yamaha R3 bLU cRU riders make it into top five at Magny-Cours

Michelle Liew

October 3, 2019

The Yamaha R3 bLU cRU riders tackled the wet conditions of Magny-Cours to claim top five.

Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Challenge riders, Andy Verdoïa and Galang Hendra Pratama, managed to endure the challenging conditions at Magny-Cours to make it to the top five of the penultimate round of the 2019 FIM Supersport 300 World Championship.

Rain greeted the practice and qualifying sessions on Friday and Saturday. The riders struggled with the grip in the wet circuit but the six Yamaha R3 bLU cRU Challenge riders survived the obstacles at the French circuit.

Andy Verdoïa crashed in FP1 and sat out for FP2. He crashed again in FP3 and entered the qualifying without completing a single flying lap. Nevertheless, the Frenchman qualified third place for the grid.  Teammate Galang Hendra Pratama, on the other hand, suffered a major crash in FP2. He then bounced back to qualify at fourth place.

Here is what the bLU cRU riders have to say for their run.

Andy Verdoïa (BCD Yamaha MS Racing)- As It Happened

Photo credits Yamaha Racing

“What a crazy weekend in Magny-Cours! I crashed on my first lap in the tricky conditions in FP1 and had a lot of pain, so decided to sit out FP2 to recover. FP3 on Saturday didn’t go much better, as I crashed again on my first lap and missed the rest of the session. I knew I had to stay calm and try and improve lap by lap in qualifying,” says Verdoïa as quoted from Yamaha Racing (bLU cRU).

“I was leading the session until the very last lap but ended up qualifying on the front row in P3. On Sunday the track was completely dry. After a good warm-up, I was feeling confident for the race and I was in the front group and fighting for the win until the very end. I led onto the last lap, but the slipstream is very important at Magny-Cours and I got passed on the back straight by three riders. Finally, I crossed the line in fourth place at my home race. I can’t wait for Qatar, where I hope to continue the battle to finish second in the championship.”

Galang Hendra Pratama (Semakin Di Depan Biblion MotoXRacing Yamaha)- As It Happened

Photo credits: Yamaha Racing

“The conditions in Magny-Cours for practice and qualifying were tricky, but I was top five in every session and I was happy with that. Then on Sunday it was dry for warm up and the race, which meant it was a big challenge for me and the team to find a good set up, but we did it. The race was a tough one. I had a great fight in the leading group, but I dropped back with two laps to go as I had a lot of pain in the shoulder after a big crash in FP2. But I managed to hold on for another top five finish and, in the circumstances, I’m happy with that.”

Kevin Sabatucci (Team Trasimeno Yamaha)- As It Happened

Photo credits: Yamaha Racing

“The Magny-Cours weekend was one of the most difficult of the season for me. After three top ten finishes and the win at Donington Park, it was difficult to come to France and struggle so much with the weather conditions and the bike. I crashed twice in the tricky conditions of FP1 and on Saturday we had to change to our fourth engine this season. This meant that I had to start Sunday’s race from pit lane. I gave it everything in the race, but couldn’t progress any further than 24th position, which I’m obviously far from happy with. I want to say sorry to all the Yamaha staff for this weekend, as we didn’t realise our true potential in the race.”

Beatriz Neila (BCD Yamaha MS Racing)- As It Happened

Photo credits: Yamaha Racing

“Magny-Cours wasn’t the race weekend I was hoping for, as I was looking forward to building on the great result I had last time out in Portimão. Conditions were really tricky with the weather on Friday I didn’t have a good feeling on a track that was really slippery. I started well on Saturday but then had a difficult qualifying and had to fight for a grid slot in the Last Chance Race. I learned a lot in that race, with a top six finish securing me a start in the main race on Sunday. It was a tough race in the end, because I started so far back on the grid, but it was also another opportunity to gain more experience. So, a difficult weekend on what was a new track for me but, once again, I learned a lot. Now I need to keep working!”

Jacopo Froco (Semakin Di Depan Biblion MotoXRacing Yamaha)- As It Happened

Photo credits: Yamaha Racing

“For me the Magny-Cours weekend was one to forget. The aim has been to improve each round, but in France we went a little bit backwards. The conditions were very difficult and I didn’t make the cut in qualifying, which meant I had to go into the Last Chance Race, but sixth place in that was enough to secure me a start on Sunday. It was a tough race from the back of the grid, but I pushed as hard as I could and learned a lot, even if the result wasn’t what I was hoping for. So, a disappointing weekend in terms of the result, but I did my maximum in what were difficult conditions.”

Finn de Bruin (Team Trasimeno Yamaha)- As It Happened

Photo credits: Yamaha Racing

“It was a disappointing weekend at Magny-Cours, in what has been a difficult season. Looking back over the year there are a lot of things I would have done differently. I tried my best and learned a lot, but I think I could have done better. I want to say thank you to both Yamaha and Team Trasimeno for this opportunity, their support and their continued faith in me. Now we will see what next season brings, but I hope to find the old Finn back!”