Magny Cours World Supersport: Britain's Craig Jones secures third in France

Britain’s Craig Jones defied all the odds of some wild riding to take his third podium of the season in the final World Supersport race at Magny Cours.

The Cheshire-born rider snatched third place in an enthralling battle for the final podium spot which also involved fellow Brit Tommy Hill and Gianluca Vizziello.

World Supersport champion Kenan Sofuoglu celebrated his title all over again with a fitting victory ahead of Yamaha’s Broc Parkes.

Kenan Sofuoglu went wide around the first corner to take the lead with Britain’s Tommy hill going in to second in front of teammate Broc Parkes.

Nicklas Cajback was a first lap victim and was stretchered out of the gravel trap.

Broc Parkes got the better of Tommy Hill on lap two to take second and then set about taking on champion Sofuoglu. Parkes made his move stick to lead the race.

Eckerold Honda’s Craig Jones, was in seventh at the end of lap three but was on a mission to pass David Checa and Sebastien Charpentier.

Jones did manage to pass Checa on lap four to make his way up to sixth.

Kenan Sofuoglu set a new lap record on lap four with a 1:42.74.

Sebastien Charpentier disappeared from the battle on lap five with Jones benefiting and getting himself in to fourth behind friend Tommy Hill.

Lap six saw Pierre Riba crash out of the race with his Kawasaki ZX-6R then setting on fire.

Kenan Sofuoglu showed just why he is champion on lap 10 to take the lead from Broc Parkes.

Praia and Salom came together and both crashed out of the race on lap 11. Barry Veneman was next to crash out on the following lap.

Lap 13 saw Hannspree Ten Kate Honda’s Kenan Sofuoglu run extremely wide as he saved himself from low siding. This unusual error handed the lead to Yamaha’s Broc Parkes who was hot on the Turkish rider’s exhaust pipe.

Britain’s Craig Jones found himself under the scrutiny of Gianluca Vizziello on lap 14 as the Northampton-based rider ran wide and resulting in the loss of his fourth place. With Vizziello making a similar error on the following corner, Jones thought he had got it back, but was not so lucky.

Tommy Hill was another wide running rider on lap 18 and fell down to fifth with Vizziello and Craig Jones moving up the empty track in front of the Yamaha rider.

Jones saw his chance to move on to the podium on lap 20 as he slid past Yamaha rider Gianluca Vizziello.

Kenan Sofuoglu secured victory from Broc Parkes by 2.794 seconds.

And Craig Jones’ podium moved him up two places to fifth in the final championship standings.

Magny Cours World supersport race result:

1 K. SOFUOGLU TUR Hannspree Ten Kate HondaHonda CBR600RR
2 B. PARKES AUS Yamaha World SSP Racing YTa.maha YZF-R6
3 C. JONES GBR Revè Ekerold Honda RacingHonda CBR600RR
4 G.VIZZIELLO ITA RG Team Yamaha YZF-R6
5 T. HILL GBR Yamaha World SSP Racing YTa.maha YZF-R6
6 D. CHECA ESP Yamaha – GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R6
7 J. BROOKES AUS Stiggy Motorsport Honda Honda CBR600RR
8 K. FUJIWARA JPN Althea Honda Team Honda CBR600RR
9 G.LEBLANC FRA Vazy Racing Team Honda CBR600RR
10 M.ROCCOLI ITA Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha YZF-R6
11 S. GIMBERT FRA Yamaha – GMT 94 Yamaha YZF-R6
12 A. TODE GER Stiggy Motorsport Honda Honda CBR600RR
13 S. SANNA ITA Racing Team Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR
14 K. FORAY FRA Intermoto Czech Honda CBR600RR
15 D. PERRET FRA Scratch Moto Racing Team Kawasaki ZX-6R
16 S. NEBEL GER Lightspeed Kawasaki Supp.Kawasaki ZX-6R
17 L. ALFONSI ITA Althea Honda Team Honda CBR600RR
18 G.BOCCOLINI ITA Team PMS Kawasaki SuppoKratewdasaki ZX-6R
19 J. ENJOLRAS FRA Tati Team Beaujolais RacingYamaha YZF-R6
20 J. DICKINSON GBR CRS Grand Prix Honda CBR600RR
21 V. KALLIO FIN Pioneer Hoegee Suzuki RacSinugzuki GSX-R600
22 J. LASCORZ ESP Glaner Motocard.com Honda CBR600RR
23 B. VENEMAN NED Pioneer Hoegee Suzuki RacSinugzuki GSX-R600