Valencia World Supersport: Craig Jones claims second podium in Spain

Britain’s Craig Jones has claimed his second third of the season at the World Supersport race in Valencia.

The Parkalgar Honda rider was always in contention for a place on the podium and he kept hia head to finish just behind Fabien Foret.

Honda’s Joan Lascorz thrilled the thousands of Spanish fans as he took victory in the World Supersport race in Valencia.

The Spaniard finished more than a second ahead of second placed Fabien Foret on the Yamaha.

Jones was the first of three British riders in the top 10 as Jonathan Rea finished sixth and Chris Walker was the last of the finishing British contingent in ninth.

Pole man Joan Lascorz went in to the lead ahead of Andrew Pitt going in to the first corner.

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda’s Pitt crashed before the race had hardly begun. The Australian did manage to get going again, but was well down the field.

Craig Jones managed to get in to third while Ireland’s Jonathan Rea went in to fifth.

At the end of lap one Graeme Gowland was in 10th while Kawasaki man Chris Walker was 14th.

At the beginning of lap three Jones was having a look inside the corners to take Pitt for second.

On lap five second placed man Andrew Pitt high sided out of the race to hand second place to Honda man Jones. And Robin Harms was the next to crash out later in the lap. He tried to remount, but the Hanspree Stiggy Motorsport Honda CBR600RR was buried in the gravel trap.

Graeme Gowland was under pressure in sixth place from Jonathan Rea on lap eight, with the Honda pairing also breathing down the exhaust pipe of Nannelli in fifth.

Jones lost second place on lap eight as Fabien Foret passed him on the Yamaha R6. And je was also at risk of losing third as Broc Parkes was keen to grab the final podium spot.

Graeme Gowland ran straight off the track on lap 10 and out of the race. Jonathan Rea meanwhile was in ninth with Chris Walker 11th.

Out front Joan Lascorz had built up a 3.3sec lead from Fabien Foret while Jones seemed comfortable in third.

Leblanc crashed out of the race on lap 13, landing on the back of his head and neck. Unable to get straight up, he was fortunate enough to have landed in a part of the track not being used for the Supersport race.

By lap 17 Lascorz was 4.9secs ahead of Foret while Craig Jones continued to try to get around the Frenchman. But his efforts seemed like being for nothing as he drifted back off the pace after each attempt. Rea was seventh and Chris Walker meanwhile was ninth.

On lap 19 Rea’s persistence paid off as he passed Roccoli to take eighth place. And by the penultimate lap Gianluca Nannelli was next in his sights also on a Honda CBR600RR.

Lascorz took the win to the delight of his home crowd 1.125secs ahead of Fabien Foret while Britain’s Craig Jones held on to claim his second third of the season.

Hannspree Ten Kate Honda’s Jonathan Rea finished in sixth place while Chris Walker finished ninth onboard his Kawasaki ZX-6R.

After the race Craig Jones said he had learnt from the Carlos Checa and Max Neukirchner incident in the World Superbike race.

Jones said: “I looked at my board with seven to go and thought I had the pace in the last part of the lap but I couldn’t get close enough.

“I watched the first Superbike race and learnt my lesson from that.”

Valencia World Supersport race results:

1 J. LASCORZ ESP Glaner Motocard.com Honda CBR600RR
2 F. FORET FRA Yamaha World Supersport Yamaha YZF-R6
3 C. JONES GBR Parkalgar Racing Team Honda CBR600RR
4 B. PARKES AUS Yamaha World Supersport Yamaha YZF-R6
5 G.NANNELLI ITA Hannspree Honda Althea Honda CBR600RR
6 J. REA GBR Hannspree Ten Kate HondaHonda CBR600RR
7 M.ROCCOLI ITA Yamaha Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha YZF-R6
8 A. RODRIGUEZ ESP L’Oreal Men Expert LaglisseYamaha YZF-R6
9 C.WALKER GBR Kawasaki Gil Motor Sport Kawasaki ZX-6R
10 M.AITCHISON AUS Triumph Italia BE1 Racing Triumph 675
11 K. FUJIWARA JPN Kawasaki Gil Motor Sport Kawasaki ZX-6R
12 G.VIZZIELLO ITA Berry Racing Honda CBR600RR
13 M.LAGRIVE FRA Intermoto Czech Honda CBR600RR
14 V. KALLIO FIN Benjan Racing Team Honda CBR600RR
15 M.PRAIA POR Parkalgar Racing Team Honda CBR600RR
16 D.SALOM ESP Yamaha Spain Yamaha YZF-R6
17 W.DE ANGELIS RSM Intermoto Czech Honda CBR600RR
18 A. VINCENT FRA Gil Motor Sport – Solution F Kawasaki ZX-6R
19 A. PITT AUS Hannspree Ten Kate HondaHonda CBR600RR
20 D. VAN KEYMEULEBNEL RES Software Hoegee SuzuSkui zuki GSX-R600
21 G.TALMACSI HUN Factory Racing Honda CBR600RR
22 L. NEDOG SLO CRS Grand Prix Honda CBR600RR
23 A. MAGDA HUN Factory Racing Honda CBR600RR