First WSB top ten for de Puniet despite ‘horrible Sunday’

Voltcom Crescent Suzuki rider Randy de Puniet has described his maiden World Superbike race day as a ‘horrible day,’ after the Frenchman was left badly battered and bruised in a testing crasj only days before the season opener.

Highsiding off the GSX-R during Monday’s final pre-season test, de Puniet was left with nothing broken but badly bruised and with extensive muscle damage.

However, despite the injuries, the former MotoGP front-runner was able to get his WSB career off to a promising start, taking seventh in the second race as well as being on track for a race one top ten until an altercation with MV Agusta rider Leon Camier.

“It was a horrible Sunday for me, I was in a lot of pain and the first race was a disaster. After six laps I was not able to ride because I had pain everywhere, plus arm pump, so it was impossible to brake or to accelerate, and I tried to manage a good position – I think I was ninth and should have been able to finish tenth. Unfortunately Camier hit me, I went straight on and finished 17th so I’m a little bit disappointed.”

“I was worried again about my physical condition for race two but luckily I was able to manage it better, and I finished seventh. Until the middle of the race I was only four seconds from the lead but after that I started to struggle again, I tried to keep a good rhythm and finished seventh, which is a good result in this condition. Without the no score in the first race it would have been possible to be seventh in the Championship, I’m 11th which is a shame but after everything this week this is not so bad. Now it’s time for me to recover and get fit for Thailand.”