1st Inning Pichon and Clermont from end to end
Favorites are at the rendez-vous. The duo Pichon - Clermont has the pole position and the first run. Behind Paget - Moussé and Jacquiot - Billerey share the podium of the 1st inning this Saturday.
Jason Clermont already know how the event works, with the track and its areas of boulders and other obstacles. Used to the SX, champion of France last year, only twenty, the protected of the double world champion took the lead in the first inning.
However, Jean-Caude Moussé, the official Yam, teammate of Pierrick Paget the reigning champion, flew ahead of the pack of more than sixty crews. However, the triple winner Enduropale is realistic, looking helpless, he take off.
Under extreme heat, Michael "Rocket" Pichon takes over Jason. Steady, he ride times around 5 minutes 30 seconds. "I took the decision to manage my time ahead of Pierrick (Paget). I do not have the same physical. Our strategy paid off, we have a good margin ahead but in these extreme conditions we can collapse at any moment ! " Said the official Honda.
Actually, it is what happens to the YZF 450 of Romain Jacquiot upon the start. "I was hesitant to change the starter. It did not like the 36 degrees. Balance, I went in the last position but one. " The Bressan took out the great game. With Roman Billerey who rode the best race lap (5.27.176), they managed to reduce their gap of Paget and Moussé from 3 minutes to 30 seconds. As he stated with a certain philosophy the winner of the 2011 edition, "Jacquiot made a mistake. Everybody may commit some. There are 6 hours of racing. We are 100%. We've got plenty of leenway ... "
Jean-Philippe Auray
Photos: Mick Magnin
