2012 Magny Cours World Supersport Race: Of Gentlemen And Cads

As the title was settled last time out, the fight for third place and the manufacturers title were still to be decided.

From pole position, Broc Parkes led for the first sector, but Kenan Sofuoglu and Fabien Foret made quick work of him. Sofuoglu tried to make a break, but Jules Cluzel worked his way through and passed the champion, bringing Dan Linfoot with him. Linfoot lunged under Sofuoglu and held a respectable 2nd place. Sam Lowes, determined to take third place in the title, needed to beat Fabien Foret by eight points, and he set about getting to the front passing first Sofuoglu, then as the track dried out, catching and passing Linfoot.

If Sam Lowes could maintain a second place or better, while Fabien Foret was in fifth, third place was his for the taking.

Lowes and Linfoot stayed together, three seconds behind Frenchman Cluzel, as the conditions got dry enough for Kenan Sofuoglu to mount a resurgent charge.

Closing an eight second gap on Linfoot, Sofuoglu set the fastest lap four times in succession until he was on the rear wheels of Lowes and Linfoot as they approached back markers with three laps remaining.

Places were swapped as the three men fought for second place, and it looked like any one of them could take it. Then, on the last lap, Kenan Sofuoglu lunged into a gap that didn't exist and brutally prised Linfoot off the track on full lean at the apex. Linfoot went down and Sofuoglu went to catch Lowes.

For Sam Lowes, with Linfoot out, Foret promoted to fourth place, and Sofuoglu all over his rear tyre, things looked bad, but Sofuoglu missed a corner and Linfoot picked up his bike and was able to limp it across the finish line, in spite of missing parts.

Jules Cluzel won in France, lifting the already happy French crowd, while Sam Lowes held off Kenan Sofuoglu for second.

Kenan Sofuoglu crossed the line in third place as Dan Linfoot limped across in fourth ahead of Foret. Yet, the shadow of Sofuoglu's unruly pass extended to race control and the Turk was instantly penalised 25 seconds, a fourth place finish, returning Linfoot to the podium.

Honda won the manufacturer's title as Sam Lowes took third place in the title behind Sofuoglu and Cluzel, and once again, the discussion of Kenan Sofuoglu's ungentlemanly behaviour will fill the off-season, a fitting closure to the season.

Results: