Navarro Secures Seventh in Battling French Round for PTR Triumph Factory Racing

FIM Supersport World Championship action returned this weekend as the series headed to Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, France, for the ninth round of the season after a seven week break, with Jorge Navarro alongside Tom Booth-Amos on the PTR Triumph Factory Racing Street Triple 765 RS.

The weekend started in promising fashion for the PTR Triumph squad, with Navarro, who was riding in place of Oli Bayliss, who continues his recovery from a crash that sidelined him at Cadwell Park in the British Supersport series, securing seventh in the morning’s session. Booth-Amos’ return to action began with a 17th before putting his Triple-powered machine on the third row for Saturday’s opening race. Navarro placed a strong sixth for race one.

The opening race of the weekend was an incident-packed affair as the Supersport World Championship returned to racing action. Both Booth-Amos and Navarro made bright starts and looked to settle into the rhythm, with the British rider running just outside the top ten and Navarro inside the leading group. But disaster struck the number 69 machine when Albert Arenas and Jeremy Alcoba collided at the Adelaide Hairpin, leaving Booth-Amos nowhere to go as he tried to avoid it.

Returning to the circuit in 16th, the rider from Newport battled on but was then struck by another rider, this time at turn 14, which tumbled him down the order. Nevertheless, he continued to the checkered flag in 25th.

Meanwhile, Navarro made his presence felt at the front of the 19-lap race. The Spaniard battled his way to the head of the field, but a mistake when passing Can Öncü and Roberto Garcia forced him to run wide and then contact with Valentin Debise as he returned to the circuit left him with a Long Lap Penalty. Taking to the long lap loop, the Spanish rider showed his grit and determination to secure seventh at the checkered flag.

Sunday’s second race ended prematurely for the PTR duo. Navarro began brightly, hitting the front of the field before a crash at Turn 14 ended his hopes. Remounting, the former Moto2 star concluded his race early by retiring to the pits.

Back in the leading group, pole sitter Booth-Amos settled into sixth in the early stages before making a pass on Fillipo Fariloli for fifth, but ran wide a corner later and was forced to relinquish the place. Determined to make headway within the leading group, he pushed on but a crash, unhurt, at the second corner brought his race to an end.

The PTR Triumph Factory Racing squad will return to Italy later this month, as the tenth round takes place at Cremona Circuit across the 25-27 September weekend.

Tom Booth-Amos

“I started from pole today at Magny-Cours but unfortunately crashed out. A weekend of ups and downs but we’ll keep pushing for the last few rounds. Big thank you to the guys in the garage for all the hard work. On to the next one in Cremona.”

Jorge Navarro

“Well it’s a big shame to finish the weekend like this because we have been building up day by day, but today I honestly felt like I just had to pull away from them because I had more pace and the feeling was good. I did a little mistake going into turn 13 and the cost was very high. I crashed. I’m sorry and I’m sad but on the other hand happy to have the experience again to enjoy leading a race. I’m very grateful to PTR and to Triumph for the opportunity. Let’s see what the future brings."