ZX Moto celebrates runner-up title: Valentin Debise isn’t satisfied yet!

Whilst Albert Arenas secured the Supersport World Championship title ahead of schedule at Estoril, Valentin Debise and ZX Moto also reached a significant milestone. With 291 points after eleven of twelve race weekends, the Frenchman has already been confirmed as runner-up in the world championship ahead of the final round in Jerez. For the Chinese manufacturer, this is an extraordinary achievement in its first Supersport World Championship season.

Yet the weekend began with Debise facing a difficult starting position. In Superpole, the ZX Moto rider could only manage 17th place, despite being just 0.559 seconds off the pole time. Just how close the field was was also evident in the first race: Debise finished sixth, crossing the line just 1.225 seconds behind winner Tom Booth-Amos on the Triumph.

Historic result for ZX Moto

On Sunday, following the race being stopped and restarted over five laps, he managed to secure a podium finish. Finishing 1.310 seconds behind Kawasaki rider Jeremy Alcoba, Debise came third. However, he only learnt that he had definitively secured second place in the World Championship during the podium ceremony.

“Nobody told me when I went up to the podium. I’d checked the points standings that morning and knew roughly where I stood. But when you’re on the motorbike, your mind isn’t clear. I did expect someone to say something to me, though. I only found all that out on the podium,” explained Debise.

WM-Zweiter: Valentin Debise feierte seinen bisher größten Karriereerfolg

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For him, the runners-up title was by no means a fluke resulting from a good race. After a difficult qualifying session, he kept his eyes on the prize and realised during the decisive race that the opportunity had arisen to secure his World Championship position. “The runners-up spot was my main goal going into the weekend. When I saw that Booth-Amos had crashed and realised I was ahead of Öncü and Masia, I knew that was my chance,” said the Frenchman.

Concerns ahead of the restart in Race 2

The restart, however, presented him with a particular challenge. Instead of finding his rhythm over a longer distance, Debise had to attack straight away. He credited his success to the work his team had done during the interruption. “It was a five-lap sprint. That’s not really my thing, especially not on this bike. The team made a few changes after the race was stopped. That made me strong. I’m really pleased with the progress we’ve made this weekend,” Debise noted.

With the 820RR-RS, ZX Moto – in collaboration with the experienced Evan Bros crew led by Fabio Evangelista – has, in its debut season, already put a motorbike on the track that can win races and compete for the top positions in the World Championship. Securing the runners-up title ahead of schedule confirms this competitiveness over an entire season. For Debise, it is also the greatest success of his career to date.

His delight was therefore particularly directed at the people who had developed the new project alongside him. “I’ve done the job I was set. I have to thank the team for everything they’ve done to make me faster. That’s really something special and I’m happier for them than for myself,” emphasised the ZX-Moto rider. Nevertheless, Debise has no intention of resting on his laurels. “I feel I’ve done my job. But I’m hungry and I want more!” announced the early runner-up in the world championship.

Willkommen in Estoril

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Yari Montella

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Miguel Oliveira

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Alberto Surra

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Nicolò Bulega

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Lorenzo Baldassarri

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Alex Lowes

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Iker Lecuona

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Nicolò Bulega

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Jake Dixon

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Yari Montella

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Miguel Oliveira

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Axel Bassani

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Lorenzo Baldassarri

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Álvaro Bautista

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Nicolò Bulega gewinnt beide Läufe in Estoril

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Bulega und Lecuona

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Lecuona, Bulega, Surra

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Sieger Nicolò Bulega

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Yari Montella

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Willkommen in Estoril

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