Top-ten Finishes for NRT in their first WorldSSP outing
Phillip Island saw the latest team to join the World Supersport Championship take to the track with veteran Jules Cluzel and rookie Thomas Gradinger riding for the NRT team. It would have seemed like they were battling against the odds having not been able to test prior to Phillip Island but that didn’t hold them back as they got together for the first time as a team on track.
Cluzel placed his Yamaha consistently in the top-ten prior to the race and Gradinger taking his first ever outing on a Supersport bike, and first time at the Island, held a healthy top-twenty pace throughout practice.
When it came down to race day all bets were off. The NRT Yamaha’s showed they had the pace and determination to battle with the riders at the front and have podium potential.
Cluzel, despite running off during the restarted and shortened 9-lap race, battled from the back of the pack to a impressive 7th place finish whilst Gradinger battled with more experienced WorldSSP riders finishing in a season opening and WorldSSP career starting 10th spot.
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