By The 1.087 miles (1750 metres) long, public roads, hill-climb circuit between Essertines En Donzy and Panissieres hosted last weekend, the fourth round of 2025 ‘Championnat de France de la Montagne’.
This was the 36th edition of this race meeting, organised by AMPR ‘Assocciation Motocycliste de la Region Panissieroise’, found near Lyon.
First and second (according to the best times from three heat races) in the Superbike category were Steven Bellavoine and Thierry Brunel, both last year IRRC Superbike Championship participants.
The fastest rider overall on Sunday was Supersport category winner, Hugo Grange-Martin (48.570).
For the comparison of racing times, it is interesting to note that the fastest French TT racer in history, Amalric Blanc, set in 2021 at Panissieres, a lap close to sub 47 seconds (47.166).
2024 Supersport Champion of ‘Championnat de France de la Montagne’, Mathieu Rieder (from Haguenau in Alsace region) did not take part last-week, because of his first visit to Imatranajo – Jarno Saarinen Circuit, where he collected eighteenth, seventeenth place finishes in IRRC Supersport races.
Fellow time trials specialist Loic Sirot, a Southern 100 newcomer this week, also did not compete.
Already mentioned Steven Bellavoine and Hugo Grange-Martin are current SBK, Supersport Championship leaders before the last three rounds of French Hill Climb Championship at Petit Abergement (19th-20th July), Marlhes En Montagne (16th-17th August) and finale at Frangy (30th-31st August).
Top 10 finishers for Superbike/Supersport categories from Panissieres/Essertines En Donzy, are as follows:
(Best track time located near racer’s name)
Superbike:
1st – Steven Bellavoine – 49.138
2nd – Thierry Brunel – 49.354
3rd – Kevin Padet – 50.014
4th – Francis Blanchon – 50.243
5th – Franck Fournier-Bidoz – 50.403
6th – Arnaud David – 50.770
7th – Damien Duck – 50.836
8th – Valentin Citton – 50.978
9th – Simon Perret – 51.465
10th – Teo Croze – 52.122
Supersport:
1st – Hugo Grange-Martin – 48.570
2nd – Damien Galfre – 48.842
3rd – Denis Poncet – 49.590
4th – Simon Romieu – 49.618
5th – Steven Bellavoine – 49.625
6th – Joe Thauront – 49.646
7th – Yoan Poloni – 49.714
8th – Harold Houssin – 51.364
9th – Christophe Fusillier – 51.598
10th – Evan Messerli – 51.967
Photo credit: Michael Wincott
Words by Jan Vavra
