By The French road racing scene, was strongly represented across the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT races, via leading MGP newcomer Gabriel ‘PonPon’ Pons (P6 – Senior Race – best newcomer in this contest), Stephane Bednarek, Gerald Dath, Peter Lionel, Nicolas Therouin, Classic TT participants Timothee Monot, Amalric Blanc and Julien Cregniot (eighth – Junior 600 race).
Thrusting into fruition, at the same time as the opening Manx GP qualifying bursts, the fifth ‘Championnat de France de la Montagne’ round of 2026 (inter-twined with Swiss Hill Climb Championship), took place (15th-16th August) on public roads course (1.27 miles long – 2,057 metres) from Brodillon to Marlhes, an hour drive from Lyon.
This was the twenty-fifth running of this event, organised by Moto Club Les Picarloux.
Prominent meeting debutant, 2017 World Supersport Champion Lucas Mahias (1.02.013 – fourth in class, seventh overall) astride R9 Yamaha apparatus, listed in Superbike results sheet, competed only within opening race heat of three (did not start the following day’s heat races).
Overall, Superbike victory honours went to Hugo-Grange Martin (0.59.823), keeping at bay Supersport winner, SBK runner-up Joffray Lelievre (1.00.239 – SBK / 1.01.185 – SSP) and Southern 100 newcomer last month, former IRRC racer Steven Bellavoine (1.01.340 plus eighth in SSP field – 1.03.071).
Another French S100 exponent Loic Sirot (1.03.557) placed eleventh in the Supersport class.
The next French Hill-Climb Championship is this upcoming weekend at Frangy (29th-30th August) before the final round at Merleac (19th-20th September).
Added possibilities for fans to catch real roads activities in France are the Brittany Hill Climb at Pontivy (13th September) and the regularity event at Grand Prix du Ried (3rd-4th October).
Top 10 finishers for Superbike/Supersport categories from Marlhes 2026, are as follows:
(Best track time located near pilots names)
Superbike:
1st – Hugo Grange-Martin – 0.59.823
2nd – Joffray Lelievre – 1.00.239
3rd – Steven Bellavoine – 1.01.340
4th – Lucas Mahias – 1.02.013
5th – Damien Duck – 1.02.162
6th – Anthony Senot – 1.02.758
7th – Yann Guyot– 1.03.375
8th – Kilian Chicoine – 1.03.426
9th – Uwe Rademacher – 1.03.659
10th – Simon Perret – 1.04.176
Supersport:
1st – Joffray Lelievre – 1.01.185
2nd – Joe Thauront – 1.01.621
3rd – Cyril Mounier – 1.01.748
4th – Vincent Pfister – 1.02.146
5th – Kilian Chicoine – 1.02.147
6th – Yanis Carleton – 1.02.929
7th – Loic Roy-Clerc – 1.02.981
8th – Steven Bellavoine – 1.03.071
9th – Denis Poncet – 1.03.212
10th – Florent Forgeois – 1.03.316
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler
Words by Jan Vavra
