By Arising at the same time as opening Manx Grand Prix qualifying bursts, the sixth ‘Championnat de France de la Montagne’ round of 2025 (inter-twined with Swiss Hill Climb Championship), took place last weekend on public roads course (1.27 miles long – 2,057 metres) from Brodillon to Marlhes, an hours’ drive from Lyon.
This was the twenty fourth event edition, organised by Moto Club Les Picarloux.
Superbike race winner, fourth in Supersport class, Joffray Lelievre (1.00.736), finished fastest rider overall in front of Supersport winner, runner-up Simon Romieu (1.01.131) and Hugo Grange-Martin (1.01.313).
Fourth in the total ranking was second best SBK speedster, IRRC experienced rider, Marlhes track-record holder (58.814 in 2023), Ducati propelled Jean-Luc David (1.01.352).
It is important to note at this point that a plethora of present day, French roads scene forces, honed their roads craft at home nation time-trials.
There is a strong French contingent in this year’s Manx Grand Prix, all IRRC regulars, Quentin Limousin, Kevin Rigot, newcomers Nicolas Therouin, Peter Lionel plus Swiss debutant Matthieu Pauchard (2022 Swiss Hill Climb Superbike Champion and permanent 2023, 2024 IRRC Supersport rider) and Italian Tiziano Rosati (2021 runner-up of European Hill Climb Road Race Championship and permanent 2024 IRRC Superbike exponent).
Unfortunately, Yann Galli is missing now due to injury from last month’s Southern 100 (Get well soon Yann!).
Fellow compatriot, 2024 ‘Croatian Monte Carlo’ Prize of Krizevci SBK race podium finisher, Endurance World Championship rider Thibaud Doutre also tackles’ the 2025 MGP.
2019 Superbike, 2021 double (Superbike/Supersport) French Hill Climb Champion, fastest French TT pilot Amalric Blanc is number twenty plate-holder for Formula 1 Classic TT race with Hampe Racing Team’s ZXR 750 Kawasaki.
The 2025 French, Swiss Hill Climb Championship finales takes place at the end of this month at Frangy (30th-31st of August).
Top 10 finishers for Superbike/Supersport categories from Marlhes, are as follows:
(Best track time located near racer´s name)
Superbike:
1st – Joffray Lelievre – 1.00.736
2nd – Jean-Luc David – 1.01.352
3rd – Steven Bellavoine – 1.01.365
4th – Damien Duck – 1.02.813
5th – Uwe Rademacher – 1.02.839
6th – Franck Fournier-Bidoz – 1.03.323
7th – Arnaud David – 1.04.128
8th – Valentin Citton – 1.04.188
9th – Teo Croze – 1.04.917
10th – Frederic Bongard – 1.05.049
Supersport:
1st – Simon Romieu – 1.01.131
2nd – Hugo Grange-Martin – 1.01.313
3rd – Joe Thauront – 1.01.649
4th – Joffray Lelievre – 1.01.889
5th – Denis Poncet – 1.02.046
6th – Steven Bellavoine – 1.02.408
7th – Loic Sirot – 1.02.646
8th – Yoan Poloni – 1.03.124
9th – Nicolas Pascal – 1.03.572
10th – Damien Galfre – 1.03.589
Words by Jan Vavra
