French joy for Iddon in maiden podium finish

High Peak’s Christian Iddon was in magnificent form as he claimed his first World Supersport Championship podium finish in France last weekend.
High Peak's Christian Iddon took victory in round ten of the British Supersport Championship at Assen, in Holland. Photo: Sam Farrington - www.moto-media.co.uk.High Peak's Christian Iddon took victory in round ten of the British Supersport Championship at Assen, in Holland. Photo: Sam Farrington - www.moto-media.co.uk.
High Peak's Christian Iddon took victory in round ten of the British Supersport Championship at Assen, in Holland. Photo: Sam Farrington - www.moto-media.co.uk.

The ParkinGO MV Agusta rider finished third, despite a late crash, after a race-long battle for the victory with Kenan Sofuoglu and newly-crowned World Champion, Sam Lowes.

Iddon’s bike has been looking strong in recent rounds and no matter what conditions the French weather threw at him at Magny-Cours.

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Iddon was consistently on the pace and finished fourth fastest in both practice sessions and the opening qualifier. He went one better on Saturday afternoon, securing another front row start and, but for some untimely traffic, he could have been in with a shout of pole.

Iddon got a flyer of a start, from the front row, and took the lead into the first corner. Lowes dived up the inside at the hairpin, but Iddon regained the lead on the exit.

Iddon and Lowes then began to stretch their lead, whilst continuing to trade places. Lowes took to the front again on lap four and Iddon settled in behind him.

On lap 12, Iddon went back into the lead as Sofuoglu made it a three-way scrap at the front.

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Iddon then survived a scare when he almost collided with Sofuoglu at the end of lap 15.

The Hayfield rider then lost a bit of ground but refused to settle for what was now a seemingly safe podium spot, having built a gap of over ten seconds over the rest of the field.

The drama wasn’t over, however. After closing the gap to the front two, Iddon crashed on the exit of the hairpin.

He scrambled to his feet and remounted shortly before the race was red flagged, following several other crashes.

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The results were taken at lap 20, giving Iddon a brilliant finishing position of third and in the process securing his maiden World Championship podium.

The final round takes place at Jerez, Spain in two weeks time, over the weekend of Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20.