WORLD SUPERBIKE
WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 11/OCTOBER 5, 2014
MAGNY-COURS CIRCUIT/MAGNY-COURS, FRANCE
P58
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If Brands Hatch in the UK used
to be the European capital of World
Superbike in terms of spectator atten-
dance and big event feel then Magny-
Cours looks to have taken that crown
in recent years.
This is a remarkable thing consider-
ing that on paper there is nothing so
special about the Magny-Cours layout,
or any particular atmosphere that is
naturally generated by a relatively mod-
ernist circuit in the middle of France.
And it's not even located close to any
particular major population center.
Brands Hatch, on the other hand,
was in an impossibly picturesque bowl
with astounding viewing all round, and
only 25 miles from the middle of Lon-
don. British fans were once obsessed
with World Superbike, and the French
with Grand Prix or endurance racing.
Now the clear passion of the
French fans for World Superbike is an
example for other European circuits
to aspire to, as - even in early October
with regular morning fogs and several
degrees of temperature drop to deal
with - the French fans seem to love
to come to the final world party of the
race season.
Magny-Cours jealously guards its
place as the final European round of
the year, and why not? So many sea-
sons have swung on the pivot of this
Leon Haslam (91)
earned his first
podium of the season
in race two when he
passed championship
leader Sykes (1) for
third in race two.
