More than two years after his creation the French based team CLS got his first ever podium in a World Championship round, and for Jean Jacques Luisetti, Thierry Chizat Suzzoni and Steven Frossard the 29th of June 2008 will stay as an ‘historical’ date. On this day, in Germany, Steven claimed on the third step of the GP podium.
This first podium of Steven is not really a surprise, as since the Italian GP, round fifth of the championship Steven always finished in the top five of one race. He was just missing two good performances on a row to get that podium, and in Teutschenthal the twenty years old CLS leader (he will turn twenty one on July 14th) finished twice fourth, his best result so far.
Fourth in his qualifying race Steven had a good spot on the grid, as in Teutschenthal it’s always important to be in the top ten positions. None of his start was great, but twice he was clever and fast to come back soon in the top six. Then he took a strong rhythm, and came back on the race leaders! He passed Simpson and Gonçalves in the first race to get the third position behind Cairoli and Rattray, and just lot it over World Championship leader Searle in the last two circulations.
He repeated his performance in the second heat, despite a mistake in the sandy section that cost him the fifth place. He took back his rank when Searle crashed, and later passed Simpson to finish the race in fourth and the GP in third position, coming twelfth in the World standings.
After several successive good races, including his best GP performance – sixth overall – two weeks ago in France, Gregory Aranda will not keep a great memory of this German round. Tenth of his qualifying race, Greg will retired in both races for the first time since the beginning of the GP campaign. Feeling tired all week-end long, he vomited in the second race and will take some rest this week to recover before the Swedish round next Sunday.
Steven Frossard: ‘This podium is a great moment for me, even if I never really show when I’m happy. It’s a reward after the intensive work I’ve done since last winter, and even if I was stressed during the podium ceremony that’s cool. I was expecting a top five result here and with two fourth places I finished third, I knew since a few GP’s that I had the speed to do it.
My week-end started well with the second and the third lap time in the practice sessions, and then I finished fourth my qualifying race and didn’t took any risks. I pushed hard at the beginning of each race to recover from a decent start, hopefully I was able to worm among the pack and come in front of the races. In the first one I couldn’t resist to Searle, but anyway I was satisfied with my race. The second was even better as I passed Cairoli and lead him during several laps, but then I did a mistake in the sandy section.
Luckily I didn’t staled the engine, but several riders passed me; I wasn’t sure to have enough energy to pass Simpson but he was more tired than I, and I secured the podium when I passed him. Now the goal is a top five result in every GP, the bike is now really performing and solid’
Gregory Aranda: ‘Last week during the French Elite round in Iffendic I felt already tired, maybe we do too much training between the races. I was pumped off during the races here, and when I retired in the second heat I vomit. I didn’t had a good rhythm here, but I’m sure that without this problem and some good start another strong result was possible’
Jean Jacques Luisetti: ‘We were expecting this podium since such a long time! It’s a reward for Thierry and I, we both worked hard with our team members since the day were we decided to build this team. We knew that Steven had the potential for a podium, we knew that our bikes are powerful, we were just waiting the good day! Steven didn’t have great start but he is so skilful to worm during the first laps.
This result is for sure good for the team, especially at this period as we start the discussions for our future. I want to thanks all our partners and of course I expect to continue with most of them, we will need their support to reach higher goals.
For sure Steven will have more offers from other teams now; I hope that we’ll have the means to confirm him soon for 2009. Gregory is tired at the moment, he has been working hard since France and he will take it easier this week to prepare Sweden’
Thierry Chizat Suzzoni: ‘This first podium of the team is a real satisfaction, after three years of intensive work with Jean Jacques to built a strong team. But it would not have happened if Steven didn’t worked hard himself; he showed us his potential many times, and he took in Germany the opportunity to confirm how fast and strong he is.
I want to congratulate Steven of course, but also his parents and family who are behind him since many years. Greg had a ‘grey’ weekend, we know what he can do and I’m sure that he will be back soon on his feet to collect some other good results, as he did so far’
- Mediacross, Pascal Haudiquert -
