After a six-week break, the World Supersport 300 series started the final three stops of the 2022 season in France. In Magny-Cours, Lennox Lehmann started on a track that was unfamiliar to him. In addition to the new track, the changing conditions also provided a challenge for the only KTM rider in the World SSP 300.
The practice runs on Friday took place under difficult road conditions. While the first free practice in the morning was held in dry weather, the track was wet for the second free practice in the afternoon. Accordingly, it was not surprising that the times of Lennox Lehmann were better in the first free practice. With a time of 1:54.588 sec. it was for the young Dresden sixth place at the end of the first session. In wet conditions he reached ninth place with a time of 1:55.566 sec. In the Superpole on Saturday afternoon Lennox Lehmann was able to improve his time again (1:53.567 sec.). This meant 13th place on the grid for the KTM rider from Team Freudenberg.
The first race on Saturday afternoon did not start optimally for Lennox Lehmann. Right on the first lap there was a contact with another rider, so that Lennox found himself almost at the end of the field. Lap after lap, the pilot from Team Freudenberg KTM - Paligo Racing fought his way back into the race. He consistently rode half a second faster than in qualifying and was thus able to catch up with the leading group. In the end, Lennox Lehmann crossed the finish line in fourth place behind Yamaha riders Matteo Vannucci, Marc Garcia and Alvaro Diaz, 0.636 sec behind. For a last maneuver on the podium, the performance of the tires had not been enough, they had been too much stressed by the chase.
Right at the beginning of the second race on Sunday afternoon, Lennox Lehmann made up several places. Arrived in the leading group, the KTM pilot fought for the front places. Four laps before the end, there was another contact in the fight for places. Lennox's KTM suffered damage to the front spoiler. In the TV pictures you could clearly see how it was sticking out to the side. After a short time the protruding part finally flew off. The front places were passé for Lennox Lehmann. In the end, the Freudenberg driver crossed the finish line in 14th place.
The weekend in Magny Cours was luckless for Lennox Lehmann. The race continues in Barcelona in two weeks' time.
Lennox Lehmann (Freudenberg KTM - Paligo Racing): "The race on Saturday was top. In the first lap someone drove into my side and I was almost last. I then fought my way forward bit by bit. Unfortunately, that didn't do my tires any good and I couldn't attack on the last lap. The race on Sunday was simply forgettable. I was constantly driven into the bike. Shortly before the end even my front spoiler broke and later flew away. So I lost the connection to the group unfortunately."
