French Fancy: Chloe Jones Claims Her Maiden Pole at Magny-Cours

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Superpole Drama Unfolds

Magny-Cours delivered one of the most thrilling Superpole sessions of the season, with the top five riders covered by less than half a second. At the heart of the drama was British rookie Chloe Jones (GR Motosport), who produced a blistering 1’51.8 lap in the dying seconds to seize her first-ever WorldWCR pole position.

It was a breakthrough moment for the young Briton, who has been steadily improving throughout her debut campaign. Jones timed her attack to perfection, carving out a clear lap when it mattered most and holding her nerve despite mounting pressure from some of the championship’s biggest names.

Championship leader Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) once again underlined her consistency. Determined not to give away ground in the title fight, she secured a crucial front-row start with second place, finishing just 0.058s behind Jones. Though narrowly missing pole, Herrera’s pace suggests she will be a formidable force in Saturday’s opening race.

Adding extra sparkle for the home crowd, Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94 Yamaha) stormed to third position. Using her intimate knowledge of the French circuit, she clocked a 1’52.0 to seal her first-ever front row in WorldWCR. The local hero was roared on by fans and will no doubt be eyeing an upset when the lights go out.

Behind the leading trio, Sara Sanchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) reminded everyone why she’s a podium regular. Sitting just one point shy of third in the overall standings, she dug deep to earn fourth place. The Spaniard has been consistently in the mix this season and looks set to be a key player once again.

Title challenger Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) had a more complicated day. Just nine points adrift of Herrera in the standings, she suffered an early crash at Turn 5 that left her chasing the clock. Even so, she salvaged a respectable fifth place, limiting the damage and ensuring she remains in the hunt heading into Race 1.

Completing the second row was Natalia Rivera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha), who put together her best qualifying of the 2025 season to grab sixth spot. Rivera’s steady progress throughout the campaign was rewarded with a confidence-boosting performance at Magny-Cours.

The French wildcard entries also made headlines. Line Vieillard (FT Racing Academy) impressed on debut with a storming seventh, while Justine Pedemonte (MDS) slotted into ninth in her maiden WorldWCR outing. Sandwiched between them was Italian Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team), currently third in the standings, who qualified eighth as she looks to defend her position against Sanchez.

Not everyone enjoyed a smooth session. A string of crashes for Avalon Lewis (Carl Cox Motorsports), Sonya Lloyd (Team Trasimeno), and Jamie Hanks-Elliott (Hanks Racing/2 Strokes Racing) wrecked their chances of securing strong grid positions, leaving them with work to do on race day.

Rider Reactions

P1 | Chloe Jones | GR Motosport | 1’51.868
“This morning’s practice was tough – the track was damp in patches, and I probably rode a little too cautiously, which left me P8. But the team and I didn’t panic because we’d already tested here. In qualifying, I just focused on running my own lap. On the final attempt, I was on my own and that really helped. To get pole is just unbelievable. All of these tracks are new for me, so every bit of testing counts, and it really showed today. Huge thanks to GR Motosport – they’ve given me everything to achieve this, and tomorrow I’ll give it my all to fight for the win.”

P2 | Maria Herrera | Klint Forward Racing Team | 1’51.926
“I’m pleased with that. The track still had a few dirty spots, and I knew qualifying would be tricky, especially since I didn’t get to test here like some others did. To be this close to pole gives me confidence. I think there are still areas where I can improve, so I’ll be fighting hard tomorrow. If I can make a gap early, I will, but we’ll see how the race plays out. The championship fight will probably go down to Jerez, but I want to build a cushion here if I can. Bea is always fast, so it’ll be a real battle.”

P3 | Lucie Boudesseul | GMT94 Yamaha | 1’52.050
“To be on the front row at my home race feels incredible. It’s my first time starting this high up the grid in WorldWCR, and to do it here in front of the French fans makes it even more special. They give me so much motivation, and I really enjoy riding this track. I don’t have a race plan just yet – maybe I’ll think about that later tonight – but for me, this is still about building experience. I’ll enjoy the race, push hard, and see what happens.”