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VValentin Debise is one of the most decorated riders in the 2017 MotoAmerica Supersport class as he brings a multitude of worldwide experience to the American racing scene. Debise was a multi-time national champion in his home country of France, but he also competed in the 250cc Grand Prix and Moto 2 classes from 2009
to 2011, scoring eighteen points in the process. In addition to his time in the GP paddock, Debise also spent time racing in the World Supersport Championship as well as the FIM Endurance World Championship, making him one of the most seasoned riders in the entire field at just twenty-five years old. Last year was his first season racing in the MotoAmerica paddock and he managed to earn third place overall in the points chase, accompanied with a race victory as well as eleven podium finishes. Debise is no longer at a disadvantage to his main rivals after spending a year in the series, learning all of the tracks, and adapting to the American lifestyle. He returns to the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team for the 2017 season where he’ll be one of the favorites for the race victory anytime he lines up on the grid, and don’t count him out for the title either.
Debise sent a message to his competitors in the preseason Dunlop test at Circuit of the Americas, commanding the momentum heading into the 2017 season with the fastest time. He was able to maintain the same form
“When you line up on the gate, you must know that you’ve done everything you can to prepare and believe you can do anything.”
throughout the first practice session as he was the only rider in the 2:13 range, almost a full second faster than the defending champion, Garrett Gerloff. He had pole position within his grasp, but Gerloff managed to steal it away in the final breath of the qualifying session, demoting the M4 Ecstar Suzuki rider back to second position on the grid. He fired down the start straight as the lights went out to kick off the 2017 MotoAmerica season, stuffing his way up the inside of JD Beach into the first corner. The two of them swapped positions what seemed like a million times on the opening lap, but the Frenchman was forced to settle into second position on the first flying lap. He made an unfortunate error in the grandstand section that saw him hit the deck in turn thirteen, but luck was on his side as the race was restarted due to a red flag situation. In the second start, Debise did his best to replicate the jump that he got in the initial race start. He was engulfed in a colossal battle with Garrett Gerloff for the majority of the contest as the two of them diced one another up in a sprint to the finish line. Debise was able to make a last gasp pass on the defending champion in the final corner as he took the line away from the Yamaha and out-dragged him to the checkered flag, earning a stellar second place in the opening race of the season.
TXS EA
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