by Isabelle Harinquet, translation: Emmanuelle Bravant

The last SoT European race that the French organization Protwin run this weekend on Carole circuit enjoyed one of those late summer-like warm days.

It was hot, then, on Friday and Saturday in the paddock, not enough though to have the pressure go up: there has been no major problem during the practice sessions and the time-kept trials except for Didier Dalet (Ducati
996 # 102) who fell at the Parabolique curve at the 2nd session of time-kept trials with no hope to repair before the final, and several surgery stitches at the elbow.

On Sunday, the pressure was higher at all levels: dark clouds coming from afar, and also stress under the leather suits. The SoT race should be full of surprises; well, it actually was.

After a wonderful departure, Louis-Luc Maïsto (Ducati 996 # 83) falls at the Golf curve at the 2nd lap, nothing serious though. After the race, he said:"I played a stupid game, I wanted to follow Frédéric Protat" - no comment. Frédéric Protat (Ducati 996 R # 27) therefore leads for a while, followed by Lex Van Dijk (Ducati 996 # 7 - The Netherlands) who is eventually passed by Michel Robert (Atomo # 121) on a spectacular braking at the Hotel curve.
These two are fighting together during several laps, until Frédéric Protat decides to lure them with his exhaust pipes. Michel Robert does not need more incentive to take the lead for 2 laps.

Behind, Bruno Destoop (Voxan CR 100 # 63), Jeroen Oudeman (Bakker S. 1000 #101 - The Netherlands) and Philippe Hourdequin ((Ducati 996 SPS # 81) feel lonely. "Boring race" says Jeroen Oudeman.  Farther though, Franck Rouichi (Aprilia RSV 1000 # 73), Alain Prevel (Aprilia RSV/R 1000 # 85), Gaëtan Di Pietro (Aprilia RSV 1000 # 78) and Norbert Mertens (Ducati 748 S # 15 - Germany) enjoy it more fighting together.

Far less luck, far less pleasure for Christophe Charles-Artigues (Moto Bel' Moto Guzzi  #34); he is stopped with a black and orange flag for fumes. Samuel Isaac (Ducati 944 #14 - The Netherlands) decides to stop by himself, discouraged by blue flags; his 2-valve engine stopped on the starting grid for no reason, he had to depart from the pit lane with a one-lap delay.

To be noticed: a spectacular recovery for François Boyer (Ducati 996 # 55), a local pilot who was 13th on the grid and managed to get to the 6th position until Philippe Hourdequin passes him 3 laps before the end.

On the podium, we can congratulate the unavoidable Frédéric Protat, the obstinate Michel Robert and the winner of the 2001 SoT Cup Lex Van Dijk.

Because Jeroen Oudman takes 16 points in the UEM classification he passes the still injured Bernd Scheeder in the points table. So a second place for the Bakker Barrcuda racer in the final championship. A German Dynotec racer is very happy to take third place in the championship.

We wish to thank all heroes for the pleasure they give us, and a very special thanks to all foreign pilots for their long-distance trip to Carole.

The result sheets can be found on www.afcmicro.com - Résultats - Coupes du Salon et 500 miles Carole.