The beginning of this season has been particularly encouraging for Jonathan Thonon. The performances of this Belgian pilot, together with
the support of CRG team and Maxter engines, have put him in the best conditions from the very beginning of this new season.
“After obtaining encouraging results in the first KF1 races of the year, my objective for the next few months is to devote myself to 125cc gearbox categories”. One month away from the beginning of KZ1 Championship of Europe in Angerville (France), the WSK meeting organised on this same track, near Paris, was an excellent opportunity to send the Belgian pilot into orbit.
“I’ve already won WSK in 2007 and now I want to do everything I can to defend my title this year”, confessed Jonathan. “It’s a very interesting and very prestigious series, because it attracts not only the best KZ1 pilots, but also top performers from KF2 category. Many of them possess the qualities required to race in KZ1. WSK is both an ideal training ground for next important races organised by the International Federation, and a very challenging and stimulating race, which I want to win to thank all the sponsors who placed their confidence in me”.
Jonathan did not disappoint expectations and had a great performance. The Belgian pilot immediately found the right pace during free and official practice and won two out of three week-end qualifying heats on 5-6 April, always ranking among the fastest pilots. His team’s work was fruitful and Jonathan knew he had the numbers to fight for victory. Unfortunately, luck abandoned him during the pre-final, i.e. right when pilots fight hard to score points for the Championship and conquer the best positions in the starting grid of the final!
“When the start lights went off, I moved as usual from the first outside line. I could have kept my second position, but I found myself wedged between Lavanant and Toninelli, and I went into a spin! I managed to restart, but at the end of the group. Finally, I reached the 22th position. It was a pity, because I scored the best times during the race, a proof that I was in a position to win”.
In the final, Jonathan Thonon started an incredible race recovery, using all his talent and experience to climb from 22nd position to 3rd ! “It was a very exciting race, with many overtakings and a new record lap. On the one hand, I am disappointed because I would have liked to obtain a better result for my team and my sponsors, but on the other hand, I reached a podium despite all difficulties, in a circuit where overtaking is not always that easy. Overall, it means I
had an excellent performance. CRG chassis and Maxter engines are very competitive and this is encouraging for the rest of the season”.
CV Jonathan Thonon:
Jonathan Thonon (Belgium), 21 years old. He lives in Waterloo, near Brussels
Awards (summary): winner of 2007 KZ1
World Cup, winner of 2007 KZ2 WSK,
Champion of Europe Espoir (ICA) 2002,
multichampion of Belgium,
champion of France,
2006 RACB award,
participation in the Renault Formula Championship of Italy
2008 programme: KZ1 World Cup and European Championship, KZ2 WSK and
KF1 World Championship |
