It has only taken Loris Baz 15 years to win his first major title. For most riders, that would mean a long career deprived of success, trying to win for a long 15 years, until the breakthrough finally came. But for this French rider who now lives in Spain, it means it only took him until his 15^th year on the planet to win the Superstock 600 European Championship. In finishing second at his home race of Magny-Cours Baz secured a remarkable title win, the youngest ever rider to do so.

Born on the first day of February 1993, in the town of Sallanches, in the French Alps, Baz was indeed named after Loris Capirossi. He had his first racing experiences in Spain at ten years of age, then moved to the 125 Aprilia series in his new adopted country, finishing fourth. National class racing for him one year later delivered some success; until his career had to hit a natural barrier he could do nothing about.

Too young to ride in a major international series last year, he had to test at private tracks, on a Yamaha R6, which goes some way to explaining why he hit the Superstock series running at full place this year. That, and his obviously prodigious talent. He's won three races on his Yamaha France Junior Team YZF-R6, the opener in Valencia, then Monza and Brands Hatch, and out of nine races so far he has been on the podium a consistent seven times.

A glittering future awaits Baz, and the present is already a happy hunting ground for the next big thing from France.