FIM Supersport World Championship
Circuito de Jerez, Spain
September 19, 2015
Qualifying Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:43.528
2. Lorenzo ZANETTI, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:43.951
3. PJ JACOBSEN, USA (Honda CBR600RR), 1:44.112
4. Marco FACCANI, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:44.123
5. Kyle SMITH, UK (Honda CBR600RR), 1:44.155
6. Lucas MAHIAS, France (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:44.282
7. Gino REA, UK (Honda CBR600RR), 1:44.335
8. Vladimir LEONOV, Russia (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:44.389
9. Alex BALDOLINI, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:44.797
10. Roberto ROLFO, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), 1:44.936
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:
Sofuoglu takes important Spanish WSS Pole
Zanetti and Jacobsen to join championship leader on front row.
Series leader Kenan made the most of qualifying session at Jerez.
Pole Position for the Spanish round of the World Supersport championship has been taken in style by current championship leader Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). The Turkish rider edged second placed Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) by almost half a second, courtesy of a 1’43.528 lap-time. Completing the front row will be the winner from Sepang and title contender PJ Jacobsen (CORE” Motorsport Thailand).
Row two sees Marco Faccani (San Carlo Puccetti Kawasaki), Kyle Smith (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) and Lucas Mahias (MG Competition) while the third row comprises Gina Rea (CIA Landlords Insurance), Vladimir Leonov (DMC Racing) and Alex Baldolini (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who improved in the final 30 seconds to claim ninth.
Title contender Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) will take no further part this weekend and was not on track in qualifying after breaking his leg in FP3 yesterday afternoon. The Frenchman has been replaced by former WorldSBK rider Nico Terol who returned to the paddock at short notice claiming eleventh on the grid in his first WSS qualifying session after only 90 minutes of track time.
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Sofuoglu On Pole And Well Ahead After Jerez Qualifying
Ninja ZX-6R rider Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) made the best use of the latest evolution of his Ninja ZX-6R’s race specification to earn a pole position start at Jerez, which proved to be the 22nd pre-race success of his career. He has led every single practice session at Jerez.
Never a rider to need to push for pole position, preferring to make sure of a front row starting place and concentrate ion his race set-up, Sofuoglu was well ahead after the 45-minute session in the Spanish sun, in ambient temperatures of 31°C.
With his main championship rival Jules Cluzel now injured, and his rival PJ Jacobsen third, Sofuoglu had Lorenzo Zanetti as his closest pre-race challenger, a distant 0.423 seconds behind.
Right now Sofuoglu has a 28 point lead over Jacobsen, with three races left including Jerez, so the Turkish rider will see how the race develops on Sunday to make sure he can close out the championship win before season end.
During the Jerez weekend Sofuoglu and his Kawasaki Puccetti Racing Team also signed a contract to continue their fruitful WSS partnership into 2016.
Marco Faccani (San Carlo Puccetti Racing Kawasaki) was an impressive fourth fastest in qualifying at Jerez and second Kawasaki rider today.
Christian Gamarino (Go Eleven Kawasaki) placed 13th and Dominic Schmitter (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki) 15th, to both start from the fifth row.
Kenan Sofuoglu: “First I have to say that I am sorry for Jules Cluzel. We are fighting only on the track so I am really sorry for him. I texted him last night, he has had a hard time and now he cannot race here. We came here to do our best so we did a lot of testing and training and the team worked very hard in the summer break. I am very happy that in every session we were the fastest and even though I did not push really hard we still took pole position. The race simulation was also very good this morning. I have to say a big thanks to the Puccetti Racing Team and also Kawasaki because they built a new bike for me this weekend and everything is working well. I do not say we will go for a win tomorrow, but I will say that we will do our best and hopefully do a good job.”