FIM Supersport World Championship
Donington Park, England
May 24, 2015
Corrected Race Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 20 laps, 30:20.711
2. Jules CLUZEL, France (MV Agusta F3 675), -0.891 second
3. Kyle RYDE, UK (Yamaha YZF-R6), -7.968 seconds
4. Lorenzo ZANETTI, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), -8.124
5. PJ JACOBSEN, USA (Kawasaki ZX-6R), -12.388
6. Luke STAPLEFORD, UK (Triumph Daytona 675R), -16.135
7. Sam HORNSEY, UK (Triumph Daytona 675R), -22.879
8. Gino REA, UK (Honda CBR600RR), -29.055, crash
9. Niki TUULI, Finland (Yamaha YZF-R6), -35.607
10. Andy REID, UK (Honda CBR600RR), -36.043
13. Martin CARDENAS, Colombia (Honda CBR600RR), -43.813
World Championship Point Standings (after 6 of 12 races):
1. Sofuoglu, 130 points
2. Cluzel, 85
3. Jacobsen, 79
4. Zanetti, 70
5. Rea, 54
6. TIE, Wilairot/Smith/Rolfo, 46
9. Baldolini, 33
10. Faccani, 32
Four Wins In A Row As Sofuoglu Dominates Donington
Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) rode to his fourth win in four races by taking victory at the Donington Park round of the FIM Supersport World Championship.
In a fight with his main championship rival Jules Cluzel and British wild card Kyle Ryde in the early laps, Sofuoglu took the lead on lap four and then held a gap to eventual second place rider Cluzel, easing up at the flag to win by 0.891 seconds.
His fourth win of the year in his Ninja ZX-6R made it 31 race victories in his WSS career. Kenan is now a strong 45 points ahead of second placed Cluzel at the halfway point of the season.
For PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) the appearance of strong local wildcards affected his podium push and he finished fifth in the race. He is now third in the championship, 51 points behind Sofuoglu but only six from Cluzel.
Christian Gamarino (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki) scored points for 14th place but Marco Faccani (San Carlo Puccetti Racing Kawasaki) was unfortunate to fall early in the race. Although he restarted he was forced to retire in the pits.
Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) was on course for a good points scoring finish but had to retire, with his team-mate Aiden Wagner crashing out near the end.
Kenan Sofuoglu: “From the first day at Donington we were very strong and yesterday in the race simulation it looked like we had a good advantage. Today I was a little scared of the weather because it was quite cold. I had to be very careful on the entry of the left corners because it was not only a race to think about today, I am also riding for the championship. It was very important for me to stay on the bike. When I took the lead I looked behind and saw Cluzel. I tried to keep the distance to him, to be more relaxed. He had good pace but I think I had more if I needed it. I did not want to take any risks. I want to say a big thank you to Kawasaki and Puccetti Racing because this weekend we were very strong and we led almost all the sessions. You cannot ask any more than winning the races.”
More, from a press release issued by Pata Honda:
No joy for Smith on UK debut
Britain’s Kyle Smith crashed out of today’s sixth round World Superport race at Donington Park in the UK, finishing off a difficult weekend for the Pata Honda rider on his UK racing debut.
The Spanish-based Honda CBR600RR pilot had never ridden in the UK before this weekend and took most of the practice and qualifying sessions to get accustomed to the particular characteristics of the 4.023km Donington Park circuit.
A difficult qualifying session yesterday left Smith starting today’s 20-lap race from 12th on the grid but the 23-year-old got a good start and had climbed to eighth place before he crashed out of contention.
His DNF marked the second successive race that he has failed to score but he and his Pata Honda crew are determined to re-group and make amends at Portimao in Portugal where the seventh round of the series will be hosted in two weeks time.
Kyle Smith – DNF
It’s been a really bad weekend for me in my first race in the UK. Imola was pretty bad but this has been worse and I’ve not found a groove all weekend. The lap times have kept dropping but I’ve had mishaps like the crash in qualifying yesterday, which cost me some places on the grid. I got a good start like I needed and was just settling into the race when I lost the front like I did in Imola. There are a couple of issues at the front of the bike that I’m not comfortable with so I need to find a solution and re-group for the next race.
Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator
Kyle got a reasonable start and was trying to make his way further to the front and he crashed. He has not had good run lately and has had too many crashes so we’ll have to look at the settings on the front of the bike or his riding style. We’ll work hard to identify the problem though and come back fighting in Portugal.
More, from a press release issued by CIA Landlords Insurance Honda:
Points haul at Donington Park
CIA LANDLORDS INSURANCE HONDA scored a full house with all four riders in the points at its home UK round of the World Supersport Championship at Donington Park.
First home was Gino Rea in eighth. Gino said: “I am frustrated to have crashed at the last corner and lost one place. I went in defensive and lost the front. I am glad to have got back up and to finish eighth. I feel I had the pace to go with the group in front but a gap opened early on. It’s been good racing at home in the UK, thank you to all the CIA Landlords Insurance Honda fans for all the support this weekend.”
Riccardo Russo and Martin Cardenas comfortably outperformed their qualifying positions, finishing 12th and 13th. Kieran Clarke scored his first point of 2015 at his home round in 15th.
The next round of the Championship is at Portimao in Portugal on June 7th.
CIA Landlords Insurance Honda Team Manager Simon Buckmaster said: “Gino pushed hard and crashed at the last corner despite having a gap over the rider behind him. We have learnt a lot this weekend and will work as a team to get better.
“Ricky and Martin both improved in the race over their qualifying positions which is good. We look forward to building further with them.
“Well done to Kieran on getting his first point of the season at his home round, so near his home town. He did well and that gives him a good performance to make further improvements from.
“Thank you to all the team supporters and CIA Landlords Insurance Honda for joining us at the circuit. I am pleased we got all riders in the points. We will go to Portimao determined to improve further with all riders.”