FIM Supersport World Championship
Losail International Circuit
Doha, Qatar
November 4, 2017
Race Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Lucas MAHIAS, France (Yamaha YZF-R6), 15 laps, Total Race Time 30:39.805, Best Lap Time 2:01.918
2. Jules CLUZEL, France (Honda CBR600RR), -0.023 second, 2:01.877
3. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Kawasaki ZX-6R), -3.788 seconds, 2:01.832
4. Federico CARICASULO, Italy (Yamaha YZF-R6), -3.845, 2:01.985
5. Anthony WEST, Australia (Kawasaki ZX-6R), -7.946, 2:01.952
6. Niki TUULI, Finland (Yamaha YZF-R6), -8.112, 2:02.377
7. Sheridan MORAIS, South Africa (Yamaha YZF-R6), -8.336, 2:02.380
8. Luke STAPLEFORD, UK (Triumph Daytona 675R), -10.435, 2:02.258
9. Gino REA, UK (Kawasaki ZX-6R), -10.551, 2:02.435
10. Kyle SMITH, UK (Honda CBR600RR), -13.349, 2:02.187
22. PJ JACOBSEN, USA (MV Agusta F3 675), -8 laps, DNF, mechanical, 2:02.399
World Championship Point Standings (after 12 of 12 races):
1. Mahias, 190 points (clinched World Championship)
2. Sofuoglu, 161
3. Cluzel, 155
4. Morais, 141
5. Caricasulo, 118
6. Jacobsen, 108
7. Tuuli, 82
8. West, 73
9. Smith, 57
10. Stapleford, 55
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:
Mahias seals WorldSSP title with superb Qatar win
Under the floodlights at Losail Frenchman secures the title with victory, as Cluzel and Sofuoglu join him on the podium
At the season-concluding Acerbis Qatar Round on Saturday evening an enthralling WorldSSP race saw the title fight go right down to the last lap, as Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) clinched the crown with a narrow (0.023s) victory over his compatriot Jules Cluzel (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda). Meanwhile, comeback hero Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) performed brilliantly to finish in third place, though it was just not enough for him to keep the title he has won on five previous occasions.
Mahias and Sofuoglu embraced during the post-race celebrations after a breathtaking contest at the Losail International Circuit.
French rider Mahias held his nerve in the final stages to cross the line just in front of his countryman Cluzel to seal the title with a victory. Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) finished a close fourth, being beaten across the line by the gritty Sofuoglu.
Mahias, Cluzel and Caricasulo had contested the podium spots for most of the race, though Mahias led the way for the majority of the 15 lap battle. Sofuoglu was caught up further back in the field, fighting with the likes of Sheridan Morais (Kallio Racing), Niki Tuuli (Kallio Racing), Kyle Smith (GEMAR Team Lorini) and PJ Jacobsen (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) as he made his way through the pack to fourth and then chased Caricasulo down in the final stages.
It was incredible that Sofuoglu had even made it onto the starting grid given that he suffered a triple hip fracture in France just over one month ago, the Turkish rider bravely making a comeback far earlier than expected, as he did his best to defend his title. It was an outside shot as he went into the race 20 points behind Mahias, but it was a hugely valiant effort by the five-time World Champion. Sofuoglu remarkably even set a new race fastest lap around the Losail track on lap 12.
Anthony West (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) finished in fifth place, followed by Tuuli, Morais, Luke Stapleford (Profile Racing), Gino Rea (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) and Smith in the top ten.
There was drama on the first lap of the final WorldSSP race of 2017 as Christoffer Bergman (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) and Michael Canducci (Puccetti Racing Junior Team FMI) went down at turn 6. Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) was another victim of turn 6 with 8 laps to go, whilst that lap also brought an end to the race for American rider Jacobsen who had been well placed for a top ten finish.
P1 – Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team):
“It is incredible, I push a lot in the race to win the race. In the beginning ti was not my plan, it was to win the title but the feeling in the bike is very good and I think today is my day. The bike felt fantastic and I pushed and fought with Jules. The feeling I have now is amazing, 10 years ago I was dreaming of this and now I am world champion. I want to thank Yamaha, my team and my family, because this title was not only won by me, it was a team effort.”
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Final Push Sees Kenan Third And West Fifth
Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider Kenan Sofuoglu rode like the five times WorldSSP champion he is to overcome the effects of his recent pelvic injuries and finish third in the final race of the 2017 WorldSSP season. Anthony West (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) came from 12th on lap one to take a strong fifth place at the flag.
After qualifying fourth in SP2 on Friday Kenan rode with a degree of restraint in the first few laps at the Losail International circuit, especially with so many other riders making aggressive early moves, but he worked his way from ninth on lap one to an eventual third, increasing his pace as the race went on.
He set a new lap record twice, the final one on lap 12 of 15, to close the gap down to Federico Caricasulo. He passed the Italian rider more than once but his final manoeuvre gave him third place right at the flag. It was a remarkable podium result for a rider who was so badly injured only a few weeks earlier.
Kenan was also fighting to keep his last chance of retaining the championship crown, but after Lucas Mahias won the race the French rider was crowned champion for the first time. Kenan was second overall, by 29 points.
When he has been allowed to start or finish a race in 2017 Sofuoglu has secured a podium finish. He has scored five wins this year, extending his career total to 43.
In only his second race for the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing WorldSSP team in 2017, West set a lap record on his push through to the front, only for Sofuoglu to beat it during his own charge forward.
West ended his season in eighth place, having ridden some races on his own privateer machine earlier in the 2017 season.
Kenan Sofuoglu, stated: “At the beginning of the race it was very difficult with everyone riding around me. When they had all calmed down and started to ride normally, I started to pass them and put in very good lap times. I almost got to the leaders’ group but Caricasulo was riding very aggressively. We still got to the podium at the end, set the lap record and were second in the world championship. I am very happy, honestly, because we did not lose the championship today, we lost the championship in the races we did not start. All the races we rode to the finish we took a podium. I just need to be happy and say thank you to all the doctors who supported me this weekend.”
Anthony West, stated: “My start was good but being on the inside you could either be lucky if everybody goes wide, or unlucky if they don’t, and nobody did. I got stuck a little bit and a few guys got past me. Then a few guys crashed in front of me, so I was baulked a little bit. I felt strong during the race and was able to catch people on the track. I wish the result was a little bit better but I am happy as the last two years have been hard ones. Now I have started to enjoy the racing again and to be fighting for something.”
Michael Canducci (3570 Puccetti Racing FMI Kawasaki) did not finish the race and ended his season in 14th place overall.
Gino Rea (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) was ninth today, and completed the 2017 season 17th overall. Kazuki Watanabe (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) retired at Losail and finished his year 20th.
Nacho Calero (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) was a no-scorer in Qatar but ended up 28th, one place ahead of Aussie rider Lachlan Epis (Response RE Racing Kawasaki) who was 29th in his second WorldSSP season. Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) placed 35th in the final rankings.