FIM Supersport World Championship
Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, San Marino
June 18, 2017
Race Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 19 laps, Total Race Time 31:35.425, Best Lap Time 1:39.046
2. Jules CLUZEL, France (Honda CBR600RR), -2.076 seconds, 1:39.106
3. Federico CARICASULO, Italy (Yamaha YZF-R6), -5.600, 1:39.311
4. PJ JACOBSEN, USA (MV Agusta F3 675), -6.696, 1:39.341
5. Kyle SMITH, UK (Honda CBR600RR), -12.868, 1:39.762
6. Gino REA, UK (Kawasaki ZX-6R), -13.658, 1:39.651
7. Axel BASSANI, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-6R), -18.404, 1:39.675
8. Sheridan MORAIS, South Africa (Yamaha YZF-R6), -20.369, 1:39.851
9. Hannes SOOMER, Estonia (Honda CBR600RR), -22.985, 1:40.068
10. Anthony WEST, Australia (Yamaha YZF-R6), -23.274, 1:40.175
25. Luke STAPLEFORD, UK (Triumph Daytona 675), -10 laps, DNF, crash, 1:39.598
32. Lucas MAHIAS, France (Yamaha YZF-R6), -17 laps, DNF, 1:39.827, crashed twice
33. Christian GAMARINO, Italy (Honda CBR600RR), -17 laps, DNF, 1:39.740, crash
World Championship Point Standings (after 7 of 12 races):
1. Mahias, 105 points
2. Sofuoglu, 100
3. Morais, 76
4. Cluzel, 75
5. Jacobsen, 68
6. Caricasulo, 51
7. TIE, Roberto Rolfo/Ryde, 43
9. West, 38
10. Smith, 35
More, from a press release issued by CIA Landlords Insurance Honda:
Cluzel secures superb second at Misano
CIA Landlord Insurance Honda rider, Jules Cluzel secured second position after a good fight with Kenan Sofuoglu at the Pirelli Riviera Di Rimini round of the World Supersport Championship.
Jules rode a controlled race throughout in bright and sunny conditions at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncellli and settled for the second step on the podium. This points haul takes the French rider to 30 points off the Championship lead and only one point from third.
Jules said: “I can say that I am happy to finish 2nd because today was a tricky race. For sure I want to win but sometimes we have to be more intelligent. I didn’t make any mistakes this weekend so I am happy. It was a tricky weekend, a strange feeling for the front and there were many crashes, it’s good to be at the front without crashing. I saw Mahias crashing and thought for sure I have to finish the race because this is the guy that is leading the Championship with a lot of points. This is the chance to get closer so even with that feeling I was able to pass Caricasulo and come back to Kenan. When I passed him I was consistently doing 39.6s. I just felt bad with my front which is why I was not able to come back and be faster. Kenan pushed really hard at the end, we came back to fast lap times and I tried, you can see the big black mark on my leathers, I nearly crashed and after that I knew that 2nd was the best position.”
It was always going to be a tough race for Hikari Okubo who, having crashed in Superpole 2 yesterday started the race from 33rd at the back of the grid. Hikari fought through the pack to finish in the points in 15th place.
There was more disappointment for Switzerland’s Robin Mulhauser when he had a coming together with another rider at turn 9 and crashed out of the race on lap 6.
Hiromichi Kunikawa made his best lap time of the weekend during the race finishing just outside the top 20 in 21st position.
CIA Landlord Insurance Honda Team Manager Simon Buckmaster said: “It was a great race by Jules, a really good fight. With about two laps to go Jules came back at Kenan but then almost lost the front end which was when I knew he would have to settle for 2nd. Jules had some problems with feeling for the front and I think everybody had this problem with the track temperature but I am really happy for Jules and the whole CIA Landlord Insurance Honda team who all did a great job this weekend. We will do everything we can to improve our machine over the summer break so we can make the strongest title challenge possible in the remaining 5 rounds. Hikari didn’t have quite the same feeling in the race after his crash yesterday and the lap times weren’t what we hoped for him but his true Japanese fighting spirit shone through and he ended up with one point. Robin had another disappointing race. He was ok after his crash but there was substantial damage to his bike and he couldn’t continue. Hiromichi made another positive step forward in the race and he continues to improve. I am very happy for him and his crew because he wants to do better and we want him to do better.”
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Sofuoglu Makes It Four Race Wins
Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider Kenan Sofuoglu won his fourth 2017 season WorldSSP championship race in succession today, recording his 42nd career victory in masterful style. Kyle Ryde, his team-mate, finished in the points with a 14th place finish.
Sofuoglu drew on all his long experience in this class of racing to take his fourth win of the year, after running out front with some of his championship rivals, and finally only having Jules Cluzel for company.
Kenan controlled the pace at the end and won by just over two seconds to take himself within five points of the championship lead. Lucas Mahias, still the overall leader on points, crashed out twice in the early laps and no-scored.
After qualifying 19th Ryde was still able to progress to 14th at the flag, scoring two more points and still well inside the championship top ten at the start of the summer break.
Ryde and his pit crew found him the same race pace as he had demonstrated in qualifying which helped him to ride with confidence and consistency.
In the current championship standings, Mahias has 105 points and Kenan 100, with the next nearest rider 24 points behind Sofuoglu after seven rounds.
There will be no WorldSSP race at the forthcoming WorldSBK Laguna Seca round, which means that the eighth race in the Supersport season will take place on Sunday 20th August, at the Lausitzring in Germany.
Kenan Sofuoglu, stated: “I am very happy to have won another race because Puccetti did a lot of organising this weekend and Kawasaki did a lot of work with us. So I am very happy to give them this present. My team told me that Mahias was out but this was not my biggest point – I just wanted to win the race. I wanted to see what Cluzel could do but I understand that I had a faster pace and I could pull a gap. This is what I tried and it paid off. Today I cannot say that I was very fast but my experience won the race.”
Kyle Ryde, stated: “I have not done a long run all weekend and a couple of riders fell off so I got a some points. That is a positive but I am even happier with the consistency I showed during this race. It was a solid one second per lap off the race winner but I was doing consistent mid 1’40s after my qualifying time had been a mid 1’40. I had a bit of bad luck on lap six when a rider in front missed a gear and I ran into the back of him, bashing my knee on his exhaust pipe. I lost a few seconds there and it took me a few laps to get back into it. I think I could have been up to, maybe, eighth without that happening. But we were definitely better in the race than on Friday and Saturday.”
Gino Rea (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) was a strong sixth today at his team’s home round, with Axel Bassani (3570 Puccetti Racing FMI Kawasaki) just one place behind him as he deputised for an injured Michael Canducci.
Kazuki Watanabe (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) was 12th at Misano, Rob Hartog (Team Hartog Jenik Against Cancer Kawasaki) 13th, Ryde 14th and Nacho Calero (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) 16th.
Lachlan Epis (Response RE Racing Kawasaki) did not finish after a heavy fall, with Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) also a non-finisher after a crash.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:
WorldSSP: Sofuoglu storms to fourth successive win
World Champion takes big win at Misano, ahead of fellow podium finishers Cluzel and Caricasulo
At the Pirelli Riviera Di Rimini Round on Sunday it was World Champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) who took a fourth consecutive victory, with the Turkish rider accompanied on the podium by Jules Cluzel (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) and Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team).
In clear and sunny conditions at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” Sofuoglu extended his brilliant winning run as he continues to put his early season injury troubles behind him with a two second win over Frenchman Cluzel.
In the final stages Cluzel was just unable to challenge Sofuoglu despite a good earlier fight, whilst Caricasulo was delighted to finish behind them in third place as the top Italian – in front of the Misano fans.
PJ Jacobsen (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) applied the pressure to Caricasulo for the last podium position over the finals laps but just could not catch the Yamaha man. Crossing the finish line behind American rider Jacobsen were two Britons, Kyle Smith (GEMAR Team Lorini) and Gino Rea (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) in fifth and sixth respectively.
Completing the top ten, meanwhile, were Axel Bassani (3570 Puccetti Racing FMI), Sheridan Morais (Kallio Racing), Hannes Soomer (WILSport Racedays) and Anthony West (EAB West Racing). Soomer was the top FIM Europe Supersport Cup finisher in ninth place.
Early in the race championship leader Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) crashed out, falling twice and unable to rejoin after the second of his two spills, with the DNF being a significant blow to his title assault. His lead in the standings is now reduced to just five points ahead of Sofuoglu.
There were also crashes for the likes of Niki Tuuli (Kallio Racing), Lachlan Epis (Response RE Racing), Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Orelac Racing VerdNatura), Luke Stapleford (Profile Racing), Christian Gamarino (BARDAHL EVAN BROS. Honda Racing) and Robin Mulhauser (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda).
The WorldSSP riders will return to action at the Prosecco DOC German Round – after their summer break – over the 18th to 20th August weekend.
P1 – Kenan Sofuolgu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing)
“Today was a difficult race but it was all down to experiecne I think, I was expecting a strong fight from four riders, so to fight with Cluzel was surprising. It was a tough race, but I am so happy to take the victory at such an important race for Pucetti Racing. They put in so much work so it’s great to be able to celebrate here with them.”
More, from a press release issued by Kallio Racing:
Difficult weekend for the Kallio Racing Team
Round seven of the 2017 FIM World Supersport World Championship took place in Misano, Italy and the whole Kallio Racing Team had a good fighting spirit. All the riders worked hard in the heat to make good results, but unfortunately, they had a bad luck.
Sheridan Morais was the only one who got the points, finishing the race in the eight place. He wasn’t happy with the result, but is still looking forward the races after the summer break. Morais is third in the points standings.
“Tuff weekend, but still happy to walk away with the solid Championship position. We didn’t have that much of a bad luck, but we had some issues with setups. We know where the problem is and it’s good to have a summer break to work with the bike. We don’t give up and we will work really hard with Kallio Racing Team in the next months”, Morais said.
Niki Tuuli was feeling great in the Sunday morning session, but the race was anything but good. Another rider hit him behind and they both crashed hard.
“There was nothing I could do. Another rider hit me and I was in the air. I heart my knee and angle and I must see my doctor when I get back to Finland. I’m still quite happy that we found some good setups and I hope we can get my riding in the right order during the summer brake”, Tuuli said.
In the 300 class Renzo Ferreira finished the race in the 22 position. Kimi Patova crashed hard because of another rider.
“I had a pretty good start, but everyone is so crazy in the race. I had some problems, because one guy took a contact to me. Anyways it was good, because I didn’t crash and that was my goal. In the next race, I hope I can be in the top 15. Thank you for all my sponsors and my team”, Ferreira said.
Team Manager Vesa Kallio is happy to have a summer break.
“The summer break will come in the right time for us. It has been quite difficult with these bikes, because we’ve had so many crashes. Now, during the break we’ll try to test and develop new Yamaha R6, to be more competitive in the rest of the season”, Kallio said.