WorldSSP: Sofuoglu won the WorldSSP race at the Pirelli German Round

Reigning World Champion Kawasaki Puccetti Racing’s Kenan Sofuoglu won the WorldSSP race at the Pirelli German Round in typical style, 1.7 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, the impressive Finnish rookie Niki Tuuli from Kallio Motorsport. Finishing comfortably in third was MV Agusta Reparto Corse rider Jules Cluzel.

Sofuoglu showed his Supersport prowess once again by taking the holeshot and leading into the first corner ahead of Niki Tuuli and Jules Cluzel. However, it was the Finnish wildcard Tuuli who was the man to give Sofuoglu a run for his money by stealing his lead before the end of the first lap and commanding the next lap. Before long, Sofuoglu came back to form and showed Tuuli who was boss, by retaking the lead and pulling away to make a comfortable gap. Cluzel battled early with Swede Christoffer Bergman (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) before breaking away from him for third.

Championship contender Kawasaki Puccetti Racing’s Randy Krummenacher had a difficult start, falling back some places heading into the first corner. Once he got up to speed, he began to work his way back up the field and before long, caught up to Bergman, who had fallen behind and headed the group fighting for fourth position.

Birthday boy Gino Rea (GRT Racing) looked strong in the early stages of the race but was forced to retire on lap 8 as a result of technical problems. FIM Europe Supersport Cup rider Alessandro Zaccone (San Carlo Team Italia) was the first rider out after highsiding on turn 8 in the opening lap, before Stefan Hill (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) ran off a few laps later, luckily able to rejoin, before Lachlan Epis (Response RE Racing) retired before the end of the race.

In the final laps it was BARDAHL Evan Bros. Honda Racing’s Federico Caricasulo and Honda World Supersport Racing Team rider PJ Jacobsen who took the fight to Krummenacher, who fought hard to hold them off, but Krummenacher couldn’t match their pace in the last lap and finally finished in sixth. Jacobsen came home in fourth ahead of Caricasulo in fifth. Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) finished the race in seventh ahead of Bergman who fell back to ninth, with Kyle Smith (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) locking out the top 10.

Profile Racing’s Luke Stapleford put in a solid performance finishing in P11 ahead of Alex Baldolini (Race Department ATK#25) in P12. GEMAR Balloons – Team Lorini’s Ayrton Badovini came home in P13, ahead of ESS riders Ilya Mikhalchik (DS Junior Team) in P14 and Axel Bassani (San Carlo Team Italia) taking a point in P15.

Quotes from the top three riders:

Sofuoglu: “Honestly I didn’t expect it to be like this. When I looked at qualifying and at warm up this morning I was thinking if I can ride 1’41.5 I can pull a gap to everybody. But I was surprised that Tuuli was so strong because I kept riding low 1’41 laps and he didn’t give up. When we were in the last five laps I was thinking maybe I have to give up the fight because for the championship I need to be careful. Then I thought this is a good chance, if I win this it will help me to get the title at Magny Cours, so that’s why I didn’t give up. I’m very happy with what I did this weekend, it’s 25 points and it is very important for my fifth title.”

Tuuli: “I really didn’t expect it but I had a very good feeling with the bike. I had a good feeling behind Kenan and I just did what I had to do. At the end of the race I was just aiming for the podium and Kenan is so fast. He doesn’t make mistakes. I just wanted to get onto the podium and I did it.”

Cluzel: “I’m happy because we have come from a long way back in the last races. At this race we have improved, with some new parts. We improved from this morning and we found something. Yesterday we worked until midnight and we really tried hard, so we deserve it. I’m happy because this is a step forward. There was one turn where I was losing a lot and I came back in the other places. We were strong but we just have to understand why that one turn was really critical. Anyway, it was a really good race, we have 16 points and I’m happy, so it’s good.”

WorldSSP will be back on track in two weeks time at Magny–Cours in France for the next Round.

WorldSSP Race
Kenan Sofuoglu Puccetti Racing Team
Niki Tuuli Kallio Racing (+1.757)
Jules Cluzel MV Agusta Reparto Corse (+4.712)

WorldSSP Championship Standings Round 10
Kenan Sofuoglu Puccetti Racing Team 171 points
Randy Krummenacher Puccetti Racing Team 118 points
PJ Jacobsen Honda World Supersport Team 109 points

Credits : Photos and content courtesy of Dorna WSBK Organization Srl