WorldSSP: Supersport Perfection for Sofuoglu at Donington

The most successful World Supersport rider of all time – Kenan Sofuoglu – has taken another win in 2016 in a supreme display at Donington Park in the UK. The Turk lost the lead off the line before hunting down Honda rider PJ Jacobsen to retake P1 and subsequently pulling away from the chasing pack. American Jacobsen crossed the line in P2 for another podium finish, and second Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider Randy Krummenacher completed the podium in third in another impressive ride in his rookie year in WorldSSP.

A battle of the Brits raged just behind the podium finishers as front row starter Luke Stapleford battled Friday’s fastest Gino Rea, before GRT rider Rea managed to pull away and bring his MV Agusta home in P4, just ahead of the Triumph of Stapleford on home turf. Lorini rider Ayrton Badovini, after an amazing duel to the finish in Sepang, dueled once again at Donington but this time with ATK 25 rider Alex Baldolini. The duo were then joined in the fight by local rider Kyle Smith.

CIA Landlord Insurance Honda rider Smith, who won the race in Assen, got past Badovini with only a handful of laps remaining, then setting his sights on next Italian Baldolini. The Brit managed to fight off both to cross the line in P6 for another good haul of points, with Baldolini just behind him and a last minute move from MV Agusta Reparto Corse rider Jules Cluzel seeing the Frenchman take P8 from Badovini on the final lap. Cluzel had a difficult qualifying and is suffering effects from his crash in Jerez in 2015, with the result proving an impressive comeback ride for the Frenchman  to finish in the top ten.

Lorenzo Zanetti, after a duel with his MV Agusta teammate Cluzel, completed the top ten for the Italian marque. The top FIM Europe Supersport Cup rider at Donington Park was once again Alessandro Zaccone for San Carlo Team Italia, with the young Italian impressing in his debut WorldSSP outings.

Round 8 will see WorldSSP back out to battle at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli on the Riviera di Rimini in June, as Sofuoglu sets his sights on the ever-closer fifth WorldSSP crown.

Donington: WorldSSP Race
1. Kenan Sofuoglu Kawasaki Puccetti Racing
2. PJ Jacobsen Honda World Supersport Team +1.569
3. Randy Krummenacher Kawasaki Puccetti Racing +3.775

Championship Standings
1. Kenan Sofuoglu Kawasaki Puccetti Racing 121
2. Randy Krummenacher Kawasaki Puccetti Racing 95
3. PJ Jacobsen Honda World Supersport Team 76

Credits : Photos and content courtesy of Dorna WSBK Organization Srl