 English
|
 Nederlands
|
sunday 28 february 2010 08:02
Kenan Sofuoglu finished third in today’s opening race of the 2010 World Supersport championship at Phillip Island in Australia. The race was won by fellow Honda rider Eugene Laverty.
Starting from second place on the grid, Sofuoglu overshot turn four on the opening lap and was fighting his way back into contention when he crashed at high speed on oil from another riders machine, hurting the leg he broke in a pre-season training accident.
His Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate, Michele Pirro, also crashed out after having his machine and helmet covered in sprayed oil. However, both riders made it back to the team garage when the race was red-flagged and were able to make the full restart.
Both Pirro and Sofuoglu were fighting in the leading group, but Pirro was forced out of contention when his tyre deflated, leaving Sofuoglu to battle it out for the final podium position.
Kenan Sofuoglu – 3rd
We were happy to get the restart after I crashed on the oil but as soon as the race started again I knew that I had a problem with the tyre. Actually, we knew there might be a problem before the race but I am still very disappointed at the result. Towards the end of the race, I thought that Lascorz must be going slower as well because, for sure, I had to slow down a lot just to make it to the flag. I will take the points from the weekend and have to be satisfied with the podium result, but it has not been a good weekend and I will be trying my best to make up for this by winning at Portimao.
Michele Pirro – DNF
In the first part of the race, before the flag, everything was OK, but then suddenly my visor was covered in oil and I crashed. The bike was badly damaged but I was able to ride back to the pits to make the restart. Again, I felt comfortable but then there was something badly wrong with the tyre. I had to stop but I wasn’t sure if it was broken or if there was a puncture. When the bike came back there was no air in the tyre. It’s very disappointing to start the season like this, so I want the next race to come very quickly but we must wait four weeks.
Ronald ten Kate – team manager
Clearly the first part of the race caused us some problems, with both riders crashing on other riders’ oil and having to use their spare machines for the restart. Kenan, especially, took quite a beating in his crash and we had to get some pain-killing injections to allow him to ride again. In race two it took him some time to get into a rhythm but, considering everything, I think we must be satisfied with his podium. Michele had even worse luck – first crashing and having to switch bikes, and then getting a problem and having to retire with a completely deflated tyre. The weekend has given us some tyre wear issues but Michele has not had so much of them as Kenan. His problem is therefore a surprise and a shock, especially because it looked like his first podium with the team was a possibility.
2010 World Supersport championship, round 1 – Phillip Island, Australia (4.445km)
Race results (21 laps):
1 Eugene Laverty (IRL) Honda 33’37.836s
2 Joan Lascorz (ESP) Kawasaki +4.359s
3 Kenan Sofuoglu (TUR) Hannspree Ten Kate Honda +4.500s
4 David Salom (ESP) Triumph +11.779s
5 Fabien Foret (FRA) Kawasaki +17.266s
6 Massimo Roccoli (ITA) Honda +25.034s
Championship points after first round: Laverty 25, Lascorz 20, Sofuoglu 16, Salom 13, Foret 11, Roccoli 10.
Next round: Portimao, Portugal – 26-28 March
>> Sofuoglu on the podium for World Supersport opener
 |
Starting from second place on the grid, Sofuoglu overshot turn four on the opening lap and was fighting his way back into contention when he crashed at high speed on oil from another riders machine, hurting the leg he broke in a pre-season training accident.
His Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate, Michele Pirro, also crashed out after having his machine and helmet covered in sprayed oil. However, both riders made it back to the team garage when the race was red-flagged and were able to make the full restart.
Both Pirro and Sofuoglu were fighting in the leading group, but Pirro was forced out of contention when his tyre deflated, leaving Sofuoglu to battle it out for the final podium position.
Kenan Sofuoglu – 3rd
We were happy to get the restart after I crashed on the oil but as soon as the race started again I knew that I had a problem with the tyre. Actually, we knew there might be a problem before the race but I am still very disappointed at the result. Towards the end of the race, I thought that Lascorz must be going slower as well because, for sure, I had to slow down a lot just to make it to the flag. I will take the points from the weekend and have to be satisfied with the podium result, but it has not been a good weekend and I will be trying my best to make up for this by winning at Portimao.
Michele Pirro – DNF
In the first part of the race, before the flag, everything was OK, but then suddenly my visor was covered in oil and I crashed. The bike was badly damaged but I was able to ride back to the pits to make the restart. Again, I felt comfortable but then there was something badly wrong with the tyre. I had to stop but I wasn’t sure if it was broken or if there was a puncture. When the bike came back there was no air in the tyre. It’s very disappointing to start the season like this, so I want the next race to come very quickly but we must wait four weeks.
Ronald ten Kate – team manager
Clearly the first part of the race caused us some problems, with both riders crashing on other riders’ oil and having to use their spare machines for the restart. Kenan, especially, took quite a beating in his crash and we had to get some pain-killing injections to allow him to ride again. In race two it took him some time to get into a rhythm but, considering everything, I think we must be satisfied with his podium. Michele had even worse luck – first crashing and having to switch bikes, and then getting a problem and having to retire with a completely deflated tyre. The weekend has given us some tyre wear issues but Michele has not had so much of them as Kenan. His problem is therefore a surprise and a shock, especially because it looked like his first podium with the team was a possibility.
2010 World Supersport championship, round 1 – Phillip Island, Australia (4.445km)
Race results (21 laps):
1 Eugene Laverty (IRL) Honda 33’37.836s
2 Joan Lascorz (ESP) Kawasaki +4.359s
3 Kenan Sofuoglu (TUR) Hannspree Ten Kate Honda +4.500s
4 David Salom (ESP) Triumph +11.779s
5 Fabien Foret (FRA) Kawasaki +17.266s
6 Massimo Roccoli (ITA) Honda +25.034s
Championship points after first round: Laverty 25, Lascorz 20, Sofuoglu 16, Salom 13, Foret 11, Roccoli 10.
Next round: Portimao, Portugal – 26-28 March
|
|
