Sofuoglu returns to Assen as World Supersport leader
Jacobsen first of the pursuers as Cluzel ponders what might have been.
Just five days after the Aragon race, World Supersport will be practicing for Round 4 of 2015 at Assen. Having returned to winning ways almost exactly a year after his last race victory, three-time World Champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) is now looking to extend the championship lead as newly-born son Hamza first attends a WorldSBK round. Sofuoglu has won twice at Assen, including his first ever World Supersport victory in 2006.
The closest rival to Sofuoglu in the standings also rides a Kawasaki ZX-6R, as the United States’ PJ Jacobsen picked up a second consecutive podium in Spain. The same could not be said for Jules Cluzel, as the MV Agusta rider again retired from a potentially race-winning situation. Having won the season-opener at Phillip Island, the more recently luckless Frenchman now finds himself only eighth in the championship and 30 points in arrears.
Buriram hero Ratthapark Wilairot (CORE’’ Motorsport Thailand) also retired in Aragon, continuing a run that has seen the championship leader heading into each round failing to make the end of the race; he crashed at Turn 14 with Marco Faccani (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and Lucas Mahias (Intermoto Pontexpres Kawasaki, team-mate to Jacobsen).
Enjoying a first ever podium finish, on the other hand, was Pata Honda World Supersport rider Kyle Smith as the Englishman overcame early weekend setup problems to finish third in what has been his home country since six years of age. Elsewhere, former MotoGP rider Luigi Morciano joins Roberto Rolfo at Team Lorini, as Alessandro Nocco remains injured.
