WSS travels to Italy as Sofuoglu tries to consolidate title lead
Turkish rider extended lead after colossal Assen battle with Cluzel.
Opinions were rife following the fascinating Kenan Sofuoglu-Jules Cluzel battle at Assen. The fact of the matter is that the two rivals made contact en route to a Sofuoglu victory. Naturally, each man blamed the other while fans and journalists had their own opinions, although Race Direction decided that no further action should be taken and that the race result should stand. That leaves Puccetti Racing Team rider Sofuoglu with a 25-point championship lead over PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres), while Cluzel has fought back up to third overall and is 35 points in arrears of the overall leader.
Next on the agenda is the historic Imola circuit in Italy, where last year Lorenzo Zanetti – now team-mate to Cluzel at MV Agusta Reparto Corse – clinched an emotional career-first World Supersport victory complete with an Ayrton Senna replica crash helmet, dedicated to the three-time F1 World Champion who lost his life at Imola in a 1994 crash. Current championship leader Sofuoglu has also been able to enjoy a strong run at Imola, having won there both in 2009 and 2013.
Imola debuted on the World Supersport calendar in 2001 for that year’s season finale. Australia’s Andrew Pitt sealed his first title, peculiar due to the fact that he had not clinched a race victory that year, as he finished fourth while closest rival and championship leader heading into the round Paolo Casoli retired on the opening lap. Since then, the circuit has undergone major redevelopment and was off the calendar for two years as Rome’s Vallelunga staged the race for the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
This year Italian fans will be looking to the likes of the aforementioned Zanetti, as well as other regulars Rolfo, Baldolini, Faccani, Gamarino, Menghi and Russo who hope for a first home World Supersport win at Imola. On the other hand, Gino Rea will do something only another four number of British riders have done before him, which is to make his 30th race start in the category.
In terms of the Constructors’ Championship, Kawasaki edges Honda by the slim margin of seven points. The first Japanese marque is aiming for a 25th pole position in the category, while Honda is looking to make it 95 occasions of heading up a grid.
