Sofuoglu on Life, Competition, the Future and Being Champion
The humble hero opens up about his challenges and the year that was
“At the beginning of my career, my dream was one to day to reach World Supersport and a couple of weeks ago I reached my fifth World Title. This is more than I expected and I’m very happy for what I’ve achieved. You know, the five is special; it’s like being given five stars. I like it a lot.”
Five times World Supersport Champion, Kenan Sofuoglu caught up with WorldSBK.com to reflect on his incredible record-breaking season. But the year wasn’t all champagne and roses, as the Turkish rider admits the start of his season was tough.
“We won the Championship last season and arrived at Phillip Island on top,” said Sofuoglu. “Then to open the season I had a crash. I had to start from minus 25 points, which is more difficult because my teammate was ahead by 25 and Randy was very constant in the season. To close the gap to pass him in the Championship wasn’t an easy thing. But we had a very good season and the team worked very well. Honestly, I think we deserved the win this year.”
The 32 year old looked set to earn his 2016 crown in Magny-Cours at the beginning of October, with a 53 point lead over his closest rival, Kawasaki Puccetti Racing teammate Randy Krummenacher. But misfortune struck Sofuoglu at the French Round, eventuating in a delay of the inevitable.
“It was a very disappointing situation in Magny-Cours, many friends and fans were there and everything was ready; the T-shirts were ready, the flag was ready,” explained Sofuoglu. “Then very unexpectedly, I crashed and we were out of the race and couldn’t win the Championship there. Later I took it as a positive, because Randy didn’t win that race. If Randy won that race, there would have been a lot of stress for me at Jerez in the next round but in the end, I still had a big advantage. So finally just the final date of the Title was delayed for two weeks.”
Responding to critics who have labelled him as a dirty rider, Sofuoglu defends his riding style and opens up about working with Krummenacher, who was his biggest rival this season.
“Competing with Randy always went very good,” stated Sofuoglu. “In Assen, even though we didn’t touch, he went off the track, but that’s part of racing. Honestly though, in Assen and Malaysia, we had a little bit of a difficult time together in one garage because we were very close together.
“I think it’s very normal if you have two riders fighting for the Championship, two riders fighting for a title, it can be maximum stress and from that stress maybe there is a moment that’s difficult for both riders. If constantly every year and in every race we were fighting and touching each other, then yes you can call me dirty. But that’s not the case. At the end of the day I’m fighting to win races, not for 30th position.”
He continued on to further explain the incredible pressures placed on riders in racing situations, pressures that he himself isn’t immune to.
“Racing is stressful,” affirmed Sofuoglu. “When you watch it on television you can’t understand this but when you’re on the bike, you have a lot of stress. I think riders can have a difficult time with each other and if it’s one or two times in a year it’s normal. I always have one or two difficult moments with other riders in the year, but in the end it’s very important to be friends with them. I am friends with all the riders I have battled with for Championships in the past. That is a very important point.”
After winning five Supersport World Championships, the Turkish rider is often asked, ‘what’s next?’ after confirming he will compete in the category once again in 2017, Sofuoglu explains that winning titles is the bonus, it’s the passion he has for the sport that keeps him going, as well as the support he receives from his family, even in tough times.
“Right now the situation is that I’m winning and I am World Champion,” explained Sofuoglu. “Next season we have to see how it’s going and if I am still strong and my boss at Kawasaki says, ‘Kenan we want you on the bike’, then why not continue? If I can’t win or I’m not happy and I don’t enjoy racing anymore, then it means that my time has arrived to retire. At the end of the day, if I leave with five World Championships, then that’s more than I could of ever asked for and more than I expected. But right now I still enjoy racing so I will continue.
“You know, I’ve lost a lot in life but I also gave a lot too. I come from a small motorcycle shop where I was just a worker there. I started very late in my racing career and I won five times. Of course you need good family support to do this and though I lost a lot, I gained a lot too.
“My wife is always supporting me and my wife’s family, my own family. Then last year we had a baby, which we lost. This was a very difficult point but this year we had another baby and he is always smiling a lot, so you know, life is like that, it’s up and down. I’ve had a lot happen in my life but I am happy with what I have.”
