Supersport and Coppa dei 2 Paesi to support at Moscow

Wednesday, 22 August 2012 07:14

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In Russia the Supersport battle also reaches a high watermark: with 100 points still to play for, nine riders from three different manufacturers (Honda, Kawasaki and Triumph) have a slim chance of taking the title, but barring surprises the winner will undoubtedly be one of the four riders who have dominated the championship since the start and who are now separated by 30 points: Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Lorenzini), Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda), Jules Cluzel (PTR Honda) and Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Intermoto Step).


Sofuoglu, the 27-year-old who has already been crowned Supersport champion twice, has headed the standings since the first race but in the last three events his results have been fifth, second and fifth, due to the repercussions of a niggling knee injury. Lowes gained some ground in his home round and the 22-year-old is now just 14 points off the top slot, but he in turn is being reeled in by his team-mate Jules Cluzel, now just 28 points behind following his second win of the season at Silverstone.


Meanwhile Sofuoglu, a Muslim from Turkey, has already become the most successful rider ever in the Supersport category with 19 wins to his name, adding to 45 podium finishes (in 65 races) and 13 poles and he will surely be a hard man to beat in the remaining rounds.


In Supersport all the Russian fans will have something to cheer on with 25-year-old Vladimir Leonov (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha), one of the emerging stars of the category. Leonov has already been on the podium with a third place at Assen and despite an injury at Donington that kept him out of action for one race, he is currently lying 12th overall.


Coppa dei Due Paesi (Two Nations Cup)


The two Superstock categories for young riders will not be present at Moscow but the third and final round of the Coppa dei Due Paesi will be present in the competition between Italians and Russians which will see 27 riders line up on the starting-grid. The Cup is held for strictly Superstock 600 machinery and it currently sees Italy lead 2-0 following wins for Leonardo Biliotti (Yamaha Team Trasimeno) at Misano and Denis Sacchetti (Kawasaki SD Rider Team) at Brno.


On their home track however the Russians will be looking for a good result, hoping to follow in the footsteps of Vladimir Leonov, winner of the 2011 edition. The race will also see two Russian women competing: Ekaterina Rutskova (Yamaha PRTMoto) and wild-card Maria Medvedeva (Yamaha Matrix Racing).