There was sheer sensation on the final lap of Sunday’s World Supersport race at Misano. With Jules Cluzel on target for a second consecutive victory, he was already looking to close up the 40-point championship lead of title rival Kenan Sofuoglu. However, nobody could have predicted what was to happen on the very last lap.

With Cluzel leading P.J. Jacobsen, Sofuoglu was fighting a rearguard action as Cluzel’s MV Agusta Reparto Corse team-mate Lorenzo Zanetti was piling on the pressure in a two-way tussle for third. In a highly unexpected moment, Sofuoglu lowsided his Kawasaki at Rio corner; thankfully for the Turk, he was able to rejoin and salvage five points for 11th position.

“That’s a dream!” Cluzel admitted after the race. “Really cool. We had some luck today, so we have to take that and enjoy it. Now it is possible. We have to make no mistakes and we can come back. I am really happy with that race. It was not easy, but I won so I am happy.

“After Thailand and Aragon, I had forgotten the chance to win the championship. I was just trying to enjoy it. After today it looks like it is still possible, so I just need to go the fastest I can and try to come back. I think he (Sofuoglu) will now have some more pressure for the next races, so that is good. I had good help from my team-mate, Lorenzo Zanetti, so that is good teamwork. He put some pressure on Kenan - good work!”

Sofuoglu’s Misano mishap results in the championship gap decreasing to just 20 points, with a maximum of 100 still on offer from across the Sepang, Jerez, Magny-Cours and Losail rounds.