Sofuoglu Grabs Pole in Malaysia
Points leader and defending Champion heads the front row from teammate Krummenacher
Kawasaki Puccetti racing pair Kenan Sofuoglu and Randy Krummenacher achieved a 1-2 in Tissot-Superpole 2 at Sepang International Circuit, on Best Lap pace and beating Brit Gino Rea, who locked out the front row.
With the track dry once again after the short shower that hit WorldSBK Tissot-Superpole 1, it was Roberto Rolfo and Ayrton Badovini who put in the fastest laps in WorldSSP Superpole 1, to join the tenth fastest from Friday in the second Superpole session. Honda rider PJ Jacobsen had been the benchmark on Friday after FP2 was hit by rain, in addition to being the holder of the Best Lap, with the Puccetti Kawasaki riders and MV Agusta Reparto Corse duo all eager to depose the American.
WorldSSP rookie and recently-deposed Championship leader Randy Krummenacher set the time to beat in the first half of Superpole 2, as the Swiss rider’s knowledge of the track came to the fore. Staying out on track as many others chose to pit, the benchmark time was only two tenths off Best Lap pace. Krummencher then beat that best lap, before the others returned out on track for the final push to the line. New points leader and reigning Champion Kenan Sofuoglu took over at the top of the timesheets with a new record soon thereafter, and the Turk’s lap proved impossible to beat. A tenth clear of Krummenacher in P2, the Puccetti pairing are well poised to fight it out on track on Sunday.
GRT rider Gino Rea, after a positive Friday, set the third quickest lap to complete the front row. Previous Best Lap holder and 2015 winner PJ Jacobsen heads the second row in P4 for Honda World Supersport Team, in front of local hero Zulfahmi Khairuddin, who will begin his rookie home WorldSSP race from the middle of the second row. Ayrton Badovini, after coming through Superpole 1, is P6, ahead of MV Agusta Reparto Corse title contender Jules Cluzel, who finds himself out of position in P7. Roberto Rolfo qualified in P8 after topping Superpole 1, in front of Ondrej Jezek and Nico Terol, with the Spanish rider completing the top ten.
WorldSSP will be back on track for the Race at 14:20 local time on Sunday (GMT +8), as the grid fight it out for another 25 points in Malaysia.
