Sofuoglu feeling positive ahead of WorldSSP return
Reigning champion in training ahead of Aragon debut
2017 didn’t get off to the most positive start for Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), as he sustained an injury to his right hand following a training accident in January. Working hard in order to be ready for the start of the season, the Turkish rider took part in the Official Pre- Season Phillip Island test in Australia in the weeks build up to the opening Round of the season.
However Sofuoglu was forced to sit out of the Yamaha Finance Round as the pain he was feeling in his hand was too intense following only 38 laps, and he deemed it too dangerous to continue. Flying home to undergo more surgery on his hand, the World Supersport rider has now been resting and working on building his fitness back up, in order to be ready to bring the fight in Round Three at MotorLand Aragon.
Team-manager Manuel Puccetti has told WorldSBK.com that the reigning World Champion is putting in every effort to make it to the Aragon Round, but they won’t know 100% until next week following a final meeting with his surgeon.
“Everything so far has gone okay, and now we are hoping Kenan will be 100% in Aragon,” Explains Puccetti, “He has invested a lot of time to try to come back in Aragon, he has worked a lot and he is very positive.
“I think he has to be okay for this Round, but we don’t want to say anything until we know 100% if he can come back. I think in around one week’s time we will finally know all about this problem, but we need to speak with the doctors and wait for them to say okay.”
Discussing the operation itself, he continued: “As a result of the crash and the surgery there was a ligament problem, now he’s had another operation to take out the metal that they put in after the Phillip Island test. The doctors say he needs three to four weeks to fix this operation, but they have said it will then heal a lot quicker.”
Sofuoglu’s World Supersport squad are feeling confident he will be back on the bike as the series heads to Europe, with the opening free practise of the weekend commencing on Friday 31st March.
