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The official race report service of Kawasaki Racing Team.

18 November 2021

Final WorldSSP Round Beckons

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing riders Philipp Öttl and Can Öncü will each aim to finish their 2021 WorldSSP seasons on a high note at the all-new circuit of Mandalika in Indonesia in a few days’ time.

An intense and exciting 2021 season has seen both Kawasaki riders score podium finishes, most recently for Öncü at the Argentinean round at Villicum in October. Both Can and Philipp will be out to score their first race wins in this category to finish the season with a confidence-boosting flourish.

Öncü will return to the WorldSSP class with the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team in 2022 but this weekend will be the last inside the team for Öttl, as he will compete in the WorldSBK category next year. His main aim to round out the year is to try and take a race win, but also make sure he outscores Jules Cluzel to finish fourth in the championship standings. Philipp has scored no fewer than seven podium places this season.

As things stand, with just a few days left before the end of the WorldSSP competition, Philipp is in fifth place overall, with 241 points. Öncü has rapidly climbed up to sixth place in recent rounds, with a total of 163 points, but now cannot go any higher in the final rankings. Can has taken three WorldSSP podium finishes so far, all in 2021.

Indonesia’s new track, officially called the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, is located close to the south coast of Lombok and features 17 corners. Generally open and sweeping in nature, it features a more technical final complex leading onto the main straight.

Two individual 19-lap WorldSSP races be run at the 4.310km long circuit, one on Saturday 20 November and one on Sunday 21 November, each taking place at 13.30 local time in Lombok.

Philipp Öttl, stated: “I’m curious to learn the Mandalika track and hope we can have a great weekend. This will be my last appearance with the team and so I’d like to finish with a good result. I’ll give it my all, as ever, and we’ll see what happens, but I feel confident.”

Can Öncü, stated: “I’ve trained hard recently and feel more than ready for this final WorldSSP round. I can’t wait to learn the new track and work with my team to find a good set-up for my bike. I want to score solid results as we did in Argentina, although in Indonesia my goal is to win. The team has done a fantastic job, which has allowed me to take a big step forward. I’m part of a great team and feel highly motivated, so I can only be optimistic ahead of this last 2021 event.”

Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) will look to the all-new Indonesian track to fight for more podium finishes and ideally a first possible race win in WorldSSP. He is currently tenth in the championship rankings, having secured top three placings three times this season.

2020 WorldSSP300 champion Jeffrey Buis (G.A.P Motozoo Racing By Puccetti Kawasaki) will race in WorldSSP once more, aiming to score points like he did for 15th at his rookie round in Argentina recently.

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