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The official race report service of Kawasaki Racing Team.

1 September 2021

French Round Next For WorldSSP

The Kawasaki Puccetti Racing WorldSSP pairing of Philipp Öttl and Can Öncü will be heading to France and the popular circuit of Magny Cours for the seventh round of the FIM Supersport World Championship between 3-5 September.

After racing at two new tracks the team will now go back to a venue that they know from previous experiences, but at which their former WorldSSP rider Lucas Mahias scored a popular race win last season on the Ninja ZX-6R.

Öttl did not take a Magny Cours podium finish last season in what were consistently wet conditions during his first year of WorldSSP racing with Puccetti but with six podium finishes this year already Philipp is all-out to take his first win at the French venue.

Öncü has come close to his first WorldSSP podium in some races this year but knows a strong qualifying performance would be his best possible help in recording that first top three finish.

Like Philipp, Can is in his second season of WorldSSP racing, moving to the full Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team this season to join his German countryman in the leading Kawasaki squad in the championship.

Once again, as has been the case recently, there will be two races in the WorldSSP class in France, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. The WorldSSP300 class will be present at Magny Cours, having missed out on the Navarra race weekend.

As it stands after six rounds Philipp is in third place overall, with 156 points; Can is ninth with 66 points.

Like the WorldSBK championship, the WorldSSP riders will now take on four race weekends in five weeks, with the round after Magny Cours coming along at the Circuit de Barcelona - Catalunya between 17-19 September.
 
Philipp Öttl, stated: “I have never ridden Magny Cours in dry conditions but at least I have experience in the rain there. We will try again to be on the podium. We will try to be there in the front group from the Friday practice sessions - like we were in Assen or Most. This is a production bike sport and some bikes fit better at some tracks, just like in the WorldSBK class. I can go to Magny Cours with a good mindset.”

Can Öncü, stated: “For Magny Cours if we can do one fast lap in qualifying I think maybe we can be unstoppable. We will see. I think it may be possible to take a podium there. I nearly made a podium there last year so it is a good circuit for me. The bike set-up is good now and we are ready. We will push and we will see what happens in France.“

Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) remains tenth overall, one place behind Can Öncü, in the championship after the most recent round in Navarra.

Michel Fabrizio (Motozoo Puccetti Racing Kawasaki) is now 25th overall and Leonardo Taccini (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) is 41st.

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