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The official race report service of Kawasaki Racing Team.

24 Veebruar 2018

Sofuoglu Joins Front Row Trio After Superpole

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider Kenan Sofuoglu finished third in WorldSSP Superpole 2 qualifying at Phillip Island, recovering strongly from a fast crash in the morning session when he experienced a rear tyre problem. Hikari Okubo (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 12th in Superpole 2.

A gritty return to action after a heavy fall in the morning free practice session saw the battered, grazed and bruised Sofuoglu get back on a repaired machine to score the third best lap time of Superpole 2, and take a much coveted front row start for Sunday’s race.
 
Japanese rider Okubo did not make it into Superpole 2 automatically after the free practices, but rode well to go from Superpole 1 to Superpole 2, and finally earn a starting position on the fourth row of the grid.
 
The Sunday race, like in the Superbike class now, will be run as a flag-to-flag event (with a mandatory pit stop) to ensure the tyres will last the full race distance.
 
Kenan Sofuoglu, stated: “Two hours ago I was thinking the weekend was finished but the Clinica Mobile and doctors helped me. The team had to rebuild my bike and the set-up was not ideal in Superpole 2. I have qualified on the front row because I have a good team and that helps me be motivated. For sure tomorrow will be an interesting race for us.”
 
Hikari Okubo, stated: “I started out in Superpole 1 today and then made some changes to my suspension settings and my riding style. There was a big wind  blowing from the sea so I tried to get a slipstream with other riders on the straight. After the second lap my bike was perfect and I could go into Superpole 2. I only had used tyres by then. I pushed very hard again but I could not set a good time in that session. It was not so bad because yesterday I was 15th. So we improved and moved to the fourth row of the grid today.”

Anthony West (EAB antwest Racing Kawasaki) was fifth today in Superpole 2 and starts from the centre of the second row for the race on Sunday.
 
Wildcard Aussie Tom Toparis (Cube Racing Kawasaki) was 17th in Superpole 1, one place ahead of series regular Michael Canducci (Team GoEleven Kawasaki). Nacho Calero (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) was 21st and Lachlan Epis (Team GoEleven Kawasaki) 22nd today.