2016 Aragon Supersport Results & Recap
The 16-lap World Supersport race at Motorland Aragon began Sunday under pristine race conditions in Spain. Returning to the top of the podium was Kawasaki Puccetti Racing’s Kenan Sofuoglu, the reigning WSS Champion. This was the Turkish rider’s first win of 2016; he crashed out of round one at Phillip Island, but redeemed himself with a second-place finish at round two in Thailand.
But round three was Sofuoglu’s race; he earned the pole position by nearly a second ahead of teammate Randy Krummenacher, and showed no signs of slowing throughout the Aragon Supersport race.
Sofuoglu earned his 33rd career race win by 1.486 seconds ahead of Krummenacher, who earned his second podium finish in just three-career WSS races. Taking the final podium position was Schmidt Racing MV Agusta’s Nicol Terol.
Following Aragon World Supersport, Sofuoglu said: “I wanted to lead and keep going because yesterday and the day before I had good pace. The team made incredible adjustments on the bike on Friday night and I was getting faster and faster.
“We did a good lap and took pole position in Superpole and in the race the goal was to make a good start and take the lead. When I saw a two second gap I said I should just keep a good pace.
“On the last two or three laps the gap was getting closer. I just decided to keep the pace, take 25 points and the plan worked very well. Now, step-by-step, we are coming back in the championship and hopefully soon we can lead it.”
Starting from pole, Sofuoglu got the holeshot followed by the only American in World Supersport racing, Honda World Supersport’s PJ Jacobsen. The Honda CBR600RR challenged, but lost the front end of his bike and crashed out. From there, Sofuoglu just rode with clear track ahead.
As for Jacobsen, he wasn’t the only rider to crash; a turn-one incident caused for other few DNFs, including MV Agusta’s Robert Rolfo, Gino Rea and Wagner, along with Yamaha’s Ivanov, Honda’s Orellna, and Kawaski’s Licciardi. MV Agusta Reparto Corse’s Lorenzo Zanetti also suffered a DNF, but due to technical issues.
Zanetti’s teammate Jules Cluzel, who won in Thailand, finished fourth, just ahead of the San Carlo Team Italia Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja pilots Zaccone and Bassani. Rounding out the top 10 were Bardahl Evan Bros.
Honda Racing’s Caricasulo, Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki’s Kzhairuddin, Gemar Balloons – Team Lorini Honda’s Wahr and Team GoEleven Kawasaki’s Gamarino.
After three of 14 rounds, Krummenacher leads the World Supersport Championship with 58 points, 13 ahead of Sofuoglu, with Cluzel in third, 20 points behind.
In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Kawasaki leads MV Agusta by 19 points. The 2016 World Supersport Championship breaks for two weeks ahead of Assen.
