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The official race report service of Kawasaki Racing Team.

WSS, Assen, THE NETHERLANDS, 29 Abril 2017

New Assen Track Best Lap For Sofuoglu In Superpole

Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) scored a new track best lap in the WorldSSP class at Assen, with a 1’37.805 in Superpole 2 to earn himself the best possible starting position for Sunday’s race. His team-mate Kyle Ryde was tenth, while Michael Canducci (Puccetti Racing Junior Team FMI Kawasaki) took an impressive front row starting position with the third best time of the day.

In setting his new track best pace and winning Superpole Sofuoglu posted a lap time 0.674 seconds faster than his nearest competitor. The Turkish star will be making only his second race start of the season tomorrow, after suffering a hand injury in training.
 
Kenan’s latest pole position success gives him a career total of 31 Superpoles, extending his own existing record tally.
 
Ryde worked through his set-up options on Friday and again this morning in FP3, before approaching Superpole 2 in eighth position. He left Superpole 2 in tenth place, for a third row start in tomorrow’s 18-lap race.
 
Kenan Sofuoglu, stated: “I am very, very happy with that. Yesterday in qualifying I spent all my time working for race simulations and long runs on the track. For Superpole I thought I could do a 1’37 and a track record. When we took to the track in Superpole 2 we put in a soft tyre and set a new track record. I am happy for this and for the pole win because the season started in a very difficult way for me. Now it is coming good – but most important is tomorrow and to try and get 25 points for winning the race.”
 
Kyle Ryde, stated: “Not a bad day. I tried a few things that did not pay off but I know which tyres to use for the race tomorrow. I also made a little mistake on my best lap so I know I have a bit more to go. I hope I can stay with the leading group off the start and then I will be alright for tomorrow.”
 
Gino Rea (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) placed 12th in Superpole, Rob Hartog (Team Hartog Jenik Against Cancer Kawasaki) 15th at his local round, and Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) was inside the top 20, in 19th place.
 
Kazuki Watanabe (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) is 22nd, Nacho Calero (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) is 23rd and another regular rider, Lachlan Epis (Response RE Racing Kawasaki) completed the top 25 places in a field of 32 riders.