Kenan Sofuoglu's Championship season dissected

Once more the Supersport World Championship went to the final round of the year, and the rider who won the title, for the second time, was Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda).

Sofuoglu's first championship came in very different, much more dominant circumstances, in 2007, when he won the overall series with three rounds left to run. He also won eight races that year, an equal record in this class. This year, Kenan was pushed to the final race of the season by contender for the second year in succession, Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda), who missed out by 11-points.

In winning his second title, Kenan joined a true elite. Sebastien Charpentier (2005 and 2006) and Andrew Pitt (2001 and 2008) are the only other riders who have won two championships.

Kenan extended his record win total in 2010, his three victories pushing his stats to 17. He has an even more impressive career record of 39 podium places in this class, truly class leading as he has only started 56 races, making for an incredibly impressive rate of podium scoring. His feat of scoring a podium in every race in 2010 is a remarkable one, for rider and team, and this combination of reliability and speed was what it took in the end to beat a rider like Laverty, who won no fewer than eight races this year.

Source: http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/

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Kenan Sofuoglu - The history man in Supersport

Turkish star Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) won his second Supersport World Championship last week and in doing so he reached a few milestones in the history of the class.

Kenan won three races in 2010 and now his career win total is a clear class record of 17, four more than the next rider, Sebastien Charpentier. Kenan is, along with Sebastien Charpentier and Andrew Pitt, a two time champion, in 2007 and 2010.

Kenan's statistics are all the more remarkable when you consider he has started 56 races, and has 39 podiums in those races (69.6%). The first was a third place in Qatar in 2006. He was also the rider who gave Honda its 50th win in Supersport, in 2007.

Kenan has been a fixture in the overall Superbike paddock since 2004, and came close to winning the Superstock 1000 Championship in 2005, before making the move to Supersport in 2006.

Source: http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/

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Kenan from Eugene as tension builds in Supersport decider

Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) took his fifth pole of the season by posting a 1'41.372 lap in today's second and final qualifying session. He will be followed off the grid by the only rider who can overhaul him in the season finale tomorrow, Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda).

Katsuaki Fujiwara (Provec Motocard.com Kawasaki) is third, because of his fast Friday time and French WSS legend Fabien Foret (Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki) is the final front row qualifier. Broc Parkes (Kawasaki Motocard.com) was fifth fastest.

Source: http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/

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Kenan Sofuoglu on target for title over 'most wins' Laverty

After their dramatic clash at the final chicane at Imola, Kenan Sofuoglu will take a 16-point lead over title rival Eugene Laverty into this weekend's Magny-Cours WSS season finale.

That means Ten Kate Honda rider Sofuoglu, who look set to switch to Moto2 next year, only needs to finish sixth or better - even if Laverty wins - to claim his second world title.

"I really wanted to win last weekend in Italy but it didn't happen," said Sofuoglu, who was brought down with Laverty when the Irishman tried a last-gasp pass.

"The positive thing is that I have a 16-point advantage over Eugene going to Magny-Cours, so I am in a good position.

"The points I got at Imola mean I have to finish sixth or better to score enough, no matter what else happens. But we will be going out to win if we can."

Having won seven races this year, compared with three for Sofuoglu, Laverty simply has his sights set on victory number eight before starting his new career in WSBK next year.

"I am looking forward to the Magny-Cours race, although it is a pity that the points gap could not be closer," said the Parkalgar Honda rider. "I am looking to be on form and be able to ride more like myself. I have had some treatment on my shoulder to make sure I am back at 100% for the final race.

"I want to win even if I don't win the championship. I have won more races than anyone else this year and Kenan knows that, which is why he wanted to beat me in Imola. I want to win the last race and I'm sure Kenan wants to do the same."

Source: http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/

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Kenan Sofuoglu - Seems Laverty wanted to take me out

Kenan Sofuoglu has blasted World Supersport title rival Eugene Laverty for the move that prevented him from winning at Imola, claiming it was the Irishman's 'idea' was to eliminate him from the race.

Laverty's last gasp move on the final bend caused him to lose his bike and slide into the path of Sofuoglu, taking both riders off their machines. While both got going again to cross the finish line, Michele Pirro had already gone past to claim a surprise win.

Sofuoglu has now launched a scathing attack on Laverty for slowing him during the race before suggesting that his rival had attempted to take him out of contention with his final corner attempt.

“All weekend I was very confident and it was the same for the race today,” he said. “We were definitely ready to go for the win but I am not sure that Eugene had enough speed to go with me.

“He was able to follow but his aim in the race when he was leading seemed to be to slow me and to block me. I pushed hard for the last few laps and he was still able to follow me but I think that the final attack he made was too much on the limit. I was already braking very late into that corner and it seemed like his idea was to crash and take me with him.

Despite this, Sofuoglu's second place keeps him on course to wrap up the title in a week's time at Magny-Cours having increased his margin over Laverty to 16 points.

“I was very lucky and my bike was still able to run and I could get back up to finish in front of Eugene. Of course, I really wanted to win this weekend but it didn't happen. The positive thing is that I have a 16-point advantage going to Magny-Cours.” 

Source: http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/

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Friday time enough for Sofuoglu

The 1'52.397 he set on the first day was enough to give Kenan Sofuoglu (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) pole at Imola, as all the riders' times remained the way they were on Friday, due to the damp track conditions experienced today.

This keeps Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) second, Michele Pirro (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) third and Katsuaki Fujiwara (Kawasaki Motocard.com) fourth quickest. Chaz Davies (ParkinGO BE1 Triumph) held onto fifth, and Fujiwara's team-mate Broc Parkes is sixth, while Massimo Roccoli (Intermoto Czech Honda) and Mark Aitchison (Kuja Racing Honda) are the final two front row starters.

Source: http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/

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Kenan conquers on the first day

World Championship leader Kenan Sofuoglu (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) set a 1 minute 59.276 seconds lap on the first day of competitive action in Germany, but Spanish rider David Salom (ParkinGO BE1 Triumph) was only 1/1000th of a second behind.

Silverstone podium finisher Gino Rea (Intermoto Czech) went third on his Honda, and Katsuaki Fujiwara (Kawasaki Motocard.com) fourth on the official Ninja ZX-6R.

Championship challenger Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) was fifth. One more qualifying session remains to determine final grid positions.

Source: http://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/

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