For only the second time, the FIM World Supersport Championship, visits Thailand. Four riders, who had bad luck, last time out, in Australia, will try to rebound, here in Thailand. Those riders include Kyle Smith, Kenan Sofuoglu, Lorenzo Zanetti, and Jules Cluzel. Randy Krummenacher, has the edge, going into the race in Thailand. This should be a sizzler, chaps. We are ready to race in FIM World Supersport in Thailand. This race, will last 17 laps. Kawasaki has the constructors championship lead. Randy Krummenacher leads the championship. Anthony West, who ran with the series in Australia, was a wildcard. Hence, he will not be in this race.
The sighting lap, is coming up. There is time for the riders to make up ground in the championship. However, after bad races last time out in Australia, Kenan Sofuoglu, and Jules Cluzel, they will definitely be playing catch up. Randy Krummenacher also has to show his prowess and that he can continue winning performances like he had at Phillip Island, a fortnight ago. Cluzel has taken his 17th career World Supersport pole. This puts him in company, with Australian rider, Broc Parkes. Cluzel and Sofuoglu, need points.
Kenan Sofuoglu had a tire go down. Anthony West said he may have touched Sofuoglu. But, Sofuoglu rebuffed West's claim. Sofuoglu has to go for it, and pressure his team mate, Randy Krummenacher. Ratthapong Willairot, will be another rider to keep an eye on in this race. Jules Cluzel has nil points. He needs a solid finish. The MV Agusta motorcycle has been held back, not being allowed to have traction control. There are eight, MV Agusta F3 675 motorcycles, in this field.
The other riders, are not having issues with the traction control like Cluzel is. They are saying they need to get the most from it, and understand how to use it. Other MV Agusta riders include Alex Baldolini, Aiden Wagner, Roberto Rolfo, Lorenzo Zanetti, Nicolas Terol, and Janos Chrobak. Jules Cluzel needs to get the bike to work, in a race. The one lap pace works. But, he has to let things flow properly. Robbie Rolfo's motorcycle,. has been totally rebuilt. The wheels and the dashboard are the only parts of the motorcycle that were not replaced.
Riders are trying to keep cool, and it's also tough, to cool the bikes. Riders are putting ice packs down their backs, using wet towels, and getting their cool suits activated. 17 laps on the limit, in the heat, is tough. But, we'll see. Five other riders have won their first races in World Supersport. Josh Brookes and Luca Scassa are among them. Kenan Sofuoglu was out qualified by Randy Krummenacher. Sofuoglu is favorite on race pace.
But, also, take a look at Patrick "P.J." Jacobsen, who was fastest in the morning warmup. One of the best things the rider's drink, to stay hydrated during races, is coconut water. Kyle Smith is one to look out for, winning the 2015 finale in Qatar. Smith went Scuba diving after the Australia race. 12,000 people are in the grandstand. Watch Rathapong Willairot. His brother, Rathapark Willairot is also a motorcycle racer. Gino Rea starts ninth on his MV Agusta. Zulfahmi Khairuddin will also do well. Khairuddin, is one of four brothers.
Look for Luke Stapleford to do well, as he was a wildcard in the British round last year. But, is a full-time racer this year. Five minutes to the race start. Look out for Kevin Wahr and Hikari Okubo as well. Wahr missed the WSSP race in Australia. Hikari Okubo is another to watch. Lots of riders are looking for points. Jules Cluzel lost this race with an engine failure last year. Can he rebound today?
We are ready to race. There is one Thai wildcard in this race. Fadeka Kraisart is that rider. 25 World Supersport 600cc motorcycles, ready to do battle. The bikes are on their warmup lap. Lorenzo Zanetti has had a bad weekend. He's 16th on the grid. Zanetti could not get the feel he wanted on the motorcycle. Jules Cluzel looks to the side of his bike. He is a former world champ in the 125cc class. With tires, most riders will run the A spec solution as opposed to the B, and also the A compound on the rear, for smooth asphalt and high temperatures, which this track has.
Nico Terol dives for pit lane. Hmmm. He's got a problem and might have to start from pit lane. Two of the three riders on the front row have yet to score points in 2016. Sadly, it's game over for Nico Terol. He has to retire his motorcycle, even before the race begins. But now, the rest of the Supersport field, will race. 24 bikes take the green light. Get ready for drama. We are underway! The Kawasaki's get a flying start, as Jules Cluzel gets swamped. Hikari Okubo is stuck on the grid, and P.J. Jacobsen is already scything his way to the front! He's up to the lead, from fourth on the grid!
Cluzel recovers ahead of Kenan Sofuoglu. Into the hairpin, Kenan Sofuoglu has already passed Randy Krummenacher. Krummenacher is running well, and Alex Baldolini has already gained a place, moving from fifth to fourth. Can P.J. Jacobsen stay out in front? Kenan Sofuoglu makes a move on Jules Cluzel. He makes it work, and is up to second, behind Jacobsen. Baldolini and Krummenacher follow. The rider who could not get off the grid quick enough was Stefan Hill of Great Britain on one of the CIA Landlord Insurance Honda CBR600RR's. Hikari Okubo has lost five places.
Baldolini and Krummenacher battle for position. Jacobsen leads Sofuoglu and Cluzel. The field is tightly bunched. A privateer Kawasaki ran wide, and Lorenzo Zanetti is moving up. Federico Caricasulo is another contender. Krummenacher passes Baldolini. Alex Baldolini is really going for it this year so far, even though this is the second race. Ooh! Ratthapark Willairot is down and out! He's low sided his motorcycle. Will he get back into the fray? Other riders, were jolly lucky they didn't get collected in this incident. The Thai crowd can't believe it, because Willairot is one of their countrymen.
Oh deary me! Another rider is off the road. Federico Caricasulo is doing some agricultural racing, through the gravel trap. Caricasulo is back up and running. He went off at turn six. The four fast blokes in the championship in testing, are now in front of this field. It's Jacobsen, Sofuoglu, Cluzel, and Krummenacher. Dekka Kraisar is running well, and so are Gino Rea, and Zulfahmi Khairuddin. These two, are former competitors in the Moto2 World Championship. So, they know the 600cc motorcycles well. We will watch, because if Cluzel and Sofuoglu fight with each other, Jacobsen will indeed be able to pull away.
Willairot is back in the race. 15 laps left. Kenan Sofuoglu is being pursued by Randy Krummenacher. The Kawasaki Puccetti team mates are going to be in a major battle, or so it appears. Cluzel and Sofuoglu are chasing down Jacobsen. Federico Caricasulo is back into trouble, again. Caricasulo nearly hits Gino Rea's bike, and is forced off way wide, onto the pavement, and into the gravel, keeping the motorcycle, upright, thankfully. Turn six is fast, and has a deep gravel trap. He avoided a high side incident. He has to find his way back through the field.
He has rejoined in 21st spot, ahead of Lachlan Epis. Epis, is down near the tail of the field along with Stefan Hill and Ratthapong Willairot. Jacobsen is still running first. But, Kyle Ryde runs really wide, and goes right to pit lane, with an issue. P.J. Jacobsen sets fastest lap. Not sure of the time. Alex Baldolini is only half a second slower. Zulfhami Khairuddin is pushing forward. He's doing really well. He did very well in Moto3. He says he's more comfortable on the bigger, 600cc bike. Lorenzo Zanetti runs wide. The MV Agusta is not working, with the setup.
Kyle Smith passes Khairuddin. Cluzel and Sofuoglu are trading fastest laps. Six laps done. Eleven left. Jacobsen has been caught by Cluzel. Cluzel needs points. Kenan Sofuoglu is fastest though. Alex Baldolini has dropped to fifth. Jacobsen, Cluzel, Sofuoglu, Krummenacher, the top four. These blokes are running for the win. There is another battle between Nacho Calero, Roberto Rolfo, and Federico Caricasulo. Nacho Calero, the Spaniard, is on a Kawasaki ZX-6-R for Orelac Racing Verdnatura.
Honda, MV Agusta, Kawasaki, Kawasaki. Gino Rea and Lorenzo Zanetti will pressure Alex Baldolini. Jacobsen makes a slight mistake. Less than a second covers the top four bikes. This is really close racing! Only ten laps remain now. Cluzel has to pass Jacobsen, ASAP. Krummenacher sets fastest lap of this race, insofar as the top three, at a 1:39.124, while Sofuoglu, Cluzel, and Jacobsen, are slower. Krummenacher wants to pass Sofuoglu. It's MV attacking Honda and Kawasaki vs. Kawasaki.
Jacobsen had some tire issues and crashes at Phillip Island. The Honda has been sorted out well. We are halfway through this race, chaps. Kyle Smith, sets fastest lap. Smith passes Baldolini for fourth. Can Kyle Smith hone in on the top three? Smith is coming, fast. The lead group will be brought back towards the rest of the field. Sofuoglu and Cluzel are close together. Impatience is setting in. Will Krummenacher dive up the inside in a slippery turn three? Hikari Okubo passes Luke Stapleford for fourteenth spot.
Aiden Wagner is sixteenth, followed by Christian Gammarino, and Federico Caricasulo. Roberto Rolfo, Nacho Calero 20th, Lachlan Epis, and Stefan Hill complete the remaining riders. Krummenacher is thinking of diving inside. Last year, Sofuoglu stole second from P.J. Jacobsen. Team boss Manuel Puccetti will be nervous. Krummenacher passes Sofuoglu. Game over for Hikari Okubo, as he's crashed, and then rejoined the race. Six laps now remain. Jacobsen looks more comfortable, and he's choosing his lines wisely, and does not have to defend so much.
Cluzel is biding his time, saving his tires. The scrap for the top four spots, is only separated by 8/10ths of a second. Krummenacher is forcing Cluzel to ride defensively. The laps click away. Caricasulo is under investigation by the stewards. Cluzel is right behind Jacobsen. Kenan Sofuoglu is now the fastest rider on the road. Put yourself in the right place for the last few laps. This is quite the race for the finish. Krummenacher can place his bike wherever he chooses. We have three different bikes going for the win. Cluzel passes Jacobsen! Krummenacher can't take advantage of the situation.
Jacobsen comes back and does the same to Cluzel! Sofuoglu and Krummenacher are also making contact, fighting for position. Krummenacher has to attack Sofuoglu, and force the move. This is riveting! Kyle Smith is coming, fast. Jacobsen is going for it. Sofuoglu was fastest in this group last time around. Jacobsen has Cluzel right on top of him. Three laps remain now. Jacobsen has to push, hard. Sofuoglu has earned the best second sector time of this race. We are on the penultimate lap. Two to go. No tire issues. These guys are going for it.
Where will Jules Cluzel attack? Cluzel gets into the draft, and tries to dive inside. Watch out for turn four. Jacobsen runs wide, allowing Cluzel to go by! Now, Sofuoglu slams the side of Jacobsen! Jacobsen fights back! They are three abreast into turn seven! Wow! Jules Cluzel says, "merci beaucoup" and rides off into the sunset! Cluzel reckoned he'd get points. Sofuoglu passes Jacobsen. Jacobsen passes. One lap to go. Sofuoglu passes Jacobsen and Cluzel is speeding away! Sofuoglu passes Jacobsen. Poor old P.J. Jacobsen, has gotten snookered.
One corner to go. Will Honda attack Kawasaki? Cluzel wins! Sofuoglu beats Jacobsen. Randy Krummenacher finishes fourth, and he maintains his championship lead.
World Supersport Race: #16 Jules Cluzel FRA. MV Agusta F3 675
What a race! Two manufacturers have won in the first two World Supersport races of 2016. Next up, World Supersport, joins World Superbike, in Aragon, Spain, in three weeks.
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