Round three of the FIM World Supersport Championship, follows their brethren in World Superbike, to Aragon, Spain. It's been an awesome start to the season. Six different riders on the podium, and two different winners, on two different bikes. We open the European season at Motorland Aragon, in Spain. Randy Krummenacher, became only the sixth rider to win in his debut. Jules Cluzel won last time out, in Thailand. How will chapter three be written? Let's start, with the fact, that Kenan Sofuoglu and Randy Krummenacher were 8/10ths of a second apart. Sofuoglu has pole, and he's won this race on the trot for the last two years. But, folks, he needs the hat trick, because he's falling behind in the points championship chase.
Right now, Sofuoglu insofar as points, is 18 points in-arrears of his team mate. He's actually fourth in the standings. This is his biggest points deficit, since being 20 markers behind Fabian Foret, during the 2012 WSSP campaign. He crashed at Phillip Island, and finished second, in Thailand. In an interview with Greg Haines and Steve English (the commentary team for the World Superbike championship), Jules Cluzel said that he is aware of Kenan Sofuoglu's strengths, racing here at Motorland Aragon. "If I can beat him here, that will mess with his mind." Sofuoglu was quick in qualifying. But, Cluzel, and Krummenacher, are going to be there. Whoever gets the jump, when the race starts, they may well have the edge, and whistle off into the distance.
Nicolas Terol, could be another man to watch in this race. He's raced here in 125cc and Moto2 competition before. So, he knows this speedway, and, he could be in the hunt, for a podium, or perhaps, a top five. Nico Terol came through Super Pole on Saturday, along with Alex Baldolini, on a sister MV Agusta F3 675. In 2011, Terol won what was his final 125cc victory, en route to the series championship, here at Motorland Aragon. Randy Krummenacher starts on the front row, for the third time, in as many races. He has taken over the Kawasaki ZX6R that was ridden last year, by Italian rider, Marco Faccani. P.J. Jacobsen has changed the forks on his Honda CBR600RR.
Jacobsen hopes to win races early in the season, and challenge for the World Supersport championship title. The bikes and riders are going out on their sighting lap. The chilly wind gusts here at Motorland Aragon, have really affected the handling of these smaller, lighter, 600cc motorcycles, in the Supersport class, compared to their bigger, heavier, 1000cc brothers of the top World Superbike division. We watch Lorenzo Zanetti on the #87 MV Agusta F3 675 for the factory team, following #47, Axel Bassani. Bassani, the Italian, rides a Kawasaki ZX6R for San Carlo Team Italia.
There is a new championship, now that the Super Stock 600 European Championship, has been abandoned. Super Stock 600 ran for a decade, between 2005 and 2015. The new championship is the FIM Europe Supersport Cup. That series is gone, and part of it is now in Super Sport. European Super Sport. Many riders and teams, are signed up for the European races only. The bikes, are the same. It's just that these riders, will race, only in the European rounds. The ESS riders, could in theory, win the championship, or have a chance to, along with the WSSP regulars. However, it is unlikely they will be champion, simply because they are running fewer races, than the full season entrants.
This is the same as what happened with the Evo class in World Superbike years ago, and also, the Open championship, in MotoGP, that was discontinued, prior to the 2016 season. A couple Italian riders, could take points away, from the series regulars. These riders, are Italians. The aforementioned, Axel Bassani, and, his fellow Italian, Alessandro Zaccone. Zaccone rides another San Carlo Team Italia Kawasaki ZX6R (#61). If these riders, are taking points away, from riders behind them on the race track, that will be a major factor in the outcome of the championship this year.
There are at least a half dozen riders, who can go for it, and get into the points. Axel Bassani could have a good shot, even though he crashed in Super Pole. Aiden Wagner and Lachlan Epis, both crashed in the warmup. Other riders in mid pack to look out for are Italy's Christopher Gobbi, Spain's Javier Orellana, and Loris Cresson, from Belgium. All of these guys are together on rows eight and nine. We are ten minutes away from the start. 16 laps scheduled. Last year, World Superbike and World Supersport, switch to the same track configuration, as MotoGP. In previous years, the back straightaway, was longer, into a left hand hairpin, followed by a right/left flick back to the start/finish line.
Sofuoglu, Krummenacher, and Cluzel, are the top three. Jacobsen is fourth. Christian Gammarino, is fifth. Lorenzo Zanetti, sixth. Baldolini, seventh. Nico Terol is riding for a new team. Schmidt Racing, out of Hungary, on another MV Agusta F3 675. His team mate, is in the ESS division, racing only in Europe. Hungary's Janos Chrobak, on bike #119. Terol rides bike #88. On row three, it's all MV Agusta with Alex Baldolini on his family run bike, along with Nico Terol, and another former Moto2 racer, Gino Rea riding the #4 MV Agusta for GRT Racing Team.
The track temperature will be a big issue for this race. The usual tire drop happens earlier due to track conditions. Roberto Rolfo, has the record for consecutive points finishes in World Supersport. That record, is 25, and if P.J. Jacobsen finishes today's race, he will equal Rolfo's record. Axel Bassani is team mate to Alessandro Zaccone. Bassani is impressive, because, he's been racing, for a short time, and has raced for just a few years, running in Italy, ran two Super Stock 600 races last year, and finished on the podium, in Magny Cours, France, last year.
Kyle Ryde was involved in a big crash in practice. He was coming off pit lane, and Australian rider Glenn Scott, low sided coming off turn two. Kyle slowed, to avoid Glenn Scott's bike, skidding across the road in front of him. However, he ran over Glenn Scott. Scott, suffered a broken leg and is now in the hospital. Best wishes, to Glenn Scott, as he hopes to be back as a spectator for the Italian round at Imola. Kevin Wahr and Glenn Scott, have had no luck. No good luck at all for Gemar Balloons - Team Lorini.
Again, the front row is Jules Cluzel, Randy Krummenacher, and Kenan Sofuoglu. Sofuoglu wants a third straight Aragon win. 34 bikes, start this race, as we are off on the warmup lap. Temperatures continue to rise. Track conditions are coming into a good spot. These bikes, too, are on Pirelli tires. 34 motorcycles, pouring into the first corner. This is going to be a wild one. Manuel Puccetti looks on. Will his team win a second race in 2016, today? We'll find out. Marshals run across to assist a rider in the midfield. This will delay the start. Roberto Rolfo is having problems. He was supposed to start 11th. This, will leave 33 bikes to start.
The San Carlo Team Italia riders, have more space. The revs come up. Supersport at Motorland Aragon, is underway! Kenan Sofuoglu and P.J. Jacobsen get great launches! Sofuoglu runs wide as Jules Cluzel is ready to pounce. Jacobsen, meanwhile, tries to go for it. But, no! Jacobsen, crashes! He's down! Poor old P.J. Jacobsen. His Honda, is junk. A few other riders have also crashed out already! Aiden Wagner is another of the riders who has fallen. Jacobsen should be OK. Right now, the Kawasaki's lead this race with Kenan Sofuoglu and Randy Krummenacher.
Alex Baldolini is up to fourth, and Alessandro Zaccone has made it to sixth already. Sofuoglu begins to pull away from Krummenacher. It's a Puccetti Kawasaki 1-2 at the moment. Christian Gammarino and Alessandro Zaccone almost crash into each other! The local yellow flag remains out at turn one. Aiden Wagner, wildcard Russian rider Alexey Ivanov, and Hikari Okubo. Krummenacher wants to make a move on Sofuoglu. No dice. Another incident has been reported. Gino Rea is off the road, in the gravel at turn 16. Christian Gammarino shoots up inside Alex Baldolini. Gammarino takes fourth spot, demoting Baldolini to fifth.
Baldolini fights back into turn seven. These two are of the same heritage, but not doing each other any favors. We've also got Alessandro Zaccone, Lorenzo Zanetti, and Nico Terol, involved in this little dice. This is a barn burner already! Game over, though, for Rolfo (who did not make the start), Wagner, Jacobsen, and Gino Rea. Rea, crashed out. Lap two done and dusted. But, more drama. Javier Orellana crashes at the end of the reverse corkscrew in turn nine. A number of riders don't seem to be up to speed. Kenan Sofuoglu is carrying a wider line. Jules Cluzel and Alex Baldolini are in the fight early on.
Sofuoglu runs wide through the Carlos Checa corner. Randy Krummenacher runs wide through corner number seven. Cluzel will take advantage of the bobble. Does he get by? No. Meanwhile, more drama. Lorenzo Zanetti has gone off the road in the Carlos Checa Corner. Will he rejoin the race? Yes. Wait, folks. Scratch that. He has not rejoined this race. He may have a mechanical problem with his MV Agusta. Game over, Lorenzo Zanetti. Zanetti didn't wreck. He pulled off the road, with mechanical maladies. Right now, the fastest rider on the road, is Alessandro Zaccone. He is in hot pursuit of Christian Gammarino.
Deary me. Another bike, is stopped on the road. This time, it's #23. The rider is Frenchman, Cedric Tangre on the Team Yohann Moto Sport Suzuki GSX-R600. Thirteen laps now remain. Three laps done and dusted. Everybody, calm down. Take a deep breath, and suss out the situation. Baldolini is very quick. Right now we have two Kawasaki's leading two MV Agusta's. Kenan Sofuoglu was a half a second quicker than the rest of the blokes in the lead pack. Alex Baldolini is right behind Jules Cluzel right now. Cluzel cannot be content with Baldolini pressing him, because, he sees Kenan Sofuoglu, up ahead, pulling clear.
Nico Terol has passed Federico Caricasulo, for ninth place, demoting the Italian, to tenth. Give a call to Zulfahmi Khairuddin! Khairuddin, has moved up ten places, and is now seventh, after starting 17th on the grid, on the #63 Orelac Racing Verdnatura Kawasaki ZX6R. Sofuoglu leads Krummenacher, Cluzel, Baldolini, Gammarino, Zaccone, Khairuddin, Basani, Terol, Caricasulo, Wahr, Smith, Michalchik, Ryde, and last in the points paying places (15), is Ondrej Jesek. Brendan Ortt is under investigation. The Canadian rider, is 24th. Randy Krummenacher is being passed by Jules Cluzel.
Kenan Sofuoglu pulls away into the lead. With twelve laps to go in this race, Jules Cluzel is fending off the challenge from Randy Krummenacher. Kenan Sofuoglu still leads. If it ended now, Krummenacher would lead the championship, with Cluzel and Sofuoglu, second and third. Alex Baldolini continues a sterling run in fourth spot. Randy Krummenacher is not going to make a bold and ultimately silly move under braking, to get by Cluzel. Krummenacher is biding his time right now. Cluzel has more top speed on the MV than does the Kawasaki. Amazingly, Zulfahmi Khairuddin, has made his way, up to fifth spot!
He has made up twelve spots. Axel Bassani has also made his way by Alessandro Zaccone. Terol, Gammarino, and Caricasulo are also back there. Krummenacher goes inside Jules Cluzel, and Baldolini will try to follow him through! Oh no! It's all gone wrong for Alex Baldolini! The triple cylinder engine in his MV Agusta, goes ka-blammo! The motorcycle is puking oil all over the rode. No wonder he was sliding through the last two corners, because oil got under the rear tire. Baldolini started seventh on the grid. Two MV Agusta's have had technical issues. Will something untoward happen to Jules Cluzel?
Axel Bassani on the ESS class motorcycle, goes around Zulfahmi Khairuddin. Bassani could have a shot at the overall podium, even if he already has a guaranteed parking spot in parc ferme, after the race. Krummenacher is fastest on track. But, he will have to be careful. For sure, Baldolini's bike dropped fluid, so the marshals show a debris flag. Axel Bassani has caught Jules Cluzel! Last year, he was on the front row of qualifying, in Superstock 600 at Jerez in Spain. Then, he finished second, behind Spaniard Augusto Fernandez, at Magny Cours in France, at the season finale. He is 16, and is an Italian.
Sofuoglu has 1.9 seconds in hand over second. Nicolas Terol passes Zulfahmi Khairuddin and moves to fifth place, despite running a little wide. Jules Cluzel is backing up this field. Axel Bassani is doing in this race, what Federico Caricasulo did in round one in Australia, at Phillip Island, and is absolutely going for it. Bassani tries Cluzel, but cannot get by. Cluzel can't lose points to these wildcard riders. Cluzel was denied by Kyle Ryde at Donington Park last year, when Ryde, was a wildcard contender. Eight laps now remain in this race. Cluzel runs wide, and Nico Terol is up to fourth. Khairuddin is under attack by Caricasulo. Kevin Wahr has made it into tenth place. He is on the sole bike in this race, for Gemar Balloons - Team Lorini.
Following are Kyle Smith, Ondrej Jezek, Kyle Ryde, and Davide Stirpe. Stirpe runs fifteenth and is another ESS class rider. Alessandro Zaccone, meanwhile, is giving Nico Terol a major headache. What a great bunch of riders at the top of the field. The tires are beginning to fall off. Jules Cluzel is sliding the bike under braking. Cluzel has zero grip on the MV Agusta. He does not want the front end to slide away, resulting in a low side crash. Nico Terol has taken a podium place away from Axel Basani. Nico Terol looks for his first World Super Sport podium. Terol needs to build a gap. The two San Carlo Team Italia riders continue their fight.
Jules Cluzel splits the aforementioned bikes of Bassani and Zaccone. Jules Cluzel is up to fifth. But, he'll be way behind Randy Krummenacher. He reduces the gap to Kenan Sofuoglu to 1.7 seconds. Sofuoglu is controlling the pace. The Italian riders are really aggressive and managing their tires. Kawasaki Puccetti Racing runs 1-2 with five laps remaining. Krummenacher is quicker than Sofuoglu right now. 1:55.8 for Krummenacher, and 1:56.1 for Sofuoglu. Cluzel is sinking like a stone. Zaccone tries to pass Nico Terol. Krummenacher has fastest lap at 1:55.871, while Sofuoglu runs a 1:55.888, and Terol, is slowest of the top three at 1:56.295.
Five laps left. Terol slides through turns 16 and 17. Terol is two seconds behind Krummenacher. Axel Bassani and Federico Caricasulo, battle. This will be a good one. Jules Cluzel still defends fifth spot. Caricasulo needs points, after failing to score points in Thailand, last time out. Zulfahmi Khairuddin continues to run eighth. Christian Gammarino, has lost spots, dropping from fifth to ninth. Kyle Smith has made his way into the top ten on the #111 CIA Landlord Insurance Honda CBR600RR. Wahr, Ryde, Jezek, and Stirpe complete the top 15. Nacho Calero, team mate to Zulfahmi Khairuddin, is a second away from finding the final points paying spot.
Okubo, Chrobak, Cresson, Stefan Hill, and Christopher Gobbi, round out the field. Zaccone is looking for Cluzel. Who wants the last podium place? Four laps to go. MV Agusta has not had a good race at all here in Spain. Three laps left now. Randy Krummenacher is picking up a few tenths on Kenan Sofuoglu. Sofuoglu will have lapped traffic to deal with, in the form of Canadian Braeden Ortt on the Wilsport Racedays Honda CBR600RR. Kenan Sofuoglu has a 1.2 second margin as Jules Cluzel passes Alessandro Zaccone.
Jules Cluzel has to go into damage limitation mode. Uh oh. A yellow flag. What happened here? Will Kenan Sofuoglu win this race? If he does, it will be the second win for Kawasaki in 2016. But, Sofuoglu, will be the third different winner, in three races. Can Sofuoglu hang on? Zaccone passes Cluzel. Bassani and Zaccone scrap with each other, and Jules Cluzel is sliding all over the place! Zaccone and Bassani are scrapping for position. Two teenage riders, trying to outperform each other, as team mates! It's now the final lap. Zaccone wants to try to pass Jules Cluzel. Remember the names, Alessandro Zaccone and Axel Bassani.
Nico Terol will earn his first Supersport podium. Meanwhile, Nacho Calero passes Davide Stirpe. Nacho Calero will score a point in his home race. Kenan Sofuoglu wins! It's his 30th career win in WSSP and his first win of 2016! Kevin Wahr finishes ninth, and Christian Gammarino just beats Kyle Smith! Davide Stirpe is off the road, but will finish down the order after rejoining the track. Nacho Calero scores the final point. Nico Terol finishes on the podium in WSSP for the first time.
World Supersport Race: #1 Kenan Sofuoglu TUR. Kawasaki ZX6R
Kawasaki wins their 30th World Supersport race. The next race, is in Holland, at the legendary Assen circuit, coming up, this weekend. Stay tuned, for a race report.
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