FIM World Supersport: Malaysia

We travel to Asia for the second time in 2016, for round six of the FIM World Supersport championship, to race at Sepang International Circuit.  Last year, the stars and stripes of the United States, shone brightly in Malaysia, when P.J. Jacobsen, became the first ever American rider, to win a World Supersport event, in Malaysia.  Dark clouds are looming over the circuit.  Right now, it's hot.  32 degrees Celsius (89 degrees Fahrenheit), ambient temperature.  Track temperature reads 46 Celsius (114 degrees Fahrenheit).  It rained for three hours overnight.  Randy Krummenacher led practice.  This is round six of World Supersport.  Four-time WSSP champion Kenan Sofuoglu, is in the points lead, ahead of both Randy Krummenacher, and Jules Cluzel.

Will the dark clouds, dump buckets of rain on the Sepang track?  We have a 14 lap race for World Supersport.  2/3rds distance, will be lap nine, if the weather gets iffy.  Zulfahmi Khairuddin, who has raced here in Malaysia, in Moto3, is the crowd favorite.  He hails from this nation of course.  He starts from the second row of the grid.  He was 12th in the warmup, concentrating on setup.  There's expectation for Malaysian motorsport in this race.  Khairuddin is confident in the motorcycle.  Jules Cluzel may have won the first race we ran in WSSP on the Asian continent, in Thailand.  However, in morning warmup here in Malaysia, he fell off the bike.

Cluzel has had just two podiums so far this year.  He low sided into turn one in the morning warmup.  With other riders looking strong, Cluzel will have a tough time.  A few Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup riders, are hanging around in Kenan Sofuoglu's Puccetti Kawasaki garage, including Kenan's nephew.  He races in SAATC competition.  Many fans from Turkey are here in Malaysia, to support their hero.  If Sofuoglu wins, it will be a milestone victory, his 35th career WSSP triumph.  The pit lane has opened.  P.J. Jacobsen rolls out of the garage.  He made history here at Sepang, last August.  He was the first ever American polesitter in WSSP, and also, the first American race winner in the category.

Christian Gamarino is headed out on his warmup lap.  Rain is beginning to fall already, at turns three and six.  Again, pit lane is open.  The weather looks like it's beginning to clear.  We had heavy rain the night before this race, during the early hours of the morning.  People in their hotel rooms, were awakened by an amazing downpour, with lots of thunder and lightning.  If you ever have a chance to visit Malaysia (and no, yours truly has not had the chance, yet), check out the Petronas Towers, especially when they are lit at night.  I hear the sight is a spectacle to behold.  Zulfahmi Khairuddin starts fifth, and as he makes his way to the grid, the crowd erupts in applause.

Jules Cluzel was hurt in Jerez towards the end of last year with two broken legs.  He's healed, but is still limping.  Randy Krummenacher may fight with his team mate in this race, because the World Supersport motorcycle feels much better to him, than the Moto2 bike.  Nine minutes before we get underway, it's raining.  It is going to be a wet race for these blokes.  Rain is falling here at Sepang.  There are intermediate and wet Pirelli Super Corsa intermediate and wet tires.  Gino Rea could be pleased of this.  He ran well at this track, in Moto2, a few years ago.

The rain is very heavy, but it seems like it isn't raining.  However, if it starts raining in Malaysia, it's not a light rain at all.  It's a heavy downpour.  The tires are not the only things being changed.  Swing arms, preload settings on shocks, and other suspension settings, are also being tinkered with.  The riders will also wear their rain ponchos.  The start, has been delayed.  Race Director Giancarlo Carloia has decisions to make.  23 riders will race, as we do not have the European riders in an Asian event.  The European Supersport Cup, will return, at the next race.  Details, coming up, after this race is done.

Some riders will be running off the grid, to have a short break.  Put all your faith in the tires.  Kenan Sofuoglu's pit crew, is changing tires.  Road spec tires, are being used for Supersport.  These bikes are based on the road going models.  They are Pirelli Super Corsa tires.  Very similar, to the Super Stock 1000 Series that races in Europe.  You can buy these tires for track days, from Pirelli's webpage, if you have a 600cc motorcycle, such as a Kawasaki ZX6R, Honda CBR600RR, MV Agusta F3 675, or Yamaha YZF R6.  We look down, through the starting grid.  Randy Krummenacher rolls of second.  In third, In fourth, Patrick Jacobsen.

Zulfahmi Khairuddin is fifth.  Sixth, is Ayrton Badovini.  Roberto Rolfo is eighth.  Wet tires, on this track, are not useful at Sepang.  Intermediate tires work better in wet weather, here in Malaysia.  You can mix and match tires, if you choose.  You have to have faith in the tires, so you don't give up too much ground.  Crews are readying the rain tires.  Lorenzo Zanetti starts 12th.  He won a WSSP race at Imola in 2014.  He was third in Malaysia, last year.  Kyle Smith and Gino Rea are the rainmeisters in this division.  P.J. Jacobsen and Randy Krummenacher also do well in wet weather.  Krummenacher had a Moto2 podium last year.

Stefan Hill, is the rider starting caboose on the field, in 23rd spot.  We are supposed to start the race now.  But the start has been delayed.  We watch the Kevin Wahr ridden Lorini Honda, sponsored by Gemar Balloons, that is lined up 19th, to match Wahr's bike number.  He is team mate to Ayrton Badovini, and of course, Badovini, is a fill-in rider for Glenn Scott, who continues to recover from injury.  Kevin Wahr has wet tires on.  In one minute, we will have a sighting lap, form up on the grid, have a warmup lap, and then a race start.

The 30 second board is out, but Ayrton Badovini has his motorcycle in pit lane.  So, he may have an issue, and only one Team Lorini, Gemar Balloons bike, would start this race.  Badovini has to have the tires changed from dry to wet.  This extra sighting lap, means we will have a reduced race distance, from 14 to 13 laps.  Will the start be delayed?  We'll see.  Kyle Smith is confident he will race well.  Ayrton Badovini is being held in the pit lane, having to wait for everyone to go by, and rejoin the warmup lap.  One side of the track, is already drenched.

The new granite surface holds some water under the surface to have greater grip within the track.  But, where do you brake in the wet?  Be careful.  Ayrton Badovini's grid spot in sixth, is open.  Ondrej Jezek is the last rider to pull up.  A reduced number of mechanics is allowed onto the track and then, the bikes will be on their way on the warmup lap.  The start, has perhaps, been delayed again.  Keep calm, and stay focused.  No further start delays.  The five minute board is being held up.  So, stay cool, for five minutes, boys.  Kyle Smith, is looking for a good result in the wet.

With 13 laps, 2/3rds distance, is lap eight.  Zulfahmi Khairuddin could do well here.  It will all come down to tire choice, though.  Does anyone risk using both an intermediate and a slick tire?  It is a wet race.  But, if anyone wants to change tires, we're going to stop the race, again.  All riders have the clear visors on their helmets. Gino Rea feels confident about his chances, as the leading MV Agusta on this grid.  A marshal is picking up a tear off strip off the road.  The rain is now starting again.  But, more consistent wet conditions will help.  However, the surface is different now.

Sprays of rain, have now become a downpour.  The palm trees are blowing in the wind.  Alex Baldolini's bike has been moved off the grid.  We should be underway, with standard race start procedure.  Two gaps on the grid.  Badovini should have started sixth.  Baldolini, should have rolled off 14th.  Away we go, on a second warmup lap as the rain is pouring down.  The water really hangs in the air.  If the leader hits a wet patch first, it could be disaster.  That happened, in a MotoGP race at Estoril in Portugal, years ago, to rider Sete Gibernau.  It is risk vs. reward, racing in the wet.

The red flag flies.  There's too much standing water right now.  There's a massive flash of lightning.  One of the PTR Honda rides through a barrier.  There's been a big crash of thunder, too.  Everyone is getting soaked in the pit lane.  It's a deluge.  A monsoon if you like.  We watch Luke Stapleford.  He began the season, with the CIA Landlord Insurance Honda squad.  Now, he is riding a Triumph Daytona 675.  More WSSP news since we last raced in Italy.  SC Racing, the Italian team for Kyle Ryde, has suddenly withdrawn from the World Supersport Championship, since the Imola race.

Ryde is high and dry without a ride at this point.  Kyle Ryde has not gotten an offer for the next race, at Donington Park in England.  Will we be singing "Singing In The Rain" by Gene Kelly and Ginger Rogers, before this race is over?  Uh... maybe.  Just don't make yours truly, sing it!  We are now into full wet conditions for this race, once it gets started.  Once it stops raining, the track should dry fairly quickly.  We're going to have a long delay here, folks.  It's really windy.  Gene Kelly's ghost, is haunting the paddock here in Sepang.  Singing in the rain, singing in the rain, what a glorious feeling, I'm happy again!  Not!  The riders are not happy about this rain shower!  Hardy har har.

There.  Yours truly, gave the lyrics for "Singing In The Rain", as we await the end of this downpour. More claps of thunder, strike.  Alex Baldolini has had a new motor put into his customer MV Agusta F3 675. Deal with the conditions, and we'll see what happens.  The "friendly security guards" as commentators Greg Haines and Steve English called them, here at Sepang, who said, "no, there won't be rain", are, according to Mr. Haines, "about as useful as a chocolate tea pot".  Now, if that's some sort of thinly veiled insult, yours truly, apologizes.  Those are Mr. Haines' words, and not mine.  Because we have had a red flag, now we will recalculate the race distance, and move the dial, back up to 14 laps.

The race is effectively null and void.  Shades of the Superstock 1000 race at Assen.  Federico Caricasulo's bike is being changed over to a full wet setup.  Gino Rea, is showing a bit of English humor, wearing swimming goggles, and doing a breast stroke for the camera!  More fun and games here at Sepang!  The rain seems to be easing up slightly.  Just get ready to go.  Major heat is outside now.  The humidity will build, and the temperature will spike.  We can hear the rain bucketing down, from the track microphones.  I spy, with my little eye... something beginning with R.  That is, rain.  Rain... water falling, from clouds, condensed from vapor, in the atmosphere.  Hehe.

These are the kinds of conditions everyone hates.  Clear skies are around, starting to appear around turns six and seven.  OK.  I'll believe you.  The water, is bouncing off the track surface.  It's very windy, too.  It was literally, the calm before the storm, a few hours ago.  Lorenzo Zanetti finds time, during this delay, to take a screwdriver, and open the vents in his crash helmet.  Now, we wait... wait... and wait.  This race will be 2/3rds distance.  However, we haven't restarted.  We'll have a full race.  The wind is picking up, again.  The conditions are too difficult, to have a real race start, boys and girls.

We still hear some huge claps of thunder.  Thunder... a loud noise, following lightning.  A loud rumbling noise, caused by the rapid expansion of air, suddenly heated by lightning.  Kaboom!  What better thing is there to do, while we wait, than describe what we're dealing with here, folks?  Nothing much. We can only hope the wind is a good thing, and that it blows these rain clouds away.  We can still hear the rain falling, and see the cameras moving around, due to the wind.   Federico Caricasulo's team is working on the Honda CBR600RR he rides.  It's the same team he rode for in Superstock 600 last year.  Zulfahmi Khairuddin is chatting with Sepang circuit CEO Razlan Rizali.  Fahmi qualified in fifth, and went through to Super Pole 2, after the first round of qualifying.

This rain, is not what Zulfahmi Khairudin needs.  He's got pressure, to perform, in front of his fans.  He's been very quick and confident on the bike.  Frank Vassierre, is driving the safety car, to check the track.  Two fleets of Alfa Romeo 4C safety cars are used.  One fleet, in Europe, and one, in Asia.  The producer has taken Greg Haines and Steve English, in the commentary box, by surprise.  We continue to wait.  No more fun and games.  The weather conditions are changing a bit.  It has actually been postponed, until after World Superbike race two.

Folks... hit the fast forward button.  It's 5:00 P.M. local time, as we NOW get to start the World Supersport race.  Current conditions on the speedway.  26 degrees Celsius air temperature (78 degrees Fahrenehit), 30 degrees Celsius, (86 degrees Fahrenheit), track temperature.  We had a two hour delay, and in that time, ran the second World Superbike race, which you have already heard about.  If you haven't yet, go back, and read my race report about it.  We are on the sighting lap, and have more rain.  It's still raining, and dark clouds are around.  Kenan Sofuoglu has had a good start to this weekend, and to this season, as he has won two races so far.

Hometown hero Zulfahmi Khairuddin, lines up fifth.  Jules Cluzel wants to perform, and lets hope he and the MV Agusta team, can get things together, today.  Randy Krummenacher starts second.  He has taken to World Supersport like a duck to water.  Kenan Sofuoglu has pole.  Gino Rea starts third just alongside the Kawasaki's.  Real tension in the air, as more rain could be on the way Zulfahmi Khairuddin, rolls off fifth.  He is one of four brothers.  Two of them race motorcycles, and a couple others, are studying.  P.J. Jacobsen rolls off fourth.  Jules Cluzel is seventh.  We are on a drying track.  It's hot and sticky, and the rain is lifting.

Ayrton Badovini starts sixth.  We have damp conditions, and it will be a wet race.  Roberto Rolfo is eighth.  Rolfo has won a Moto2 race here and has been on the podium in the 250cc championship.  Ondrej Jezek is ninth.  The safety car drives away to assess traffic conditions.  The race track is truly a living thing right now.  Nicolas Terol is tenth.  Front row, then, is Gino Rea, Randy Krummenacher, and Kenan Sofuoglu.  The bikes are on their warmup lap.  The conditions have changed.  Now, we see no spray off the tires.  However, there will be damp patches to look out for.

We have two safety cars here.  The Alfa Romeo that is a constant sight in WSBK, and a local safety car from the speedway.  In this case, a yellow Porsche.  Two riders to watch as we get underway will be Luke Stapleford and Hikari Okubo.  Sadly, Kyle Ryde isn't racing here, because his team folded and he hasn't got a motorcycle to race.  Honda have won this race for the last two years, with the same team.  Michael van der Mark won in 2014 and P.J. Jacobsen did so, last year.  We have a near collision between two of the MV Agusta's of Lorenzo Zanetti and Ayrton Badovini, coming to the grid.

It's a damp track here in Malaysia.  We're ready to race, now.  14 laps.  Here come the lights.  Go!  Gino Rea has a fabulous start, and takes the lead headed for the first turn!  Jules Cluzel on the factory MV Agusta is side by side with Kenan Sofuoglu, headed for turn one.  The crowd will go bonkers, as Zulfahmi Khairuddin is now up to fourth place!  Make it third, after Cluzel runs wide!  If Khairuddin got a fabulous start, then, Lorenzo Zanetti had a real bad one and is sliding down the order.  Jules Cluzel is also plummeting down the list.  Cluzel is the only rider in the field with an intermediate rear tire.  Randy Krummenacher has also fallen way down, to tenth place.  Kenan Sofuoglu has never actually raced with Zulfahmi Khairuddin.  So, the thought is, "alright, buddy.  Let's see what your made of."

Gino Rea, has started well, and Kyle Smith has moved up a ton of places, to fourth overall after starting on the fifth row, somewhere down in the back half of the top 15.  Smith did indeed start in 15th spot.  Khairuddin tries the world champ and can't make it.  Both these blokes ride the same bike.  The Kawasaki ZX6R.  Ayrton Badovini and P.J. Jacobsen are also racing for position.  Jacobsen is struggling and Nico Terol is hot on his heels.  Oh dear.  A little contact, forces two riders to go down.  Ondrej Jezek is one, and the other, is Kevin Wahr, on the second Gemar Balloons - Team Lorini Honda.  Khairuddin tries inside Sofuoglu, but runs wide.

Kyle Smith also almost loses control of the motorcycle.  Khairuddin moves past Sofuoglu into second place.  It was indeed Ondrej Jezek, who dropped his bike.  Game over for Kevin Wahr as well.  Wahr hit pit lane at the end of lap one.  Gino Rea leads.  He has won once before in World Supersport, and does well at Sepang.  Khairuddin, meanwhile, is up to second, in his home race.  His brother also ran in the Asia Talent Cup motorcycle race here, earlier.  Kyle Smith is pressuring Kenan Sofuoglu for third as well.  Rea and Khairuddin lead the way so far.  Smith tries inside Sofuoglu.  But, Khairuddin is going for the lead outside of Gino Rea!  Khairuddin takes the lead!

Kenan Sofuoglu runs wide, dropping to fifth place.  The crowd goes nuts!  Khairuddin sets fastest lap at 2:23.278.  Sofuoglu passes Kyle Smith for third.  Ayrton Badovini is all over Kyle Smith.  Badovini is a rainmeister as well.  P.J. Jacobsen is sixth.  Randy Krummenacher has fallen to tenth, and at the moment, Christoffer Bergman from Sweden, is on for a point, in 15th place.  Smith passes Sofuoglu, and this race, ladies and gentlemen, could play a pivotal part in the outcome of the championship.  Krummenacher is nine seconds behind and needs to book it, now.  Meanwhile, Jules Cluzel could be in a situation, where the race, comes to him.

Khairuddin leads, with Rea continuing to challenge.  Ayrton Badovini is trying to pass Kenan Sofuoglu.  Sofuoglu runs wide and almost makes contact with Badovini.  It's still Badovini and Sofuoglu for position!  P.J. Jacobsen is just behind these two blokes, but too far back to capitalize should either rider make a mistake.  Alex Baldolini has moved around Nico Terol for seventh place.  Lorenzo Zanetti and Federico Caricasulo are next in line completing the top ten.  Don't forget, that Honda is the only make of motorcycle, to have won here, in Malaysia, over the last two seasons.  Sofuoglu has to be careful in his scrum with Badovini.

Sofuoglu is pushing hard, and we have a three way fight for the race lead.  Kyle Smith turns a new fast lap at 2:22.865.  Robbie Rolfo leads Jules Cluzel, in a battle between a customer MV Agusta and a factory one.  Cluzel may have a slight gear issue, trying to shift the motorcycle into the right one to get into the corner.  Ayrton Badovini, is pushing hard, on the balloon sponsored Lorini Honda, trying to get by Sofuoglu.  No point in taking too much of a risk for Kenan Sofuoglu.  Badovini makes the pass.  Kyle Smith tries Gino Rea for second spot.  Smith passes Rea, but, he could be trouble for Khairuddin and the Malaysian fans, who want to see their hero, win this race.

P.J. Jacobsen is inching closer to Kenan Sofuoglu, and wants to make a move.  Gino Rea takes it too deep under braking, trying to square off the corner and get underneath Ayrton Badovini.  Smith, Badovini, and Rea, all race well in the rain.  Badovini sets the new fastest lap, at 2:21.798.  Working lap six, with nine now remaining.  A lap or so to halfway.  Badovini wiggles the bike out of turn four.  Badovini is subbing for the injured Glenn Scott at Team Lorini at the moment.  Alex Baldolini runs seventh, and does not have much to show for it, even though he has a new engine in his motorcycle.  Nico Terol is eight, while Randy Krummenacher is charging, in ninth place. 

He'll have to press as hard as possible, as five riders want a piece of him.  The sharks are going after the minnow in that battle.  Jules Cluzel and Lorenzo Zanetti are part of said group and squabbling with each other.  Cluzel though, is being passed, due to his shifting problems as Zanetti, Roberto Rolfo, Christian Gammarino, another others, go by.  Rolfo is pressing Zanetti now.  Federico Caricasulo is running on his own in tenth place.  Status quo at the front.  Or, is it?  Kyle Smith wants to make a move on Zulfahmi Khairuddin.  We are one lap shy of halfway.

P.J. Jacobsen wants to try to move past Sofuoglu.  Six riders will go for the win.  Badovini tries Smith for second.  They almost touch, but thankfully keep the bikes upright.  Gino Rea is going to try and attack Ayrton Badovini.  Again, if Khairuddin wins, this place will go bonkers.  The remainder of the top ten has not changed.  Jules Cluzel is 11th.  Zanetti and Rolfo have both lost a few places.  Aiden Wagner runs fifteenth.  He's back in action this weekend.  Wagner dislocated his collarbone and shoulder in a wreck at Assen in Holland.  Hikari Okubo is followed by Chrisoffer Bergman, Luke Stapleford, and others.  Meanwhile, Ayrton Badovini tries Kyle Smith again.

Stefan Hill, Ondrej Jezek, and Lachlan Epis, are the remaining riders.  Nacho Calero is last, after Kevin Wahr retired.  Calero cannot stand racing in the wet.  Even though he's fifth, Kenan Sofuoglu should increase his points lead.  Randy Krummenacher topped the morning warmup, and felt comfortable about doing really well today.  But, in these intermediate conditions, it's tough, as Ayrton Badovini, passes Kyle Smith.  Jules Cluzel in 11th is running quicker than Zulfahmi Khairuddin in the lead, and he is the only rider in this field running on intermediate rear tires.  Gino Rea goes around Kyle Smith.

Randy Krummenacher has now passed Federico Caricasulo for ninth.  Jacobsen tries Kyle Smith, and Kenan Sofuoglu, has gotten around him.  The gap is 6/10ths of a second, with six laps left.  Smith tries to dive past Jacobsen, but, no dice.  Jules Cluzel runs a new fast lap at 2:21.665.  Cluzel is half a second faster than the leaders.  But, with six laps left, there isn't enough time for Cluzel to close up.  Ayrton Badovini now resets fast lap, taking it down to 2:21.930.  The top six is split into two groups of three as we are headed for the finish.  Badovini slides the Honda.  Sofuoglu, Jacobsen, and Smith, need to close up, and work together to do so.  Khairuddin is trying to win.  We have seen Khairul Idham Pawi, win a World Championship event for Malaysia, in Moto3, earlier this year.

Cluzel is charging with the intermediate rear tire, but, he's running wide, and can't slow down into the corner.  Nico Terol and Randy Krummenacher are behind Jules Cluzel.  Cluzel takes fastest lap this time at 2:21.403.  Terol runs wide and Caricasulo is just behind these blokes.  Christian Gammarino remains 12th.  Roberto Rolfo has dropped down the order.  Aiden Wagner is being challenged by Hikari Okubo and Luke Stapleford.  Ayrton Badovini can put his bike anywhere he wants.  The gap is still 6/10ths of a second.  It's Khairuddin over Badovini, on the balloon bike.  Cluzel is right with Alex Baldolini, but Cluzel has slowed, pushing as hard as possible.

Badovini will push hard, to try forcing a mistake.  We are past the 2/3rds cutoff.  Badovini is trying Khairuddin.  Badovini passes Khairuddin!  He could win this race!  P.J. Jacobsen also makes a pass on Kenan Sofuoglu.  Khairuddin passes Ayrton Badovini.  Jacobsen passes Sofuoglu, and Cluzel passes Baldolini.  Badovini places the motorcycle right where he needs it to be, and is now back in front of Khairuddin.  Gino Rea is now a part of this scrum as well.  Khairuddin is desperate.  He'll either win it or bin it.  Jacobsen almost ditches the bike in fifth.  Will Rea pass Khairuddin and have a go at Badovini?

In replay, Kenan Sofuoglu runs wide, allowing P.J. Jacobsen to pass.  Khairuddin has to stay with Badovini.  Both of these guys want to win.  Gino Rea wants his second victory in 43 starts.  Badovini keeps the inside line over Khairuddin.  Rea sets fastest lap of the top three at 2:22.372.  Jacobsen passes Sofuoglu, who is now being hounded by Kyle Smith.  Can Ayrton Badovini end up winning?  He was dropped from the BMW World Superbike team after they restructured.  Khairuddin has to keep up with Badovini.  Will Gino Rea pull the pin and go after the top two?  If anyone in the top four wins, we'll have had five winners in the first six races in World Supersport!  Amazing!

Khairuddin is going to make his move on Badovini.  He can't quite get there.  He's a true celebrity in all of Malaysia, not just in motorcycle racing.  Sofuoglu struggles for grip and runs very wide.  Kyle Smith takes fifth place away.  Khairuddin goes left to turn one and on the last lap, he's taken the lead!  The crowd goes crazy!  Badovini fights back on the outside!  Badovini knows Khairuddin is under real pressure to win this race.  Can Khairuddin do anything with Ayrton Badovini?  Nico Terol is losing places hand over fist.  Christian Gammarino, Robbie Rolfo, and Lorenzo Zanetti have all passed him.

Terol has stopped with a mechanical issue.  Kenan Sofuoglu will maintain his championship lead by 17 points over Randy Krummenacher.  Four corners to go.  Khairuddin will challenge Badovini one more time.  Badovini twitches.  One corner to go!  Will Khairuddin do it?  Khairuddin is through on Badovini!  Can he make it stick into the braking zone?  Badovini gets back around him!  The only thing he can hope for is to drive past Badovini down the stretch!  Too late!  Ayrton Badovini wins at Sepang!

#86 Ayrton Badovini     ITA.     Honda CBR600RR

Congratulations to Team Lorini!  Badovini wins his first FIM World Supersport race!  Khairuddin is in tears.  He must have been crushed!  Badovini has to be in tears as well, but for a different reason.  Fastest lap went to P.J. Jacobsen on the very last lap of this race!  Happiness, and sadness, in this race.  Gino Rea gets his second podium in three races.  I am delighted for Ayrton Badovini, but also, disappointed that Khairuddin didn't quite get there.  Honda wins five out of six WSSP races so far this year.  Gino Rea, again, is fourth.  What a race!  Motorsport has definitely brought people together all around the world, as it should, in this race.  Khairuddin was hero of the hour.  But, Badovini, is the winner.

The next FIM World Supersport race, took place at Donington Park, in England.  Stay tuned, for coverage of that race, coming soon.