Five different winners, in six races, has been a wonderful way to start the FIM World Supersport in 2016. We are ready for round seven, at Donington Park, in Leicestershire, England. Current series champion, Kenan Sofuoglu is the only rider in the field, to have ever won a race here. Will he make it another victory? Or, will his competition, have something to say about it? We have 20 laps in store in this race. Donington Park is one of the world's great race tracks. Folks, at post time in the morning for this race, we have overcast, and cool conditions. Right now, it is 12 degrees Celsius air temperature (53 degrees Fahrenheit), and the track temperature is at 26 degrees Celsius (78 degrees Fahrenheit). It's much cooler than it was, for the practice and qualifying sessions.
The wind is up to five miles an hour (nine kilometers an hour). Leicester, Darby, and Nottingham, are towns within 20 miles of Donington Park racecourse, to give you an idea geographically, and their football (soccer) team, has been doing very well as of late in the English Premier League, as we race, in May. This is the only WSBK round in England, this year. Sometimes, they've visited Donington twice, or, have also raced in the same year at two of the other fabulous and legendary British race tracks, (Silverstone, and Brands Hatch). Team Lorini, who won last time out with Ayrton Badovini in Malaysia, has had a rider shake up. Ayrton Badovini, has become a permanent member of the team, while Glenn Scott returns from being injured, and thus, Kevin Wahr, was dropped, from the team.
Kenan Sofuoglu has signed a new contract, with Kawasaki Puccetti Racing, and will race for them through the end of 2017. The schedule for this weekend is a little different. Supersport, is actually the first race on the bill, followed by Superstock 1000 (another race, you will hear about, in it's entirety, on 2 Wheelin'), and World Superbike race two, rounds out the festivities, however, you have already heard about what happened there, and saw that Tom Sykes, did the clean sweep of both races. Despite winning at Assen, Kyle Smith has had some difficulties and is 39 points in-arrears of Kenan Sofuoglu.
Will Sofuoglu be taken on the run to Red Gate by P.J. Jacobsen on the Honda or Luke Stapleford on the Triumph? We'll have to find out. Jacobsen, from the United States, he has experience racing in the United Kingdom for a few years. P.J. Jacobsen may not have the overall pace to take the fight to Kenan Sofuoglu. But, he could still be in with a shout. Luke Stapleford is a very consistent rider. A lot of fans are here, watching. The trackside atmosphere is really upbeat. Lorenzo Zanetti, Jules Cluzel's team mate at MV Agusta, has had a real bad season. He's had wins in WSSP before. The team is up and down, and the MV Agusta F3 675 has not been totally optimized just yet.
Randy Krummenacher has had a strong season, even as a rookie. He has had a couple bad races, but seems like he can fight again, with Kenan Sofuoglu. Sofuoglu has gotten a lot of data, on the Kawasaki ZX6R whereas, Krummenacher, is getting used to this motorcycle, for the first time. Sofuoglu or Krummenacher, mathematically, will be the only two riders who can possibly lead the championship. Other riders, have struggled. Kyle Smith and P.J. Jacobsen are fourth and fifth in the points. Zulfahmi Khairuddin is tenth. Experienced Italian rider, Roberto Rolfo, is way down in 20th in the points. He's had one top ten finish, but that's it. Rolfo hasn't gotten the handle on the MV Agusta yet.
Alex Baldolini seems to have a handle on that motorcycle, though. Gino Rea is another rider to look at as he's picked up speed. Jules Cluzel and Lorenzo Zanetti are in an up and down kind of deal. Jules Cluzel has to get good points and finish well. He's been dealing with having to do damage limitation. Cluzel has been in Superbike and Supersport, and being the bridesmaid must be driving him crazy. Luke Stapleford, continues to impress. He was a wildcard here last year while racing in British Supersport. He qualified fourth and finished sixth, last year. Stapleford has experience and confidence on this track.
In practice or qualifying, Federico Caricasulo loses the rear end of his Kawasaki ZX6R and thankfully, stays upright. It's easier to lose the front or rear on a 600cc bike, because unlike the big Superbikes, these blokes cannot rely on traction control. It's easy to high side any bike, but even a 600, through Goddard's corner. Pit lane is now open. Gino Rea is one of the most underrated riders in this division. Rea needs to step up. Kenan Sofuoglu has his 19th straight front row start. He's continuing to rack up records in Supersport. Supersport started as the Supersport World Series in 1997. Luke Stapleford and Lachlan Epis go out on track.
This is the sighting lap. Zulfahmi Khairuddin, is ready to go. We saw an amazing WSSP race in Malaysia the last time out. Kenan Sofuoglu starts from pole, as mentioned. Patrick Jacobsen is second. Luke Stapleford is third. Alex Baldolini starts fourth. Jacobsen said he had some issues in Friday practice with engine braking. But, in qualifying, he had a much better performance. If Jacobsen finishes second, it'll be his best result. We are moving into the second half of the season. Gino Rea is seventh. Kyle Smith is eighth. Lorenzo Zanetti is ninth. Tenth is Illia Michalchik. He is the leading rider from the European Supersport Cup, which is back in action this weekend.
Eleventh is Alessandro Zaccone, another ESS rider. Jules Cluzel is 13th. The safety car rolls off on a sighting lap. Ondrej Jezek rolls off 12th. 14th is Christian Gamarino. Ondrej Jezek went through to Super Pole. But, he had a wreck with Kyle Smith at Red Gate and then, also wrecked in Saturday sessions, at McLean's. Three makes across the front row. Luke Stapleford on the Triumph, P.J. Jacobsen on the Honda, and Kenan Sofuoglu on the Kawasaki. The second half of WSSP 2016 begins right here, right now.
34 bikes and riders, will start this race. In the points, Kenan Sofuoglu leads team mate Randy Krummenacher by 17 points. 96 points, to 79 points. Jules Cluzel is third in points with 67. Yours truly, missed a corner, here at Donington, in the WSBK races. Schwantz curve, is named after 1993 American 500cc GP champ, Kevin Schwantz. Track conditions at post time are as follows. 13 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit), air temp. 27 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit), track temp.
Even on the warmup lap, riders are booking it. French rider Cedric Tangre has the only Suzuki GSXR 600 in the field. The bikes are on the grid, ready to race. If someone does not jump in front of Sofuoglu, will he escape, like a scalded cat? Yes. It's very possible. Jacobsen, Stapleford, and Rea, could fight. The start is at hand. When the red lights go out, WSSP races, at Donington! Round seven, begins, now! P.J. Jacobsen takes the advantage going into Red Gate for the first time. Leading European rider, is Alessandro Zaccone. Luke Stapleford is hounding Kenan Sofuoglu down through Hollywood corner. Sofuoglu passes Jacobsen for the race lead. But, can the rest of the top five (Stapleford, Baldolini, and Krummenacher), stay with the leader? Jules Cluzel is making progress as they fly down Starkey's straight.
Randy Krummenacher passes Alex Baldolini for fourth. Sofuoglu rides defensively into Melbourne. Everyone is on the soft spec Pirelli tires except for Luke Stapleford who has a harder front, and Gino Rea, has gone for a harder front/softer rear setup. The A compound, SC0 Pirelli's are what the bulk of the field rides on in this race. SC0 rear, SC1 front. Ilya Michalchik is being sat up by Jules Cluzel, early on. Randy Krummenacher tries to pass Luke Stapleford but runs wide. Jules Cluzel and Lorenzo Zanetti scuffle with each other, on the MV Agusta motorcycles. Christian Gammarino has also made a move stick. Gino Rea moves inside Alex Baldolini.
Kenan Sofuoglu turns in the first fastest lap of the race at 1:31.205. Ayrton Badovini has caught both Gino Rea and Alex Baldolini. Stapleford follows Krummenacher so they might be able to hook up and get closer to the leaders. Kenan Sofuoglu and P.J. Jacobsen are 1-2 right now. Wildcard Andrew Irwin has made it into the points paying places. Krummenacher passes Stapleford at the Melbourne Loop. Lorenzo Zanetti on the factory MV Agusta, passes Alex Baldolini on his privateer bike. Canadian rider Braeden Ortt, has crashed out. He had a fall in the Carl Fogarty S curves. Another of the MV Agusta's in trouble, too. Nico Terol is in the lane.
Game over for Terol. Jacobsen loses ground to Sofuoglu as he's reset fast lap lowering it to 1:31 flat. 1:31.073. P.J. Jacobsen jumps the back wheel on the way into Goddard's. One group of eight riders is fighting now, for third. Krummenacher has to catch Jacobsen. What can Krummenacher do? The gap is growing between Sofuoglu and Jacobsen. The top fifteen right now stands as:
1. Kenan Sofuoglu
2. P.J. Jacobsen
3. Randy Krummenacher
4. Luke Stapleford
5. Gino Rea
6. Ayrton Badovini
7. Lorenzo Zanetti
8. Jules Cluzel
9. Alex Baldolini
10. Federico Caricasulo
11. Christian Gammarino
12. Kyle Smith
13. Alessandro Zaccone
14. Illiya Mikhalchik
15. Andrew Irwin
Sofuoglu lowers fast lap further, to 1:31.065. We watch the trio of MV's scrap. Zanetti, Baldolini, Cluzel. Federico Caricasulo and Christian Gammarino, are also in this fight. Whoa! Baldolini and Zanetti almost touch! Gamarino takes tenth spot away. Meanwhile, the plot thickens, because Randy Krummenacher has caught P.J. Jacobsen. Jacobsen is under pressure from Krummenacher. Game over for Gammarino as his bike goes up in a cloud of smoke. Let's hope there is no oil down in the Carl Fogarty S curves. Stapleford, Rea, and Badovini are going for it, as we watch Baldolini pass Zanetti. Sofuoglu leads by 2.1 seconds. Krummenacher closes on Jacobsen through Melbourne. We work lap nine.
Jacobsen is sliding around, and he is turning in uneven lap times. Krummenacher can see this race slipping through his fingers. So, he has to make a move on Jacobsen, ASAP. Ondrej Jezek crashes at Goddard's and thankfully, rejoins the race. Gino Rea stays ahead of Luke Stapleford. Four MV Agusta's run in the top nine, but the factory riders are at the bottom of that table. 11 laps to go, and Krummenacher tries to get a tow, but can't. Kenan Sofuoglu leads. Sofuoglu leads by 2.4 seconds halfway through this race. Ayrton Badovini is sixth on the #86 Gemar Balloons - Team Lorini Honda.
P.J. Jacobsen has finished sixth, and inside the top five, here at Donington before. But, he needs a podium. Jacobsen is showing he has the speed as Kyle Smith digs his way back through the field. Smith sets new fast lap, on his charge, at 1:30.887. Smith tries to dive inside at McLean's, and can't quite do it. In the European SSP Cup, it's a battle between Alessandro Zaccone of Italy and Iliya Michalchik of Ukraine. Jacobsen continues to hold Krummenacher at bay. Kyle Smith dives inside Zanetti through the Craner curves. This scrap is for ninth, tenth, and 11th. Can Federico Caricasulo also capitalize? Gino Rea is fourth ahead of Stapleford.
Baldolini hasn't tried to attack Badovini yet. Axel Bassani has passed Andrew Irwin for 15th. Poor old Andrew Irwin, has been pushing hard. Kyle Ryde has struggled, on the Schmidt Racing MV Agusta. Stefan Hill has struggled. Ondrej Jezek has retired his motorcycle. Sofuoglu leads Jacobsen by two seconds as Jacobsen battles Krummenacher. Kyle Smith, meanwhile, has caught Jules Cluzel. He has also passed him into the Melbourne Loop. Five laps to go. Jacobsen now has a second over Krummenacher. Kenan Sofuoglu is also gaining back his advantage. Christoffer Bergman has passed Andrew Irwin.
All of the top three should be happy with this race. Sofuoglu has dominated. Alex Baldolini is still trying mightily to pass Ayrton Badovini. Wow! He does make the pass. Baldolini dives inside through the Craner Curves. The performance difference has all to do with the setup on the bike. Robbie Rolfo passes Chris Bergman, and there's more fighting between Hikari Okubo and others. Zanetti has been dropping down the order. Rolfo, Bergman, Okubo, and others, are down the order. Two laps to go, as Sofuoglu has dominated, and P.J. Jacobsen puts in his personal best lap of the race.
Can P.J. Jacobsen do anything with Kenan Sofuoglu? Krummenacher will have a solid podium on his first visit to Donington on a 600cc bike. Kenan Sofuoglu leads in the points, and extends his lead, after winning his 35th win, lights to flag, at Donington, as Jacobsen gets his best result, and Krummenacher gets third. Alessandro Zaccone gets points as best finisher in ESS.
World Supersport Race: #1 Kenan Sofuoglu TUR. Kawasaki Puccetti Racing Kawasaki ZX6R
The next race that happened in Supersport competition, happened in Italy, at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Rimini, Italy, on the Adriatic coast. Stay tuned, for that race, coming soon.
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