Here is a nice one-minute long video with no commentary of the the most significant moments of the fourth round of the Supersport World Championship, which took place in Monza this last weekend and saw the first victory in this class for Frenchman Jules Cluzel (PTR Honda). The 23 year old from Montlucon clinched his maiden win after a fierce battle against 21 year old Englishman Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda), the pole man in Monza, who saw Cluzel winning by only 312 thousandths of a second.

Third place on the podium for reigning champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki DeltaFin Lorenzini), who was able to win a hard-fought duel against Hongary’s Imre Toth (Racing Team Toth Honda) to score the points that earned him the lead of table. However, on Saturday, Toth managed to set the new speed record for the Supersport class when, on dry tarmac, he recorded an unprecedented 295,1 km/h (183.4 mph). If the video is not enough for you, you can also check our massive photo gallery dedicated to the Supersport weekend in Monza. See race result, standing and thumbnails of our photogalleru after the jump.

Continue reading: Supersport 600, Monza: video highlights and photo gallery

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Two time World Supersport champion Kenan Sofuoglu was called in to replace the late Shoya Tomizawa in Technomag CIP Moto2 team for the last two rounds of the 2010 season, and then signed with Bronec’s team for 2011, but his results weren’t as brilliant as many expected, as he finished 17th overall in the championship.

Now the Turk is returning to the World Supersport championship that gave him the 2007 and 2010 World titles and he’ll be racing for Lorenzini by Leoni, with the team officially backed by Kawasaki.

“I’m very happy that Kawasaki has given me this opportunity, which arrived at a particularly difficult time in my career. The experience in Moto2 was important, but for me, it is essential to fight for the title and I’m sure this will be possible thanks to Team Lorenzini. I’ll be back in the World Supersport Championship happy and convinced of my choice and that I will get the support I need for my future.”

“I’m very happy that Kenan is going to be with us, he’s one of the strongest riders in the Supersport. The season that awaits us will be extremely challenging but I am confident that with a rider of his caliber and with my staff we can honor Kawasaki,” said team manager Vanni Lorenzini.

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The Race Direction hearing that took place yesterday afternoon to discuss the accident between Kenan Sofuoglu and Julian Simon that left the Spaniard with a fractured tiba and fibula during last Sunday’s Moto2 race at Catalunya, has cleared the Turkish rider from any blame.

“The Race Direction yesterday met with rider Kenan Sofuoglu (TUR) and Sports Director from MAPFRE Aspar Team Gino Borsoi (ITA) to hear their explanations about the collision between rider Kenan Sofuoglu and Julián Simón (ESP) during the last week Moto2 race of the Catalan Grand Prix. After listening the comments of both parties and watching a video of the incident the Race Direction concluded that rider Kenan Sofuoglu made every possible effort to try to avoid the collision. No sanction was inflicted,” read the statement.

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For years the Race Direction has been more or less lackadaisical in judging racing incidents, but in these last few rounds they’ve become much more present, first wanting to investigate the marshalls handling of the Valentino Rossi - Casey Stoner incident at Jerez, then the Marco Simoncelli - Dani Pedrosa incident at Le Mans where the Italian was given a ride-through penalty and then called by the Race Direction this weekend to make sure that he understood why he had been punished.

Today in the 125cc class we saw Johann Zarco get his victory stripped away from him with a 20 second penalty after he elbowed Nico Terol on to the grass at the last corner and now they want to investigate Kenan Sofuoglu-Julian Simon incident that happened during the Moto2 race.

The accident began when Sofuoglu clipped the rear wheel of Simon on lap 16. The Spaniard highsided and the Turkish rider ran off track but was unable to avoid hitting the tumbling Aspar rider.

Continue reading: Video: Race Direction to investigate Kenan Sofuoglu, Julian Simon incident

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The official IRTA Moto2 three day test kicks off today at Valencia, but unfortunately Kenan Sofuoglu won’t be present. The 2010 Supersport champion who switched to Moto2 at the end of last season, was forced to return to Turkey on Tuesday to see his father who is critically ill.

Sofuoglu missed the second day of testing at Barcelona having to fly back home to see his father, also a former racer and he was the one who gave Kenan the strength to continue racing after the tragic loss of brothers, Battahin e Sinan.

The Technomag CIP team will be testing in Valencia with Dominique Aegerter and Sofuoglu is expected to return to testing on February 15th, at Estoril.

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Moto2 team Technomag-Cip has picked up a new title sponsor and a new livery for the start of their 2011 season, fielding two times Supersport champion Kenan Sofuoglu and Dominque Aegerter.

At a presentation held in Switzerland, the team unveiled the new green (very Kawasaki like) livery on their Suter bikes and main sponsor CarXpert, (car repair shops) which is part of the Technomag group.

Alain Bronec’s team has very high expectations for the upcoming season, Sofuoglu who entered the team for the final two races of the season to replace the late Shoya Tomizawa is a sure podium contender, while Aegerter can easily be in the top 10.

Source | speedweek.ch

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After receiving several offers from Moto2 teams, 2010 Supersport champion Kenan Sofuoglu has decided to stick with Tecnomag-CIP Moto2 team next season.

The Turkish rider was called in to replace the late Shoya Tomizawa who tragically died at Misano, for the last two rounds of the season. His impressive performance at Estoril caught the attention of all the Moto2 team managers, but is was Technomag-CIP Alain Bronec who got him. Sofuoglu will be fielded alonside Swiss rider Dominique Aegerter, who who will continue to race for the Swiss team for a second season.

Sofuoglu qualified 5th in today’s Moto2 qualifying session at Valencia and was just three tenths off Toni Elias’ pole position.

Source | technomag-cipmoto2

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World Supersport champion Kenan Sofuoglu’s top five performance at last Sunday’s Moto2 race at Estoril, was nothing short of impressive, and nearly shamed the rest of the regular riders, when he led the race until handlebar problems and excessive tire wear knocked him off a certain podium spot.

The Turk caused a sensation among Moto2 team managers and are now looking at the rider with new eye and besides the Technomag CIP team, Fausto Gresini is also checking out the WSS champion.

Gresini is looking to replace Toni Elias who is returning to MotoGP after winning the first Moto2 Championship title and Sofuoglu could just be his replacement according to Motoaktuel.com. The Turkish website is reporting that Sofuoglu is already in talks with Gresini and we could hear further news at Valencia on Thursday, as Sofuoglu would like to have a signed contract before the Valencia GP and start testing directly on Monday, when the Moto2 tests kick off. Michele Pirro is also linked to Gresini’s Moto2 team.

Stource | motoaktuel.com

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Kenan Sofuoglu, this year’s World Supersport champion is ready for his Moto2 debut this weekend at Estoril with Technomag CIP.

The Turk tested the team’s Suter MMX bike at Albacete last Monday, along with regular team rider Dominique Aegerter and this was the second time that the two times Supersport champion was on a Moto2, after a testing a Kalex chassis bike last November in Valencia.

Sofuoglu will be replacing the late Shoya Tomizawa, and will be using his own lucky racing # 54, but will be riding with a different livery from the team’s usual red and white.

Source | motosblog.fr

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Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) won the 2010 World Supersport Champion after finishing second behind arch rival Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) at Magny-Cours on Sunday. The Turkish rider with his 2007 and 2010 titles may now be heading to Moto2.

According to our French cousins at Motosblog.fr, Sofuoglu may be called in to replace the late Shoya Tomizawa in Alain Bronec’s Technomag CIP Moto2 team, riding the Suter bike in the final two rounds of this year’s Moto2 World Championship at Estoril and Valencia.

With Eugene Laverty already confirmed in World Superbikes with Yamaha Sterilgarda and Joan Lascorz tipped to be heading in the same direction with the Kawasaki team, Sofuoglu will also want to make a switch and these last two races could be his showcase for the popular 600cc series.

UPDATED:
Rumors are often confirmed faster than I can write posts, because the Technomag-CIP team has officially confirmed that Sofuoglu will infact be riding the last two rounds of the season. Read the press release after the jump.

Continue reading: Moto2: Kenan Sofuoglu heading to Technomag CIP team? UPDATED

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