Britain’s Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) won the Supersport race of the Dutch GP after a spectacular and rather ‘tactical’ duel with turkish Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Racing Team India MAHI) that lasted almost the entire race.

After creating a gap between them and the rest of the pack, neither Lowes nor Sofuoglu could get rid of the rival and so they begun exchanging positions in order to study each another in view of a quite likely sprint finish. On the last lap, the Englishman was able to definitively overcome the reigning champion at the very last chikane - repeating a spectacular overtaking he had succesfully attempted just a couple of laps earlier - and was the first to pass under the chequered flag for 26 thousandths of a second only.

Third place went to Sofuoglu’s team-mate and Championship leader Fabien Foret (+7.228), who preceded local hero Michael Van Der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport +18,927), now secod in the standings, France’s Florian Marino (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) and Italy’s Roberto Rolfo (ParkinGo MV Agusta Corse), sixth with the MV Agusta F3 675. Jack Kennedy (Honda Rivamoto), Kev Coghlan (Kawasaki DMC-Lorenzini Team), Andrea Antonelli (Team Goeleven) and Lorenzo Zanetti (Pata Honda World Supersport) complete the Top 10. see the results after the jump.

Continue reading: Sam Lowes wins the Supersport round in Assen

At the last Portuguese GP in Portimao, 12th round of the World Supersport Championship, Turkey’s Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Lorenzini) clinched his third World title in the series, following up to his previous triumphs in 2007 and 2010. Frenchman Jules Cluzel (PTR Honda) won the race, but the second place was enough for the Turkish ace to achieve 218 points, threby making himself out of reach for runner-up Cluzel (185 points). With Sofuoglu already celebrating his crown, the final round in Magny-Cours on the next 7th of October will be just irrelevant for the Championship, with the WSS boys that will have to fight just for the win.

Sofuoglu had won his previous titles with Honda machines, and his success also meant the first Supersport Championship for Kawasaki since 2001, when it was Australian Andrew Pitt to bring the crown to the Akashi-based manufacturer. Besides, this is the first world championship for the Kawasaki Lorenzini Team: this is also particularly significant because the Italian squad is based in Pegognaga, near Mantua, an area that was heavily affected by the recent earthquake.

At the Portimao racetrack the podium was completed by Frenchman Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Intermoto Step), who crossed the finish line right before Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Racing Products Honda) and Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda). If you missed all that, here is a nice collection of pics and - right after the jump - the video highlights of the recent WSS round in Portimao.

Continue reading: Supersport, Portimao: Sofuoglu is the 2012 World Champion, photo gallery and video highlights

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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