WSSP ; Sofuoglu prend la pole Supersport en Thaïlande / Former champ Sofuoglu secures Thai WSS Pole Position

Le Turc a devancé Cluzel et Smith au Chang International.

Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) sera en tête de la grille pour la seconde manche du Championnat du Monde Supersport 2015 dimanche au Chang International Circuit. Arrivé en Thaïlande quelques jours après la naissance de son premier enfant, le triple Champion du Monde s’est assuré sa première pole position de la saison grâce à un chrono de 1’37.345 et partira devant le leader du classement général, Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), battu par le Turc de deux dixièmes de seconde.

Derrière les pilotes Kawasaki et MV Agusta, Kyle Smith (Pata Honda WSS Team) a placé un troisième constructeur en première ligne en s’installant en troisième position, malgré une chute en qualifications.

Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) est lui aussi tombé en passant sur des vibreurs encore humides des pluies de la matinée mais mènera la deuxième ligne devant Lucas Mahias et PJ Jacobsen du team Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres.

Le favori local Ratthapark Wilairot (CORE Motorsport Thailand) s’élancera pour sa part de la septième position, aux côtés de Roberto Rolfo (Lorini Honda) et de Gino Rea (CIA Insurance Landlords Honda), qui est actuellement troisième du classement général.

PJ Jacobsen et Alex Baldolini (Race Department ATK#25) étaient les seuls autres pilotes à chuter. Aucun des pilotes tombés ne s’est blessé.

3 manufacturers in the top 3 in qualifying.

Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) will start the second round of the World Supersport championship, the first ever to be held in Thailand from Pole Position after an all-action 45 minute qualifying session. The Turk who recently became a father for the first time was in fine form from the start and with the humidity rising, the former champion moved to the top of the standings thanks to a 1.37.345s lap time. He was able to cling on thanks to several of his rivals falling on their potential Pole Position setting times in the closing minutes.

Championship leader Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) will join Sofuoglu on the front row along with Kyle Smith (Pata Honda WSS Team) who despite being one of the fallers was able to cling on to 3^rd.

Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) also fell spectacularly after touching the kerbing at which was still wet from this morning’s rain shower. The Italian will be joined on the second row for tomorrow’s 17 lap race by the Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres pairing of Lucas Mahias and PJ Jacobsen who secured 5^th and 6^th positions on the grid respectively.

Local rider and fan favourite Ratthapark Wilairot (CORE Motorsport Thailand) was cheered loudly by the packed grandstand into 7^th on the grid where he will start alongside Italian Roberto Rolfo (Lorini Honda) who is openly relishing the extreme conditions. Gino Rea (CIA Insurance Landlords Honda), currently 3^rd in the World Championship standings will start 9^th.

PJ Jacobsen and Alex Baldolini (Race Department ATK#25) wer the only other riders to fall. Both of them along with Smith and Zanetti were unhurt.