SSP Imola – Jules Cluzel wins a race without Kenan Sofuoglu

Bruno Gomes

May 14, 2018

Jules Cluzel returns to winning days at Imola

The World Supersport race at Imola was always going to be an emotional farewell to Kenan Sofuoglu, and the Turkish Kawasaki Puccetti rider made sure to show everyone he still is one of the best Supersport riders around qualifying in third.

But to everyone’s surprise, after the formation lap, Sofuoglu decided to go back into the pits and don’t race.

He later confirmed he made a promise to his family that he wouldn’t race anymore, and adding that to the fact that he still isn’t 100% fit due to injuries sustained in the last few months, it was really a simple decision for him.

So, at Imola, Kenan Sofuoglu said goodbye to racing, not the way he or the fans wanted, but it was an emotional farewell nevertheless.

Kenan Sofuoglu decided not to compete in his last race. He’s the only rider ith 5 World Supersport titles

As for the race, the SSP champion Lucas Mahias was an early leader but lost the front of his Yamaha R6, crashed, but then returned to the race to make an incredible comeback from 20th to finish 8th.

At the front of the race a group of four riders stayed together until the checkered flag, with Frenchman Jules Cluzel (Yamaha R6) holding off the attacks of Federico Caricasulo on another R6, with Raffaele de Rosa on an MV Agusta F3 675 crossing the line in third, leaving Sandro Cortese on another Yamaha R6 out of the podium.

These four riders were separated by just 9 tenths of a second at the finish line!

As for the championship standings, Randy Krummenacher is now in the lead with 81 points, two more than Lucas Mahias, with Sandro Cortese being third in the standings with 77 points.