Kenan Sofuoglu finished fifth in today’s fourth round 2009 World Supersport championship race at Assen in Holland, but his Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate Andrew Pitt crashed out of a challenge for victory with five laps to go.
The race was won by Honda rider, Eugene Laverty – his second win of the season – who started from the front row alongside Sofuoglu. The Turkish rider got a great start and led in the early laps before dropping back.
Pitt found that many of the problems that had prevented him qualifying higher than 10th, had been reduced to allow him to challenge for the lead. Battling in the leading group, the Australian tried to take advantage when two of his rivals ran wide at Assen’s turn four. However, he lost the front of his CBR600RR and then had his left arm run over, preventing him from picking up his stricken machine.
Kenan Sofuoglu – 5th
I am very disappointed with this result because I felt so much confidence going into this race and starting from the front row. Unfortunately, the back section of the circuit, where I was losing a lot of time during qualifying, was still a problem for me and I had to push so hard in the other areas of the lap. After Andrew crashed in front of me, the gap to the leading group was too big, but at least I was able to pick up some points.
Andrew Pitt – DNF
The feeling with the front of the bike was a lot better in warm-up, after the guys worked late into the night – so thanks to them for that. It meant that with a good start I felt able to challenge for the win because I had the pace of the leaders. I was still struggling a bit with the front of the bike, though, and I was pushing hard everywhere because I just didn’t want to finish third, fourth or fifth. When the Yamahas tangled in front of me and ran wide, I dived underneath – maybe a little too enthusiastically and I lost the front. I don’t know who ran over my arm, but I lost all feeling in it temporarily and couldn’t pick up the bike. There’s nothing broken but it’ll probably be a little sore tomorrow.
Ronald ten Kate – team manager
That was not really the result we had hoped for. Until mid-race, everything was going fine and looking good with Kenan and Andrew dicing in the leading group. When Andrew crashed, Kenan lost the connection with the front runners. I think we need to improve our setting earlier in the weekend because it’s taking too long to find the race set-up at the moment – Sunday morning is too late. We’ll work hard to improve this area for Monza.
2009 World Supersport championship, found four – Assen, Holland
Results (4.55km, 21 laps):
1 Eugene Laverty (IRL) Honda 35’45.160s
2 Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Yamaha +0.107s
3 Joan Lascorz (ESP) Kawasaki +0.178s
4 Fabien Foret (FRA) Yamaha +1.777s
5 Kenan Soufuoglu (TUR) Hannspree Ten Kate Honda +1.901s
Leave a Review