Yakhnich Motorsport started the season with podium

SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

PHILLIP ISLAND - Australia

1 round, 22-24 February, Sunday

 

Racing season started for team Yakhnich Motorsport from the tense struggle. After the race Kenan Sofuoglu admitted that Sam Lowes on his Yamaha R6 is very strong and advanced rival.

As there were 30 riders all attention was concentrated on the standoff between Lowes and Sofuoglu. Rider of Mahi Racing Team India – the current World Supersport champion could pull ahead, but Sam Lowes caught up with Kenan Sofuoglu as Sam started on the pole-position. The standoff between them was neat and technical as in classical style of Supersport. Lowes left Kenan behind in several turns but Sofuoglu used all power from the motor. All this continued during 12 laps from 15.  

The day before Race Directorate decided to reduce the number of laps to 15. The reason was complaints of several teams – suspicion of the possibility of excessive tear of tyres on the new asphalt of Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Pirelli’s experts studied this question and delivered the passible judgement. Service capacity of tyres changed every day, on Sunday back wheel on Yamaha worked differently as during qualification. 

Sam aimed to win and did his best, but decided Sofuoglu to go, to avoid any fortuity and earned 20 points for the team.

Peloton fell down from leaders on 10 seconds and only Michael Van der Mark could hold for a long time and finished third. He is the debutant in class Supersport.

For Vladimir Leonov race has finished on the exit from the 12th turn during the third lap. Raffaele De Rosa from Team Lorini has lost the control and fell down under Leonov's wheels. Vladimir crocked and injured right elbow. It doesn't affect on his plans as he has one and a half month before the next round (14 April in Aragon).

In spite of this, Yakhnich Motorsport Team leaves Phillip Island with the feeling of fulfilled duty and with understanding that the win in the World championship 2013 is real. 

Sam Lowes (2 place, 1:33.551): «Sofuoglu restrained me during the whole race forcing me to cover gas. He knew that if I will overtake him he will not win. Ninja has easy configurable gearbox. They were trying to find the best settings until the last moment."

Vladimir Leonov: "I had no luck in Phillip Island. During the morning warm up my bike was very fast, but from the beginning I was in traffic and De Rosa fell in front of me in fast turn. I had no place for manoeuvre and there was no chance to avoid collision. But there will be Aragon, where we will continue our work."

Claudio Corsetti, General manager of the team Yakhnich Motorsport: «We have two fast riders. Sam is very hard and goal-seeking. He dominated during the whole week and tried to win from tree-time world champion. Kenan admitted that he has only one rival - Sam Lowes! The decision which he made in the end is mature. I am upset because of Vladimir as he could be in TOP-5. But now we know that we can struggle for the championship title."

 

Positions in the World championship, class Supersport after Phillip Island:

 

1. Kenan Sofuoglu (MAHI Racing Team India)Kawasaki ZX-6R – 25

2. Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport)Yamaha YZF R6 - 20

3. Michael Vd Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport)Honda CBR600RR – 16

4. Fabien Foret (MAHI Racing Team India)Kawasaki ZX-6R - 13

5. David Salom (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres)Kawasaki ZX-6R - 11

6. Luca Scassa (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres)Kawasaki ZX-6R - 10

7. Andrea Antonelli (Team Goeleven)Kawasaki ZX-6R - 9

8. Lorenzo Zanetti (Pata Honda World Supersport)Honda CBR600RR - 8

9. Massimo Roccoli (Team Pata by Martini)Yamaha YZF R6 - 7

10. Jack Kennedy (Rivamoto)Honda CBR600RR - 6

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