Cycle News

FINAL ROUND/OCTOBER 20, 2013 JEREZ CIRCUIT/JEREZ, SPAIN WORLD SUPERBIKE P88 WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP THE FINAL SHOWDOWN Sam Lowes and Kenan Sofuoglu have made the World Supersport Championship in 2013 almost their personal tug-of-war game, with only Fabien Foret having won another race all year. Foret won in Aragon, and entering the final round in Spain both Lowes and Sofuoglu had won five races apiece. With Lowes already champion, and heading off to Moto2 next year, this was maybe the last showdown between the two top riders of the year, and for the simple prize of bragging rights. Who would take six wins and who "only" five. As an early contest it was battled out not only with fast starting Sofuoglu in the lead for the first eight of 20 laps, but Roby Rolfo had also brought along his own three cylinder toy to play with, in the shape of an MV Agusta 675 F3. Rolfo would not hold the pace of the top two men, but his bike was made to handle the fast corners of Jerez, and Rolfo duly got a clear – and remarkable - second podium of the season. Up front on race day, finally Lowes showed the pace that had taken him to pole, and then won the race by 2.117 seconds. Sofuoglu could not have caught him, and likely even knew this after a tough time in qualifying, but he also helped Kawasaki win the Manufacturers' Championship. He also helped his squad win the team's award - in what was only its 17th race together. Lowes was keen to leave for Moto2 with his head held high and his win tally higher than Sofuoglu's. He was actually more keen to make sure he kept up a remarkable record of scoring either first or second in qualifying and races, or at least all of those his machine finished. "It was massive for me to take that sixth win and have more than any other rider, but it was also important to keep up my record of scoring a win or a second place in every race we finished," Lowes said. "I wore a gold helmet today so I had to do a good job." Sofuoglu knew he was beat today but also knew he had been part of something else this year. "I think we had not such a bad season, but today Sam [Lowes] was a little bit faster in the sessions this week- end. I tried to win the race and I am glad we could have a fight, but at the end Sam upped the pace, so in the last two laps it was impossible. I really did not want to crash because second place was really important today because Kawasaki won the Manufacturer's championship. So our results were not bad. I tried to beat Sam this weekend, but I think it was impossible." Fabien Foret remained third in the championship, helping the Mahi team with its team award on occasions this year, and in general probably waving goodbye to World Supersport racing with a top-10 race result. "It was a hard and long 20-lap race because I had some issues with the front end and I almost crashed twice," Foret said. "What can I say, we just brought it back as best I could and it was important to score points in case the guys behind me in the championship scored too many. I got third place in the championship." Fourth in the race and fighting for third at one point, Michael van Der Mark was nine seconds back from Lowes, his Pata Honda teammate Lorenzo Zanetti was held up for a time and lost contact to the front, finishing fifth some 23 seconds back. Riccardo Russo and Kevin Coghlan battled it out to the very end but Russo had the better exit line from the final corner. Sheridan Morais was one behind on his Go Eleven Kawasaki. Sam Lowes ended the year one-upping his rival Kenan Sofuoglu by getting the most wins. The Brit had already wrapped up the championship.

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