WORLD SUPERBIKE
WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 1/FEBRUARY 21, 2015
PHILLIP ISLAND CIRCUIT/PHILLIP ISLAND, AUSTRALIA
P92
>>THREE-RODDED RACE
The constant but gradual im-
provement in the fortunes of the MV
Agusta Reparto Corse's effort in World
Supersport jumped up a step into
absolute domination at Phillip Island.
In an 18-lap race where some riders
had problems with tires blistering and
others didn't, MV Agusta took its first
one-two in the series.
Jules Cluzel was always a credible
challenger to Michael van der Mark,
the champion of last year on his Pata
Honda, but this was something new.
Both MVs simply howled away from
the pack when the chance came,
with Cluzel clearing off first and in the
process winning his eighth World Su-
persport race. His teammate Lorenzo
Zanetti secured a clear second in his
first ever MV race.
It was a great day for the manu-
facturer and its high-revving F3 675
triple—and the Italian team now has not
one, but two riders who look like they
can challenge in races and for the title.
"In the next races we will see how
things are, Cluzel said. "For sure I
need to concentrate on me and not
the others. When I saw that it was my
teammate behind, it was important. It
means we have data to prove why the
bike is working well. [Lorenzo] Zanetti
was pushing me, next time may be
[Kenan] Sofuoglu, next time may be
Gino Rea—there are some fast, fast
riders. My target is not to think about
them, but think about my riding style. If
I focus on me I can win some races."
For Zanetti, who had no dry testing
on his MV until he got to Australia,
second was a real reward.
"I had a really good feeling when we
arrived in Australia," said Zanetti. "The
team worked very well and I compro-
mised my race because I made a bad
start, but in the end I knew I had a
good rhythm, kept calm and made just
my pace behind Jules [Cluzel]. I tried
to win but I think I had asked too much
of my tire by then. It is better then to
take the best points possible."
Kawasaki Puccetti Racing's Kenan
Sofuoglu felt he could challenge, but
he got run wide a couple of times
and then thought he got run off at the
scary turn one. He eventually worked
his way back from nearly 20th to sixth
and only 18 seconds from the win.
The final podium place was fought
over by the two best Honda riders—the
