Cycle News

SMITH JUMPS TO THE TOP T he surprises in the World Superbike races were mirrored in the middleweight World Supersport class as the fast, but often falling, Kyle Smith went back to his sliding roots—both into and out of corners—to record his first victory in the WSS class. He had to work his way through some classy opponents and demonstrate some huge back- ing-in angles and heavy throttle use on the way through. He even passed new champion Kenan Sofuoglu, much to his own surprise. What he did not know at the time was that So- fuoglu's choice of a hard race tire did not pay off. But nothing can detract from a superb ride of full risk, great entertainment and most importantly a new race winner being awarded for the class which has sometimes been for the more experi- enced rider, despite its feeder class reputation. "In the last couple of races I have started to go back to the little Kyle Smith, go-for-it, riding style," said Smith of his maiden WSS win. "I found myself comfortable in this race and it has definitely been a bit of an improvement." In the race, Sofuoglu was second, and he had to work to keep Lorenzo Zanetti's MV behind him across the stripe, pulling across to block his pass. Zanetti did not care, winning enough points to go third and guarantee his contract would be renewed. Top privateer Frenchman Lucas Mahias was fourth on the weekend and Patrick Jacobsen was a subdued fifth at the one track he does not get along with. In the final championship points, Sofuoglu has 233, Jacobsen 196 and Zanetti 158. CN IN THE WIND P36 Kyle Smith bagged his first ever WSS win in Qatar. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE BROOKES CLAIMS 2015 BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP J osh Brookes has conquered the 2015 British Superbike Championship by posting 1-1-3 results at the season finale at Brands Hatch on October 17-18. The Australian claimed the title in the first race of the weekend after a huge scrap with incumbent champion Shane Byrne, Christian Iddon and American John Hopkins, who stole third place on the line for his first podium of the season. "It's amazing," Brookes said following race one. "To be sat here next to Shakey and John Hopkins and be taking the British Championship is something that people have said over the years you'd never do and never get close to. I've always had some unknown desire since a young age to pursue motorbikes as a career, so it's not something I can put in words, but it's something I feel and it feels great." Brookes would take another win in race two but fell out of contention in race three when attempting a move on Michael Laverty, recording a DNF in the final race of the season. That race win went to Laverty from James Ellison and Byrne. Byrne, along with the PBM team, will switch to Ducati power for the 2016 BSB season. CN Brookes has been trying to win the BSB title since 2009 and finally cracked it this year.

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