VOL. 53 ISSUE 41 OCTOBER 18, 2016 P35
winning both in Qatar is far from
impossible.
Behind the leading three—the
same leading three as usual—
Nicky Hayden was performing
more than professionally on
his Honda World Superbike
CBR. In a dry race two, a better
first few laps would have seen
him definitely third and maybe
second, such was his pure pace
and determined advance to the
podium places.
A third for Hayden but not
second would have made Rea
champion in Spain, as he would
have nipped enough points from
Sykes to leave the Kawasaki man
51 adrift of his teammate Rea.
But Hayden was fourth and
we go to Qatar for the final that is
now a finale, although it may be
over on Saturday, not Sunday.
After Sunday's race, Hayden
said, "Yesterday I said I wanted
to beat them and I needed to
at least keep the Kawasakis
close and then do something at
the end. I really needed to pull
something out and do something
extra to be close enough to try
and pass. I do not want to moan
too much. It was not a disaster
race but I wanted to stay closer
in the beginning and also the
last two or three laps when I got
close."
Gordon Richie
WorldSBK
RACE ONE
1. Chaz Davies (Duc)
2. Tom Sykes (Kaw)
3. Jonathan Rea (Kaw)
4. Nicky Hayden (Hon)
5. Michael van der Mark (Hon)
RACE TWO
1. Chaz Davies (Duc)
2. Jonathan Rea (Kaw)
3. Tom Sykes (Kaw)
4. Nicky Hayden (Hon)
5. Sylvain Guintoli (Yam)
SOFUOGLU CLINCHES
WORLDSSP CHAMPIONSHIP
T
here has never been an FIM Supersport World
Champion like Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puc-
cetti Racing). Already a four-time world champion,
he took his fifth title after a composed race win on
his official machine, once his teammate and only
championship rival Randy Krummenacher had
crashed out of the lead early in the race.
Behind Sofuoglu, a no-surprise surprise pack-
age in the shape of part-time rider Niki Tuuli (Kallio
racing Yamaha). After two previous second places,
his second place in only his fourth-ever WorldSSP
race was almost expected as he continued to show
Jonathan Rea will
most likely clinch
the WorldSBK
title at the final
race of the year
at Losail.
Kenan Sofuoglu captured
the WorldSSP title with
another win at Jerez.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
GOLD
&
GOOSE
