10 Sep Kawasaki Pucceti Racing en World SSP y SBK Magny Cours
Oncu just misses the points zone in WorldSSP race 1 at Magny Cours
Kawasaki Puccetti Racing and rider Can Oncu were back on track at the Nevers Magny Cours circuit in France today, as round nine of the Supersport World Championship continues. The young Turkish rider only returned to competition yesterday after a long break owing to injury sustained in a crash at Assen in April. Although not yet back to full fitness, Can gritted his teeth and completed Friday’s practice sessions in twenty-first place with a fastest time of 1’42”811.
This morning he was out for Superpole and improved on his best time by almost a second (1’41”860), holding twenty-first place which meant a seventh-row start for the afternoon’s first WorldSSP race which ran over a distance of 19 laps.
Oncu made a good start and immediately gained a few positions. Battling as part of the chasing group, the young Turk climbed to final seventeenth position, just a few seconds from the points zone, which is his objective right now.
Tomorrow will see the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider compete in the second and final race of this ninth WorldSSP round.
A stoic Oncu fourteenth in WorldSSP race 2 at Magny Cours
The Nevers Magny Cours circuit in France today staged the second and final race making up round nine of the Supersport World Championship. For Kawasaki Puccetti Racing, the most important factor this weekend is that Can Oncu is back after a long absence, with the young Turk having sustained injury in a crash in race 2 at Assen back in April.
Oncu is not yet back to full fitness, but riding his ZX-6R will no doubt help him to regain both his strength and competitiveness. Yesterday Can finished Superpole in twenty-first place, before crossing the line seventeenth in the race, just a few seconds from the points zone. Today saw race 2 get underway in the late morning in hot and sunny conditions. Oncu got away well and held his starting position through the first laps. As the race went on, the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider was able to pick up the pace and climb up as far as fourteenth place. This result saw him earn two championship points. An exceptional result if we consider that this is only Can’s second race after more than four months away from the track.
The next WorldSSP round will run on 22-24 September at Motorland Aragon in Spain.
Following a solid sprint race, Mahias retires from WorldSBK race 2 at Magny Cours
Lucas Mahias and Kawasaki Puccetti Racing have completed the second and final day of racing making up the ninth WorldSBK round at the Nevers Magny Cours circuit in France. For the French rider, who is standing in for Tito Rabat (who is competing in MotoE), this was a return to World Superbike at his home round, in front of his fans.
Mahias’ bike livery has featured the prestigious Gi.Vi. brand as main sponsor this weekend, marking the historic collaboration between the Italian firm and Kawasaki Puccetti Racing.
Yesterday Lucas was out for Superpole, a session he finished in eighteenth place before crossing the line nineteenth in race 1. This morning the French rider lined up for the Superpole Race, the sprint race that runs over just ten laps. Having started well, Mahias held his position but was able to up his pace from mid-race on to make up two positions and cross the line sixteenth, the first of the Kawasaki privateers.
Race 2 ran in the afternoon, but it did not last long for the French rider who was forced to retire on lap five due to a technical problem.
The next WorldSBK round will take place on 22-24 September at Motorland Aragon in Spain.