01 Oct Kawasaki Pucceti Racing – World SSP & SBK Potimao
Rabat first among the Kawasaki privateers in Race 1 at Portimao
The weather at the Autodromo Internacional Algarve in Portugal was hot and sunny today as the eleventh WorldSBK round continues. In yesterday’s free practice sessions, Tito Rabat placed twenty-second with a fastest time of 1’42”910. This morning, after making some final adjustments to the setup of his Ninja during the final practice, the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider headed back out for Superpole, a session that he finished in twentieth place after setting a best of 1’41”754.
Unfortunately, Tito then received a penalty and was moved back to twenty-third on the grid, which meant he started the afternoon’s 20-lap race from row eight. The Spaniard made a very fast start but at the end of the long straight he made a mistake that caused him to drop many positions. As the race went on, Rabat picked up the pace and eventually finished the race nineteenth, first among the Kawasaki privateers.
Tomorrow’s WorldSBK schedule will see the team back on track for the Superpole Race and Race 2.
An incredible Oncu scores points in WorldSSP race 1 at Portimao!
The Superpole and first race of the eleventh WorldSSP round played out today at the Autodromo Internacional Algarve in Portugal. Already in yesterday’s practices, Can Oncu showed that he is continuing to recover after his accident at Assen and subsequent period of absence from the championship. With a time of 1’44”777, the Turk rounded out day one in thirteenth place in the combined standings.
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The rider was back on track this morning for Superpole, a session that serves to establish the grid positions for the weekend’s races. Able to improve on his time by more than a second (1’43”735), Oncu qualified in ninth place. This meant that he was able to start the first 17-lap race from the third row of the grid.
He made a very fast start when the lights went out, quickly making up many positions. His physical condition prevented him from maintaining a very strong pace but, by gritting his teeth, Can was able to remain inside the points zone and cross the line fourteenth, scoring two points for his efforts.
The Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider will be back on track tomorrow for the final race making up this eleventh WorldSSP round.
An exceptional race 2 for Oncu at Portimao, in the points after a double long lap penalty
The Autodromo Internacional Algarve in Portugal has today staged the final race of the eleventh WorldSSP round. Yesterday morning Can Oncu took part in Superpole, scoring an excellent ninth-place finish. He was then able to reach the points zone in the first race, crossing the line fourteenth. The young Turk is still recovering from the injury to his left arm that he sustained in race 2 at Assen in April. Can is not yet back to full fitness but continues to improve, as his results demonstrate.
After morning warm-up, Can was back out this afternoon for Race 2, which ran over a distance of 17 laps. Over the first laps, the Turkish rider was lying around eighth when he was handed a double long lap penalty for having made a jump start. By the time he served the two penalties, Can had slipped down to nineteenth position, from where he immediately began to fight back, moving all the way up to fifteenth to score one championship point. Another exceptional performance by the young Turk, despite his current physical condition.
The final WorldSSP round will take place on 27-29 October at the Circuito di Jerez Angel Nieto, in Spain.
Rabat just misses the points zone in WorldSBK race 2 at Portimao
The eleventh and penultimate WorldSBK round has concluded today at the Autodromo Internacional Algarve in Portugal. The Superpole and Race 1 ran yesterday, with rider Tito Rabat pacing twentieth and nineteenth respectively, while this morning saw the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider return to the track for the Superpole Race, a ten-lap sprint race. Having made a good start, the Spaniard retained a consistent pace, which allowed him to close in eighteenth place.
Race 2 ran in the afternoon over a distance of 20 laps. The Barcelona native got away fast and was up into the chasing group. Rabat fought long and hard as part of this group, continuously exchanging places with his rivals and crossing the line sixteenth, just one position from the points zone and once again first among the Kawasaki privateers.
The next WorldSBK round will take place on 27-29 October at the Circuito di Jerez Angel Nieto, in Spain.