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.
Autodromo Internacional Algarve – Portimao – Portugal
Supersport World Championship
Race 2 – 1) Manzi (Yamaha) – 2) Bulega (Ducati) – 3) Montella (Ducati) – 4) Schroetter (MV Agusta) – 5) Caricasulo (Ducati) – 6) Van Straalen (Yamaha) ……….. 15) Oncu (Kawasaki)
Can Oncu
“I don’t know whether to be happy with my recovery and the point I scored or angry for the two penalties they gave me, which prevented me from scoring a good result. I didn’t even realise that I’d made a jump start. After carrying out the double long lap penalty, I was only thinking about making up as many places as possible, and I was able to reach the points zone. The positive thing is that I’m continuing to improve physically and my feeling with the bike is improving too. Thanks to the team as everyone’s done a great job.”
