The final day of the opening WorldSSP round at Phillip Island ran in warm and sunny conditions. Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider Can Oncu finished yesterday’s Superpole in twelfth place, while his race was compromised by a crash for which he was not to blame, another rider making contact with him shortly after the start.
Today the young Turkish rider took part in the second and final race of this Australian round. Thanks to a new rule that sees the Race 2 starting grid established based on the best lap times riders set in Race 1, Oncu got away from row five. With oil on the track, the start was delayed and the race reduced to just nine laps. The Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider made a good start and was lying twelfth through the initial laps. His pace increased as the race went on, but unfortunately, he was forced to take evasive action in the final stages to avoid another rider. Oncu was able to return to the track and cross the line sixteenth, just missing out on points that he definitely deserved today.
The next WorldSSP round is scheduled to take place on 22-24 March at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit in Spain.
Phillip Island – Australia
Supersport World Championship
Race 2: 1) Montella (Ducati) – 2) Schroetter (MV Agusta) – 3) Huertas (Ducati) – 4) Caricasulo (MV Agusta) – 5) Debise (Yamaha) – 6) Sofuoglu (MV Agusta) …..… 16) Oncu (Kawasaki)
Can Oncu
“Starting from row five in a race that runs over just nine laps makes everything more difficult. I started strong and got into a good rhythm, making up places, but unfortunately, in the final stages of the race, a rider who had crashed came back onto the track without checking who was coming and I had to exit the track to avoid hitting him. Beyond the result itself, these two races have shown that we have the potential to do well, but also that we need to continue working to improve, which would allow us to fight for the win every weekend.”
