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.
Circuit Nevers – Magny Cours – France
Supersport World Championship
Superpole: 1) Bulega (Ducati) – 2) Debise (Yamaha) – 3) De Rosa (Ducati) – 4) Manzi (Yamaha) – 5) Montella (Ducati) – 6) Huertas (Kawasaki) ………. 21) Oncu (Kawasaki)
Race 1 – 1) Bulega (Ducati) – 2) Manzi (Yamaha) – 3) Debise (Yamaha) – 4) Huertas (Kawasaki) – 5) Tuuli Triumph) – 6) Montella (Ducati) ……. 17) Oncu (Kawasaki)
Can Oncu
“In Superpole I wasn’t able to complete a clean lap in order to set a good time. It’s never easy to start from further back on the grid in Supersport. I got away well anyway, and moved into the group fighting for the points zone. I had consistent pace and finished seventeenth in the end, but the important thing is that I was able to complete the race after such a long break – this is the main thing for now. I want to thank my team and all my supporters.”
