The first day of practice making up round nine of the Supersport World Championship played out today at the Nevers-Magny Cours circuit in France. For Kawasaki Puccetti Racing, the most important news is that its rider Can Oncu, injured at Assen in April and absent from the tracks for more than four months, is now back aboard the Italian team’s ZX-6R. He is not yet in ideal shape, due both to his long break and the fact that his injured arm still needs to regain the right muscle tone, but riding again will help him to return to full fitness.
During today’s first practice, Can finished nineteenth with a time of 1’42”811. Temperatures rose significantly in the afternoon, making work difficult for both the technicians and rider, who set a best of 1’43”631 and placed twenty-first in the day’s aggregate standings.
The Turkish rider will be on track tomorrow for Superpole and, in the afternoon, the first of the weekend’s races.
Circuit Nevers-Magny Cours – France
Supersport World Championship
Combined free practice results: 1) Debise (Yamaha) – 2) Bulega (Ducati) – 3) Huertas (Kawasaki) – 4) Manzi (Yamaha) …..….. 21) Oncu (Kawasaki)
Can Oncu
“After my long absence, today’s two sessions were a sort of test for me, a training session. I didn’t force it and just tried to regain feeling with my bike and get back to working with my team. I’m really pleased to be back on track and together with all my Kawasaki Puccetti Racing friends. I don’t have any particular ambitions for this French round other than to gradually rebuild my competitiveness. Thanks to the entire team for their amazing support, and I hope I can soon give them the kind of results they deserve.”
