World Supersport: Kenan Sofuoglu wins on superbike debut

Newly crowned World Supersport champion Kenan Sofuoglu has had his first taste of riding a Superbike and immediately impressed by winning first time out.

Kenan Sofuoglu who makes a full time switch to World Superbikes next season with Ten Kate Honda raced in a Dutch Superbike Championship at Assen and despite only having two 20 minute sessions to adapt to the bike won the 14–lap race convincingly.

Under Dutch Superbike rules Kenan Sofuoglu couldn’t use a full blown Ten Kate Honda Superbike as ridden by series leader James Toseland. Instead he ran an upgraded Superstock bike equipped with quick shifter and 17” slicks.

Team Boss Ronald Ten Kate said: “For his first ride on the CBR1000RR he did a really good job. With another 50bhp on tap for sure he had to change his riding style a little bit but he didn’t make any mistakes and was very consistent.

“He did all 14 laps in the 1min 41sec with a best lap of 1min 41.2sec which compares pretty well to the WSB race times considering the bike he was on.”

Kenan Sofuoglu was given the chance to race as a reward for his dominant season in World Supersport and his best lap stood up well against the World Superbike best of 1min 39.8sec and the Superstock lap record of 1min 42.6sec.

Ronald Ten Kate said: “It’s been a long standing deal with Kenan since he came to the team that if he wins we’ve given him a little extra present. It could be anything from a new back pack to a pair of trainers.

“He’s won so many races now that we were running out of things to give him so we though a ride on a Superbike would be a good one. He told me that racing at Assen has been easily his best present of the year.”