WSS: Sofuoglu Ahead Of Cluzel In Duel

Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) beat his great rival Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) by 0.883 seconds at the flag to win the 17-lap WSS race at Imola.

Third was Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), fourth PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) and fifth was fast rookie Marco Faccani (San Carlo Puccetti Racing Kawasaki).

An all Honda battle through the rest of the top ten saw Ratthapark Wilairot (Core” Motorsport Thailand) sixth, and Gina Rea (CIA Landlords Insurance) seventh.

Cluzel made an early lead and held it for the early laps, with Sofuoglu, Jacobsen, Zanetti and Faccani behind. Wilairot was in an early sixth place, and Russo came along a little way behind.

On lap four of 17 Sofuoglu piled in with the fastest lap and started to simultaneously lose Jacobsen behind and catch Cluzel.

Kyle Smith (Pata Honda) fell on lap five and got going again in last place, 40 seconds down from the leaders, to finish an eventual 15th, scoring one championship point.

Jacobsen and Zanetti were riding as one by lap six, until Zanetti passed the Kawasaki rider on lap seven.

Sofuoglu temporarily passed Cluzel at the end of lap eight, into the final chicane, but Cluzel got better drive out and re-passed for the lead again.

Sofuoglu made a more successful attempt to lead with seven laps to go.

Cluzel set a new lap record of 1’51.101 on the penultimate lap to get back into the slipstream of Sofuoglu on the final circuit, but a small mistake into the Variante Alta lost him his last chance.