With four race wins to his credit already Sofuoglu has a championship points total of 146 as he attempts to win his fifth championship in this class. His novice WorldSSP team-mate Randy Krummenacher has made a great impact in the class since joining last winter, having scored a race win in the opening round and a total of 106 points in all.
With four rounds left, including the forthcoming event at Lausitzring in Germany on Sunday 18th September, there is still work to do and everything to play for inside the official Kawasaki squad - particularly in a field that has provided five different race winners in 2016 already.
Sofuoglu’s career statistics are untouchable by any of his peers, with the biggest headline figure his four championship wins, two of which have come along on Kawasaki machinery. In 112 starts he has scored 36 race wins, 75 podium places, 27 pole positions, 90 front row starts and 26 fastest laps.
Krummenacher, once a regular in the MotoGP paddock on 125cc and Moto2 machinery, has made a quick transition to the WorldSSP paddock, with one race win, three podiums and one pole position already in his locker.
Despite the forthcoming Lausitzring venue being off of the FIM Supersport World Championship calendar for some years, both Kawasaki Puccetti Racing riders have raced at Lausitzring in the past. Sofuoglu has scored a win and a second place in his previous WorldSSP visits, while Switzerland’s Krummenacher rode the track in his early 125cc German Championship career.
After the Lausitzring round the championship rounds out in a flurry of activity, featuring races on alternate weekends in France, Spain and finally Qatar.
Kenan Sofuoglu, stated: “We had a test in Germany in the break and it was a very successful one. I had a chance to be on a bike almost every day during the break because I have a private track in Turkey, sometimes riding on a 250cc Kawasaki and sometimes on a Supermotard. In Turkey there is always good weather to train so I can say I am ready to restart the season. It was a long summer break but almost every day I was able to ride a bike. We have a good points advantage now but in racing you never know what is going to happen. I am motivated and I hope I can keep my advantage. I really want to get started again and hopefully finish the season with a fifth title. That is a big goal. We have had a very good season and the last part will also hopefully be good.”
Randy Krummenacher, stated: “I had surgery on my shoulder directly after the Misano race and it all went well. I did a test in Imola and another test at Magny-Cours so I am looking forward to Lausitz. I did not know Magny-Cours but now that I know that track layout and I am well prepared for the Lausitzring weekend. I raced there before in the IDM Championship but that was ten years ago, on a 125. I see Italy as more of a home round than Germany, because of the Puccetti Racing team being based there but my fan club is coming to the Lausitzring and many people from Germany know me because of the Grand Prix in the Sachsenring, which is not so far away from Lausitz. It is going to be a little bit like a home race for sure and I am looking forward to it.”