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WSS, Phillip Island, AUSTRALIA, 28 February 2016

Krummenacher Takes Sensational ‘Rookie’ Race Win

Swiss rider Randy Krummenacher (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) secured a remarkable race win in his first ever FIM Supersport World Championship contest, after his team-mate Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) crashed out after experiencing a tyre issue.

In an astoundingly tough and combative WSS race, with 11-changes of the lead across the start/finish line in 18 race laps, occasional drops of rain complicated matters at times.
With a vast group of leading riders in fighting mood both Sofuoglu and Krummenacher had to work hard to stay in front, with Kenan having to overcome traction issues compared to his practice experiences.
After the race had reached just past the mid point, first Sofuoglu and then Krummenacher eased ahead on their Ninja ZX-6Rs, to sit 1-2 out front. When Kenan fell at Turn 6, after experiencing a rear tyre issue, Krummenacher just had to keep his pace and his cool head to win his first WSS race by 2.747 seconds from Federico Caricasulo and wildcard rider Anthony West.
Both Randy and Kawasaki now lead their respective championships after one round with the next WSS round taking place in Thailand on March 13th.
Randy Krummenacher stated: “It was really a special race because the conditions were different to anything before, any practice and any testing. At the beginning it was quite ‘hot’ because it was a big group and I think everybody tried to pass us. They were all looking for the Kawasakis. It made it really hard but when it started to rain a bit they were all a bit more scared than me and I went a bit away from the pack and behind Kenan. Then I made my best lap times. I did not expect that Kenan would crash, so I am very sorry for him. Then it was clear I had to bring it to the finish line and it was really hard because there was proper rain in some areas. I had to push or the others would have been coming but when I went over Lukey Heights I saw I had a big gap. I just had to manage the last two corners to bring it home. It feels great to win, unbelievable.”
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·               Kenan Sofuoglu stated: “I think I got a wrong tyre but it was the same choice I made in qualifying, taking pole position and a fast pace in the warm-up. I put the same tyre in as then but the bike had little grip and vibration and mid-race it exploded, in the middle of the corner. When I exited the corner the tyre went and then I crashed. It was not overheating because I was much more aggressive on the same tyre in practice and the warm-up. It was almost impossible to ride from the first lap.”
 
Christian Gamarino from the GO Eleven Kawasaki team was in a strong fourth place and ended his 18-laps right behind the podium finishers. Ondrej Jezek was eighth after winning a duel with another rider. New WSS rider Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) earned a 13th place finish and his team-mate Nacho Calero was 18th. Lachlan Epis (Response RE Team Kawasaki) ended up 21st at his home round.