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The official race report service of Kawasaki Racing Team.

9 April 2022

Öncü On The Race One Podium

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider Can Öncü finished the first race of the 2022 FIM Supersport World Championship in third place after 15 competitive laps at the 5.077km long Motorland Aragon Circuit. New Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider Yari Montella fell on lap four and could not complete his debut WorldSSP race.

Having qualified third in Superpole Öncü would eventually repeat that performance in the first race of the new season. He was disappointed not to have been able to fight for the win all the way, having led six of the early laps, but he could not find the pace required to stay in contention due to tyre wear.

His first competitive ride of the year delivered Can a much-desired podium, despite not having a perfect race-long set-up for all 15 gruelling laps.

New signing Montella was on course for a points score after qualifying ninth, but he was to fall after losing rear and then front traction on lap five.

Like Can, Yari now faces a second full distance race at Motorland to score some points in, with Can now aiming to take a first victory in WorldSSP after scoring four career podiums so far on the Ninja ZX-6R.

Race Two in WorldSSP will take place at 12.30 local time on Sunday 10 April 2022.

Can Öncü, stated: “A good race and we finished third. I enjoyed it a lot! Of course we made some mistakes that I hope we do not make tomorrow. The mistake was my mistake, not the team’s, but tomorrow I will not make that same mistake. We will try to win but that’s all for today. We are happy today and we will try to be more happy tomorrow.”

Yari Montella, stated: “Sadly I don’t have much to say. I started well and was getting into a rhythm to be able to make up ground when I lost control of the bike, first at the rear and then at the front, and was unable to avoid a crash. I’m sorry because it’s not a good way to start the season, particularly for my team as they’re working so hard for me. Things will be better tomorrow, when I’ll do all I can to make up for today.”

Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) made a great start to his WorldSSP career, finishing ninth, and the second Kawasaki rider across the finish line. Tom Booth-Amos (Prodina Racing Kawasaki) was another points scoring WorldSSP Kawasaki debutant, in 13th place.

Jeffrey Buis (Motozoo Racing by Puccetti Kawasaki) had to retire from the race while substitute rider for the injured Benjamin Currie (Motozoo Racing by Puccetti Kawasaki), Eugene McManus, was 26th.

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