World Supersport Championship, round 13 – Portimão, Portugal

02 November 2008

Kenan Sofuoglu won today's final 2008 World Supersport championship race at Portimao in Portugal, completing a remarkable season for the HANNspree Ten Kate team and Honda's CBR600RR. Sofuoglu's team-mate and recently crowned champion, Andrew Pitt, was second.

The Turkish rider started the 20-lap race around the all-new, 4.5km Autodromo Internacional do Algarve from pole position, but dropped back to sixth in the opening laps, while Pitt led the way with fellow Honda riders, Jaon Lascorz and Josh Hayes.

Sofuoglu battled back, however, and by mid-race distance, retook the lead whilst setting the fastest lap of the race at 1m46.082s - a time comparable with top ten World Superbike riders in the first race today.

As an added bonus for the HANNspree Ten Kate Honda team, Jonathan Rea, who is competing on the CBR1000RR Superbike this weekend, retained second place in the World Supersport title race.

[...]

Andrew Pitt - P2
Johnny (Rea) has been a really tough opponent all season and, as soon as he goes, Kenan comes back with a performance like that. I was comfortable with the race, and the bike felt really good, so it's a good way to finish when the big trophy is already in the cabinet. I'm really happy for Kenan because it's been a really tough season for him. But I can tell him it won't be so easy next year!

[...]

Results - World Supersport, Portimao, Portugal
1 Kenan Sofuoglu TUR (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda)
2 Andrew Pitt AUS (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda)
3 Jaon Lascorz ESP (Honda)

Final championship points:
1 A Pitt (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) 214 (World Champion)
2 J Rea (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) 164
3 J Brookes (Honda) 162
19 K Sofuoglu (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) 25

Final manufacturers' points:
Honda 315, Yamaha 203, Suzuki 102, Triumph 77, Kawasaki 46