Sofuoglu’s principal competition comes from a variety of sources this season, not least the current championship leader Florian Marino (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres). The Frenchman has scored two podiums and a fourth place so far, making him not just the most consistent rider in the top ten, but also one of the fastest.
From Marino in first position in the championship ranking to Sofuoglu in seventh there are only 24 points difference, which is equivalent to just less than one full race win. With only three rounds of a 12-race season completed there are still many opportunities for the top riders like Kenan and Florian to build enough points to challenge for the title itself.
Roberto Tamburini (San Carlo Puccetti Racing) is making a more than solid effort so far in sixth place, while Roberto Rolfo (Kawasaki Team Go Eleven) is inside the top ten in ninth place overall and still only 30 points from the leader Marino.
The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R is proving to be a potent weapon for many younger WSS riders to use once again, with Patrick Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) showing some great form in his rookie season, while other younger or less experienced riders such as Christian Gamarino (Kawasaki Team Go Eleven) and Tony Covena (Kawasaki Ponyexpres Intermoto) have been learning the secrets of WSS racing quickly on their Kawasakis.
Like the Superbike class, the next outing for WSS after Imola will be Donington Park, on May 25th.
Kenan Sofuoglu: “The Imola circuit is always one of my best ones and I like it very much. Last year I won the race on a Kawasaki and I think this year again we can be very strong. The situation in Assen last weekend was so difficult because we made no points and that meant in three races we had not scored on two occasions. That means I am seventh and because of that my motivation has been affected for a short time. But I have been training back home in Turkey and I will get more and more ready to race day-by-day. I am still fighting and we are all working together in the team. The season is long and many riders have had good results, and then not so good results, so now there are four riders who could be leading at any one time. My points gap to the championship leader could be a lot more. We have to work cleverly to do the job the best way possible. Everything should be good to win the race at Imola but we cannot make any mistakes.”
SBK Evo Kawasaki Riders
The class-within-a-class Evo category inside the SBK field for 2014 features a host of riders on the awesome stock-engined Ninja ZX-10R.
David Salom (KRT) is the highest ranked Kawasaki rider in the Evo points table while Luca Scassa (Kawasaki Team Pedercini) is now third after two strong rides at the most recent round in Assen. Sheridan Morais (Iron Brain Kawasaki SBK Team) is fifth in the Evo standings, Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Mahi Racing Team India) is sixth and Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Kawasaki) ninth.
Alessandro Andreozzi (Kawasaki Team Pedercini) is yet to score in 2014 but the vastly experienced Michel Fabrizio (Iron Brain Kawasaki SBK Team) is now off the mark with two points, despite suffering early season injuries.
Superstock 1000 FIM Cup
Lorenzo Savadori (Kawasaki Team Pedercini) is the highest placed Kawasaki rider in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup after two rounds, in second place by only three points. A brilliant wet weather race win from Kevin Valk (MTM Racing Kawasaki) at his home round of Assen last time out puts him third now, just one point behind Savadori.
In a championship laden with fast Kawasaki riders and machines Matthieu Lussiana (Kawasaki Team Garnier by Aspi) is fourth overall and David McFadden (MRS Kawasaki) sixth. Romain Lanusse (Team Pedercini Kawasaki) and Christoffer Bergman (BWG Racing Kawasaki) are two more Ninja ZX-10R riders inside the top ten, while Simone Grotzkyj (Kawasaki Team Pedercini) is 12th.
Superstock 600 European Championship
Third placed Marco Faccani (Kawasaki San Carlo team Italia) is the top Kawasaki Superstock 600 European Championship rider so far in 2014, one place ahead of his team-mate Andrea Tucci. Ilya Mikhalchik (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki) sits sixth approaching Imola.