Front Row Starts At Assen For Sofuoglu And Jacobsen

Courtesy of KRT – Kawasaki Racing Team

Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and his fellow Ninja ZX-6R rider PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) shared the front row at Assen, after a close qualifying session held in dry conditions this afternoon.

After his first win of the year at Motorland Aragon last weekend Sofuoglu is out for more success at one of his favourite venues, the 4.542km long Circuit van Drenthe in Assen. He is the all-time championship record holder in terms of race wins, with 28.

Sofuoglu feels he has strong race pace to go with his ability to secure a front row starting position and now he will be trying to extend his current championship lead over Jacobsen on Sunday.

American Jacobsen was only 0.229 seconds from pole, in third place in the pre-race rankings and he too feels confident in his race pace in preparation for Sunday’s 18-lap race.

Christian Gamarino (Team Go Eleven Kawasaki) scored sixth on the grid for a second row start, while Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) went seventh fastest, almost exactly one second behind the leader.

Rookie rider Marco Faccani (San Carlo Puccetti Racing Kawasaki) continued his strong form at the start of the year with ninth place on the grid, starting from the third row.

Kenan Sofuoglu: “Assen is a good track for us and Kawasaki and I am now looking to win here for the first time with this bike. Our race pace is very strong but Cluzel is always one of the best in qualifying and knew P1 was maybe not possible today. I am not surprised he beat me to pole, but I am not hungry for P1 in qualification. The good thing is that we have prepared very well for the race. The Kawasaki is working well and our race simulation is strong. The bike is amazing and I just have to make a good race and go for 25 points.”

PJ Jacobsen: “I am doing one full fast lap as fast as I can but today I could not do it as fast as the two guys in front. I think our race pace and package is pretty good and we should have no problem with that. I think we have the package for tomorrow and I am looking forward to the race.”

[yasr_visitor_votes size=”medium”]