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The official race report service of Kawasaki Racing Team.

28 Wrzesień 2024

Öncü Seventh After Race One

Can Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) qualified in ninth place in Superpole on Friday 27 September and went on to race to seventh place after the first 15-lap WorldSSP Race at Motorland Aragon on Saturday afternoon.

Öncü rode a strong race to keep himself in contention with the leading riders. Can was in fifth place on lap five but was not quite able to hold that position to the flag. He was in seventh place by lap nine and held that position to the end of all 15 intense laps.

The race took place in warm and dry conditions, with eventual winner Adrian Huertas leading throughout. Can was only 10.373 seconds behind Huertas at the end and still fighting for every possible championship point.

Can’s latest points paying ride took place on the day that Kawasaki announced that it would compete with a new homologation of Ninja ZX-6R in the 2025 WorldSSP season, using a 636cc engine instead of the current 599cc power plant used by Can.   

Can Öncü, stated: “The race was not bad, actually. We closed the gap a bit and we are starting to get better and closer to the front group. This is very positive. I am happy because we have solved some problems compared to before. For sure we have to work more to close the gap a little bit more for tomorrow’s race. Hopefully we will do it and I am feeling very positive. Let’s try to get even closer tomorrow.”

Borja Gomez Rus (Viamo Racing by MTM Kawasaki) was 12th in Superpole qualifying on Friday but finally started the race from the back of the grid after coming back into pitlane once the sighting lap had been completed. He would finish 17th - just out of the points after a spirited fightback through half the field.

One more WorldSSP race is scheduled for the Motorland Aragon weekend, on Sunday 29 September.

                                               #NinjaSpirit