At the last Portuguese GP in Portimao, 12th round of the World Supersport Championship, Turkey’s Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Lorenzini) clinched his third World title in the series, following up to his previous triumphs in 2007 and 2010.
Frenchman Jules Cluzel (PTR Honda) won the race, but the second place was enough for the Turkish ace to achieve 218 points, threby making himself out of reach for runner-up Cluzel (185 points).
With Sofuoglu already celebrating his crown, the final round in Magny-Cours on the next 7th of October will be just irrelevant for the Championship, with the WSS boys that will have to fight just for the win.
Sofuoglu had won his previous titles with Honda machines, and his success also meant the first Supersport Championship for Kawasaki since 2001, when it was Australian Andrew Pitt to bring the crown to the Akashi-based manufacturer.
Besides, this is the first world championship for the Kawasaki Lorenzini Team: this is also particularly significant because the Italian squad is based in Pegognaga, near Mantua, an area that was heavily affected by the recent earthquake.
At the Portimao racetrack the podium was completed by Frenchman Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Intermoto Step), who crossed the finish line right before Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Racing Products Honda) and Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda).
If you missed all that, here is a nice collection of pics and – right after the jump – the video highlights of the recent WSS round in Portimao.