Laverty denied win as Sofuoglu makes last lap charge

By Burning Rubber on May 31, 09 09:34 PM

rear kyalami cropped blog.jpg EUGENE Laverty lost out on the win at the USA round of the World Supersport Championship after a banzai move by Kenan Sofuoglu in the closing seconds of the race.

Laverty, who had led the pack across the line on every one of the 18 laps around the Miller Motorsport Park, had to settle for second.

The Parkalgar Honda rider was lucky to hold the place after the HANNSpree Ten Kate pilot charged through on the inside just a handful of corners from the chequered flag, somehow managing to hold off Cal Crutchlow across the line.

Crutchlow himself had looked to be a strong contender throughout the race, until the Yamaha Racing rider became the first victim of Turkish rider Sofuoglu's last lap charge.

The former BSS champ had sat in second spot for much of the race, having made a few passes on Laverty in the opening two laps, none of which he was able to hold for more than a few seconds.

But the firey Brit was looking menacing on Laverty for most of the race, and it seemed as if he would finally make the move on the last lap.

However a flying Sofuoglu was having his own race just behind, and having passed Joan Lascorz four laps from the end, he set off to catch the leading duo, who had made a slight break up at the front.

In the final lap, Sofuoglu made his move, catching Crutchlow out and running him wide to take second. Within a few seconds he was on the tail of Laverty and with corners and overtaking spots running out, made a charge down the inside of the Parkalgar Honda man.

The pair touched and as Sofuoglu went through, Laverty fought to keep himself upright and stay on the power enough to keep a wound-up Crutchlow at bay.

As the pair rounded the final corner with the new leader taking the win, Laverty won the fight, taking second place with Crutchlow third.

Full Race Results:

1 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 34'00.510 (155,831 kph)
2 50 Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 0.368
3 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 0.521
4 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 1.833
5 99 Foret F. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 12.071
6 24 McCoy G. (AUS) Triumph Daytona 675 18.108
7 1 Pitt A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 25.912
8 51 Pirro M. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 26.867
9 14 Lagrive M. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 30.411
10 13 West A. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 31.393
11 5 Pradita T. (INA) Yamaha YZF R6 32.206
12 117 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 32.572
13 21 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 35.491
14 77 Veneman B. (NED) Suzuki GSX-R600 37.164
15 105 Vizziello G. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 39.041
16 69 Nannelli G. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 40.443
17 25 Laverty M. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 51.153
18 28 Vos A. (NED) Honda CBR600RR 52.658
19 30 Günther J. (GER) Honda CBR600RR 54.437
20 53 Polita A. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R600 1'11.500
21 83 Holland R. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 1'11.668
22 88 Guerra Y. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 1'18.385
23 55 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 1'21.462
24 75 Pianykh O. (RUS) Yamaha YZF R6 1'33.636
25 126 Nelson A. (CAN) Yamaha YZF R6 1'40.570
26 89 Yates C. (USA) Suzuki GSX-R600
RET 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR
RET 7 Vostárek P. (CZE) Honda CBR600RR
RET 29 Paris M. (USA) Yamaha YZF R6
RET 8 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR