An intestinal virus slows Sykes at Mandalika

The second round of the Superbike World Championship taking place at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit of Lombok in Indonesia has not got off to the best start for Kawasaki Puccetti Racing. Rider Tom Sykes is struggling with an intestinal virus that meant he was only able to complete a limited number of laps during the day’s free practices, which ran in hot and sunny conditions.

In the morning’s first session, the English rider’s best time was a 1’37”726, a reference that he was able to improve on later in the day, despite his physical condition limiting the total number of laps made. With a time of 1’36”140, Tom concluded in twentieth place.

If his health permits, Sykes will be back on track tomorrow for the final practice, as well as the subsequent Superpole and race 1.

Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit – Indonesia
Superbike World Championship
Combined free practice results: 1) Rinaldi (Ducati) – 2) Bautista (Ducati) – 3) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 4) Rea (Kawasaki) – 5) Van der Mark (BMW) ……. 20) Sykes (Kawasaki)

Tom Sykes: “Unfortunately, it’s been a difficult couple of days. I’m not very well and have a gastrointestinal problem so I’m suffering with that. Then the track conditions here at Mandalika mean we haven’t had the best day on track either. There is work to be done and there are definitely areas where we can improve with the Puccetti Kawasaki. Tomorrow’s another day though, so hopefully it will bring some improvement, both in terms of my health and the bike. We’ll keep trying.”

Oncu immediately on the pace in WorldSSP practice at Mandalika

The second round of the Supersport World Championship got underway this morning at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit of Lombok in Indonesia. In the first round, held at Phillip Island, Australia, just one week ago, Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider Can Oncu crashed in race 1 before scoring his first podium of the season by finishing third in race 2.

The Turkish rider really likes the Indonesian track and finished both of last year’s races in third place. This morning, in hot and sunny conditions, the young rider took part in first practice, placing sixth by the end of the session with a time of 1’40”784. In the afternoon’s second session, Oncu significantly improved on his performance and set a best of 1’36”729, with which he rounded out the day in second place overall, his goals for the weekend immediately clear to see.

Tomorrow Oncu will compete in the Superpole following by the first race of this second round.

Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit – Indonesia
Supersport World Championship
Combined free practice results: 1) Bulega (Ducati) – 2) Oncu (Kawasaki) – 3) Tuuli (Triumph) – 4) Schroetter (MV Agusta) – 5) Manzi (Yamaha)

Can Oncu: “A good day. I’m very pleased with my bike and immediately had good feeling with it. We’ve improved again compared to the previous round and quickly found a good setup. We also made a race simulation, with excellent results, and so I think the bike is ready for the races. As for me, I can’t wait to get out there. I want to thank the team, as they’ve done an exceptional job as always.”

A stoic Sykes completes Race 1 despite a virus

A difficult day for Tom Sykes and Kawasaki Puccetti Racing as they compete in round 2 of the Superbike World Championship at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit on Lombok in Indonesia.

In the last few days, the Englishman has been suffering from gastroenteritis. He was nevertheless able to take part in Friday’s practice sessions and work with his technical team on the setup of his ZX-10RR.

Unfortunately, he was feeling no better today, but while other riders struck with the same virus decided not to race, Sykes headed out for the morning’s final practice and even improved on his best of yesterday, setting a 1’35”506.

He then took part in Superpole, again lowering his time and finishing seventeenth thanks to a best of 1’34”197. This meant a sixth row start on the grid for the afternoon’s 21-lap race. Sykes’ goal was to collate data in order to be able to continue fine-tuning his bike. After making a good start, Sykes held his initial position. He returned to the garage to make a modification before returning to the track and finishing the race in eighteenth place.

The hope is that Tom will feel better tomorrow and will be able to compete in the Superpole Race and Race 2.

Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit – Indonesia
Superbike World Championship
Combined free practice results: 1) Rinaldi (Ducati) – 2) Bautista (Ducati) – 3) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 4) Bassani (Ducati) – 5) Locatelli (Yamaha) – 6) Rea (Kawasaki) ……. 20) Sykes (Kawasaki)

Superpole: 1) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 2) Locatelli (Yamaha) – 3) Bautista (Ducati) – 4) Rinaldi (Ducati) – 5) Rea (Kawasaki) – 6) Baz (BMW) …………. 17) Sykes (Kawasaki)

Race 1: 1) Bautista (Ducati) – 2) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 3) Locatelli (Yamaha) – 4) Bassani (Ducati) – 5) Petrucci (Ducati) – 6) Van der Mark (BMW) ………. 18) Sykes (Kawasaki)

Can Oncu scores a fantastic win at Mandalika!

The second Supersport World Championship round taking place at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit of Lombok in Indonesia really got going today, with the Superpole and the weekend’s first race.

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider Can Oncu showed his full potential, as well as that of his ZX-6R, when he set the second fastest time (1’36”729) in yesterday’s free practice sessions. Back out this morning for the Superpole, which serves to establish grid positions for the races, the young Turk again proved to be a category frontrunner. With a best time of 1’35”612, he qualified third, meaning a front row spot on the grid for the morning’s 18-lap race. A race that was a triumph for the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider. Having made a very fast start from the front row, Oncu immediately took the lead and set a strong pace that allowed him to move away from the chasing group. On lap five, Can set a new Mandalika track record of 1’35”728. The Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider was consistently the quickest on track and his lead increased to more than three seconds. In the final stages, Oncu was able to manage this lead and cross the line first to score his first ever WorldSSP race win!

In the championship standings, Can Oncu currently lies second with 41 points. The Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider will be back on track tomorrow for the second and final race of this Indonesian WorldSSP round.

Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit – Indonesia
Supersport World Championship

Superpole: 1) Bulega (Ducati) – 2) Caricasulo (Ducati) – 3) Oncu (Kawasaki) – 4) Tuuli (Triumph) – 5) Schroetter (MV Agusta) – 6) De Rosa (Ducati)

Race 1 – 1) Oncu (Kawasaki) – 2) Caricasulo (Ducati) – 3) Tuuli (Triumph) – 4) Schroetter (MV Agusta) – 5) Bulega (Ducati) – 6) Debise (Yamaha)

Can Oncu: “Today was incredible. I was just focused on pushing as hard as I could every lap from the start and I soon saw a gap opening up behind me. So, I just kept pushing. An incredible race and so much fun. I want to say big thanks to Kawasaki, Puccetti Racing, Toprak Razgatlioglu and Kenan Sofuoglu. They have always been there for me and I hope to continue this form and score a good result in Race Two on Sunday. Thanks everyone and thanks Mandalika”.

Sykes’ physical condition makes for tough races at Mandalika

Tom Sykes refused to give in to the gastroenteritis that struck this weekend and competed as usual in the day’s races, which rounded out this second Superbike World Championship round at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit on Lombok in Indonesia.

Yesterday, the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider qualified seventeenth in Superpole, improving on his best free practice time, while in race 1 he finished eighteenth. His physical condition prevented him from expressing his full potential, but the Englishman nevertheless wanted to race and collect useful data with which to continue working on his ZX-10RR.

And this is why Sykes was back out today for Superpole Race and race 2, both of which were stopped with a red flag following accidents for other riders.

In the first, Tom had to return to the garage due to pains owing to the virus, while in the second race electrical problems with his Ninja forced him to retire.

And this is how a very tough round concluded for the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider who, despite the health problems, was still able to work with his team and continue developing the bike. The team’s technical staff will now take to the test bench as they work to remedy the issues that have emerged over the first two Superbike rounds in time for the next races.

The third WorldSBK round will take place on 21-23 April at the TT Assen Circuit in The Netherlands.

Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit – Indonesia
Superbike World Championship

Superpole Race: 1) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 2) Locatelli (Yamaha) – 3) Lowes (Kawasaki) – 4) Rea (Kawasaki) – 5) Bassani (Ducati) – 6) Vierge (Honda) …………. DNF) Sykes (Kawasaki)

Race 2: 1) Bautista (Ducati) – 2) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 3) Vierge (Honda) – 4) Rinaldi (Ducati) – 5) Locatelli (Yamaha) – 6) Petrucci (Ducati) – 7) Gardner (Yamaha) ………. DNF) Sykes (Kawasaki)

Tom Sykes: “It wasn’t easy to get on the bike and start the two races again today. My physical condition is unfortunately no better and I really suffered, especially in the sprint race, so much so that I had to retire, while the race 2 retirement was down to an electrical problem. I wanted to try and race today because it was important for me and the team to have feedback and collect data that can help us to have a more competitive bike for the next rounds. A big thanks to the team for their great work here and we’ll be back for Assen.”

Oncu just misses the podium in WorldSSP race 2 at Mandalika

The second round of the Supersport World Championship has concluded today at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit of Lombok in Indonesia.

After scoring a first fantastic win in yesterday’s race 1, Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider Can Oncu lined up for the weekend’s second and final race, starting from second on the grid thanks to his Superpole result.

In hot and sunny conditions, the race ran over a distance of 18 laps and saw Oncu make a very fast start. Lying second through the opening stages, Oncu then moved into the lead, part of a group of four riders. Six laps from the end, and also due to a drop in his tyre performance, Can had to slow his pace a little and was passed by his rivals, crossing the line in eventual fourth position.
Another positive result for the young Turkish rider, who lies third in the general standings with 54 points.

The next Superbike World Championship round will play out on 21-23 April at the Assen TT Circuit in The Netherlands.

Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit – Indonesia
Supersport World Championship

Race 2 – 1) Caricasulo (Ducati) – 2) Manzi (Yamaha) – 3) Bulega (Ducati) – 4) Oncu (Kawasaki) – 5) Schroetter (MV Agusta) – 6) Tuuli (Triumph) – 7) De Rosa (Ducati)

Can Oncu: “We did a good job, I think. We were faster than yesterday, just not fast enough. We have to improve and in the hot conditions we know we suffer every time. And today was much hotter than Saturday. But I think it is OK because at least we took good points. We did consistent laps but the other guys were faster at the end. We did not ‘drop’, we just suffer a bit in hot conditions. Now we will work more and come back fast at Assen, which is one of my favourite tracks. We will continue there.”