Pata Honda’s Michael Van Der Mark clinched a tight World Supersport victory from Yakhnich’s Jules Cluzel at a very hot Sepang track this morning. It was neck and neck with the both riders vying for the win, especially during the final half of the race. Mahi Racing’s Kenan Sofuoglu took the final step on the podium.
But it was not the best of races for the British and Irish contingent. Three riders crashed during the 14 lapper and the first one to hit the dust was Com Plus Racing’s Fraser Rogers, quickly followed by DMC Panavto-Yamaha’s Kev Coghlan and CIA Insurance Honda's Jack Kennedy – but the trio, all involved in separate incidences appeared unhurt at the track side.
Initially it was Sofuoglu who got the hole shot from pole-setter Cluzel and Pata Honda’s Lorenzo Zanetti. But it was a poor start by Coghlan who began on the front row. On the first lap he got swallowed up and dropped back to tenth, just in front of Kennedy.
On the second lap Van Der Mark regained some pace and got past his team-mate on the home straight to go into third, but could not catch up with leaders Sofuoglu and Cluzel. Coghlan was also moving up the grid. He managed to get in the slip stream of Wilairot and Tamburini to go up to eighth.
But three laps later Coghlan crashed at turn 4 while chasing seventh place from Kawasaki Intermoto’s PJ Jacobsen – ending his chances of a podium finish and some valuable championship points. The Scot was not the only Brit to fall, a lap earlier Com Plus Racing’s Fraser Rogers also hit the gavel at turn 15. He was able to remount to finish the race just outside the points in 16th.
On lap seven Cluzel went wide allowing Van Der Mark to go into second, just behind the triple champ. Rolfo also managed to take advantage of the Frenchman’s mistake and went up into third for the first time during the race.
At turn one, with nine laps remaining Sofuoglu went wide allowing Van Der Mark to lead for the first time in the race with Cluzel and Rolfo snatching a provisional podium place from Sofuoglu, who dropped to fourth.
Further down the field Kennedy was battling with Roberto Tamburini for seventh place but the Dubliner caught the back wheel of the San Carlo backed bike and ended up crashing at turn 14. Some how Kawasaki Intermoto’s Florian Marino ended up following the pair and fell in exactly the same place seconds later, putting a massive dent on his championship.
On the penultimate lap Sofuoglu hit back and took third from Team Go Eleven’s Roberto Rolfo. On the last lap at the humid Malaysian track the battle between Van Der Mark and Cluzel intensified, and the Frenchman took the lead into turn 9, but on the final corner Cluzel went slightly wide – but it was enough to go into the front and even though Cluzel tried to get into the slip-stream of the championship leader, Van Der Mark still took a narrow victory.
Sofuoglu completed the rostrum followed by Rolfo and Zanetti, but the win for the Italian’s team-mate means that Van Der Mark extends his championship lead by 33 points. Sic Racing’s wild-card rider, Zaidi and Team Lorini’s Bussolotti rounded off the top ten.
