Friday – Free Practice

First day of WorldSBK practice for Kawasaki Puccetti Racing at the Motorland Aragon circuit in Alcaniz, Spain. The long wait is over, as are the winter tests, which Lucas Mahias and his technical staff carried out in preparation for the Superbike World Championship, which began this morning at the Spanish track, in cool, sunny conditions.

In the first free practice session, the French rider set a time of 1’51”115, which saw him place thirteenth at the end of the opening phase. Lucas could have done more if he hadn’t crashed in the final stages. A crash that did not only compromise his lap time but also seriously damaged his bike, the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing technicians having to work until just a few moments prior to session two to repair it.

Mahias made a cautious start to FP2 before pushing harder in the final stages to set a 1’51”278, very similar to his earlier time, which meant he rounded out day one in seventeenth place in the combined standings.

Motorland Aragon – Superbike World Championship
Combined free practice results: 1) Rea (Kawasaki) – 2) Bautista (Ducati) – 3) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 4) Gerloff (Yamaha) – 5) Rinaldi (Ducati) ………….. 17) Mahias (Kawasaki)

Lucas Mahias

“It’s been a strange day. This morning I started quite well and set a good time, but then I crashed when I put a new tyre in. It was a bad crash and my bike was badly damaged. It was my mistake and I’m really sorry for our technicians as they had to work very hard to allow me to head back out on track. This afternoon’s session wasn’t easy. First I tried to find good feeling with my bike, but I was unable to improve on my best lap. Tomorrow we’ll continue to work on the set-up of my Ninja in FP3 and then I hope to run a good Superpole and, above all, a good race.”

Oncu quick in WorldSSP free practice

The first round of the Supersport World Championship has got underway today at Motorland Aragon, near Alcaniz in Spain. Having completed testing at this track on Monday and Tuesday of this week, Kawasaki Puccetti Racing riders Can Oncu and Yari Montella were back out for the first free practice this morning, which ran on a dry track but in fairly cool temperatures. The Turkish rider set a time of 1’54”478 to finish fourth, while Montella placed thirteenth with a best of 1’55”128.

The second and final practice ran in the afternoon, a session during which Oncu was able to improve on his earlier time (1’54”315) and round out the day in fifth place in the combined standings. Montella also lowered his time and finished fourteenth thanks to a 1’54”891.

Motorland Aragon –Supersport World Championship
Combined free practice results: 1) Aegerter (Yamaha) – 2) Bulega (Ducati) – 3) Baldassarri (Yamaha) – 4) Tuuli (MV Agusta) – 5) Oncu (Kawasaki) ……. 14) Montella (Kawasaki)

Can Oncu

“We worked hard again today, continuing with the work started during winter testing. We’ve focused on our race pace, also carrying some simulations, and the results have been very positive. Our goal was to be ready for the first race, and I think we are. Now all we need do is a complete a solid qualifying session tomorrow in order to earn a good grid position. My feeling with the bike is good and I’m optimistic ahead of the first race of the season. Thanks to my team as they’ve done an amazing job as ever.”

Yari Montella

“It’s been a productive day. Together with my team, I was able to focus on preparing for the race rather than on the lap times. There are some sections of the track where I need to improve, but I’ve analysed the data together with the team and understand how and where to intervene to shave off a few tenths. I’m sure we’ll do better tomorrow and I’m confident ahead of both Superpole and the first race. A big thank you to my entire team.”

Saturday – Race Day

Mahias in the points zone

Conditions were sunny yet windy for the second day of World Superbike action at Motorland Aragon in Spain today. After yesterday’s practice session, in which he finished seventeenth with a time of 1’51’115, Kawasaki Puccetti Racing rider Lucas Mahias took part in the third and final practice this morning, setting a 1’51”833 and confirming seventeenth place in the overall free practice standings.

The French rider was then back on track for the first Superpole of the season. Despite improving on his best lap of the weekend with a 1’50”081, Lucas did not improve on his position and classified seventeenth once again.

He therefore lined up on the sixth row of the grid for the afternoon’s 18-lap race. Mahias did not make a strong start but soon got into a good rhythm that allowed him to make up positions. The rider ultimately crossed the line in fourteenth place, scoring two championship points as a result.

The French rider and Kawasaki Puccetti Racing aspire to do much better than his, but considering the difficulties experienced during practice, today’s result can be deemed positive.

Motorland Aragon – Superbike World Championship
Combined free practice results: 1) Rea (Kawasaki) – 2) Baz (BMW) – 3) Bautista (Ducati) – 4) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 5) Gerloff (Yamaha) – 6) Oettl (Ducati) ………….. 17) Mahias (Kawasaki)

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

Race 1: 1) Rea (Kawasaki) – 2) Bautista (Ducati) – 3) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 4) Rinaldi (Ducati) – 5) Locatelli (Yamaha) – 6) Lecuona (Honda) ………. 14) Mahias (Kawasaki)

Lucas Mahias

“The Superpole result was not what I’d hoped for, but after yesterday’s crash I struggled to get back into a rhythm and temperatures were low this morning too, so I definitely didn’t want to risk another crash. The race wasn’t so bad. My goals were to try and find a fast pace and regain confidence with my bike. And I can say that I did both. If I’d started further forward, I could have battled in the chasing group I think. A satisfactory race, which has allowed us to collect a lot of data that will be useful for tomorrow’s races. I want to thank the whole team for all their help.”

Oncu on the podium for the first WorldSSP race at Aragon

The first round of the Supersport World Championship continued today at Motorland Aragon in Spain with the Superpole phase and first race. In yesterday’s free practice, Kawasaki Puccetti Racing riders Can Oncu and Yari Montella both put in a convincing performance. The young Turk scored fifth place with a time of 1’54”315, while the Italian finished fourteenth with a 1’54”891.

The pair returned to the track this morning for Superpole, the session that establishes the grid positions for the weekend’s two races.

Oncu did extremely well, stopping the clock on 1’53”128 to earn third place and, therefore, a sport on the front row of the race grid.

Montella also completed a strong Superpole, improving on his previous best by more than a second. A ninth-place finish for him, which translates into a third row start for the first of the season’s races.

The first race got underway this afternoon. Oncu got away very well and immediately moved into the lead, setting a very strong pace. By the mid-race point, the leading group comprised just three riders and on lap nine, the young Turk lost his lead but remained a frontrunner. Only the final stages did Can have to reduce his pace due to tyre wear, the rider crossing the line in third place and scoring precious championship points in the process.

Montella ran an unlucky race. The Italian had made a good start and was gaining ground when he unfortunately suffered a crash that prevented him from continuing.

Motorland Aragon – Supersport World Championship
Superpole: 1) Baldassarri (Yamaha) – 2) Aegerter (Yamaha) – 3) Oncu (Kawasaki) – 4) Bulega (Ducati) – 5) Van Straalen (Yamaha) ……. 9) Montella (Kawasaki)

Race 1 – 1) Baldassarri (Yamaha) – 2) Aegerter (Yamaha) – 3) Oncu (Kawasaki) – 4) Van Straalen (Yamaha) – 5) Bulega (Ducati) – 6) Tuuli (MV Agusta) ……. DNF) Montella (Kawasaki)

Can Oncu

“A good race and we finished third. I enjoyed it a lot! Of course we made some mistakes that I hope we do not make tomorrow. The mistake was my mistake, not the team’s, but tomorrow I will not make that same mistake. We will try to win but that’s all for today. We are happy today and we will try to be more happy tomorrow.”

Yari Montella

“Sadly I don’t have much to say. I started well and was getting into a rhythm to be able to make up ground when I lost control of the bike, first at the rear and then at the front, and was unable to avoid a crash. I’m sorry because it’s not a good way to start the season, particularly for my team as they’re working so hard for me. Things will be better tomorrow, when I’ll do all I can to make up for today.”

Sunday – Race Day 2

Mahias just outside the top 10

In action at Motorland Aragon, Kawasaki Puccetti Racing has completed the final two races making up the opening round of the Superbike World Championship with rider Lucas Mahias. After finishing seventeenth in yesterday’s Superpole, Lucas crossed the line in fourteenth position in the subsequent race, scoring his first two points of the season.

This morning saw Mahias compete in the Superpole Race, which runs over a distance of ten laps. He started from seventeenth place, on row six of the grid, based on the result he scored in yesterday’s Superpole. Having made a good start, the French rider maintained a consistent pace that allowed him to move up the field and cross the line fourteenth.

In the afternoon, Lucas lined up for the third and final race of this first WorldSBK round. On the back of his fourteenth-place finish in the Superpole race, Mahias started race 2 from the fifth row.

The Frenchman got away well when the lights went out, and after successfully passing several rivals, he battled in a group comprising six riders. Lapping with strong pace and without making any mistakes, Lucas finished the race in eleventh place, scoring five championship points. An excellent result considering that the weekend started in a rather difficult way.

The next Superbike World Championship round is scheduled to take place at the Assen circuit in The Netherlands on 22-24 April.

Motorland Aragon –Superbike World Championship
Superpole race: 1) Bautista (Ducati) – 2) Rea (Kawasaki) – 3) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 4) Rinaldi (Ducati) – 5) Locatelli (Yamaha) – 6) Lowes (Kawasaki) ……. 14) Mahias (Kawasaki)

Race 2: 1) Bautista (Ducati) – 2) Rea (Kawasaki) – 3) Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) – 4) Rinaldi (Ducati) – 5) Lowes (Kawasaki) – 6) Bassani (Ducati) ………. 11) Mahias (Kawasaki)

Lucas Mahias

“Today was a positive day. In the Superpole race, I tried to build confidence with my bike and maintain a constant rhythm. In race 2, I started well and tried to increase my pace. This allowed me to remain part of the chasing group and score a solid eleventh place finish. After the crash and the problems I had during practice, I think I found good feeling with my bike again today and so I’m optimistic as we look ahead to the rest of the season. I want to thank my team for all their help.”

A technical problem stops Oncu on his last lap

The first round of the Supersport World Championship has now concluded for Kawasaki Puccetti Racing and its riders Can Oncu and Yari MOntella at Motorland Aragon in Spain.
After finishing third and ninth in yesterday’s Superpole, Oncu and Montella scored very different results in race 1. While the Turk ran a great race to reach the third step of the rostrum, the Italian was unlucky, crashing on lap five and forced to retire.

Today’s race got underway in the late morning. Like yesterday, based on the Superpole result, Oncu got away from the front row and Montella from the third. The young Turk got away very well and moved into third position, while Montella was soon able to make up ground and position just behind his team-mate after the first corners. As the race went on, the leading trio, which comprised Can, built a significant lead, while Montella lay fifth, part of the chasing group. Just as a third-place finish looked to be a sure thing, Oncu was forced to stop at the side of the track on the very last lap due to an electrical problem. Montella, who maintained a strong pace throughout the race, only lost a few positions in the final stages, crossing the line seventh.

In the championship standings, Oncu positions seventh with 16 points, while Montella is twelfth with 9.

The next round of the Supersport World Championship will take place on 22-24 April at the Assen TT circuit in The Netherlands.

Motorland Aragon – Supersport World Championship
Race 2 – 1) Aegerter (Yamaha) – 2) Baldassarri (Yamaha) – 3) Bulega (Ducati) – 4) Van Straalen (Yamaha) – 5) Tuuli (MV Agusta) – 6) Cluzel (Yamaha) – 7) Montella (Kawasaki)…… nc) Oncu (Kawasaki)

Can Oncu

“What bad luck. I was in the leading group all race long, trying to conserve the tyres of the final laps, but at a certain point the bike switched off and I had no choice but to retire. Unbelievable, also because it wasn’t the engine, but an electrical component. While I’m disappointed about the result, our performance in the first two races has confirmed our potential. Now we’ll turn the page and focus on the next round at Assen. Thanks to the team for their great support.”

Yari Montella

“Today’s result boosts morale for the next races. After yesterday’s bad luck, today I tried not to make any mistakes and understand how to exploit the bike’s potential. I was able to maintain a strong pace, but my inexperience in terms of tyre management showed and I lost a few positions. We’ve taken a good step forward anyway and so I am optimistic as we look ahead to the Assen race in two weeks’ time. Big thanks to the team.”