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Misano WorldSBK: Sofuoglu makes it four wins in a row

Reigning WorldSSP Champion Kenan Sofuoglu fended off a challenge from Jules Cluzel at Misano to take his fourth win in a row and cut the gap to series leader Lucas Mathias to five points after the Frenchman crashed twice.

Sofuoglu took the holeshot from pole but Yamaha’s Mathias passed him early on lap one for the lead. Federico Caricasulo followed them with Christian Gamarino, Cluzel and Britain’s Luke Stapleford the front runners.

It took the Puccetti Kawasaki man just one lap to get back in front, slipping up the inside at turn two as Cluzel started to make up places. On lap three, Mathias lost the front at turn four, re-mounted and then dumped it again at turn eight, returning to his garage looking dusty and forlorn.

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It promoted Caricasulo to second and Cluzel to third but with 12 to go, the Frenchman put a move on Sofuoglu, touching into turn nine and attempted an escape. It was not to be though as even though he had a harder front Pirelli, he wasn’t able to get away and Sofuoglu was back in front with six to go.

Cluzel was fractions a lap slower but a small error with two laps left was a wake-up call and the CIA Honda man decided to settle for second and 20 points. Caricasulo ended in a lonely third with MV Agusta PJ Jacobsen in fourth.

Britain’s Kyle Smith and Gino Rea had a race-long battle for fifth place with the Honda man just edging the Londoner out. Axel Bassani was seventh, Sheridan Morais eighth, Hannes Soomer ninth and Anthony West completed the top ten.

Kyke Ryde scraped home in 14th for two points while Luke Stapleford crashed out of fifth place with nine laps left, going down at turn 14. Stefan Hill ended his first race back from injury in 23rd.

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