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The official race report service of Kawasaki Racing Team.

12 November 2022

Öncü On The Podium Once More

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing riders Can Öncü and Yari Montella played their full part in the opening FIM Supersport World Championship race at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, with Can taking a strong third place and Yari ending a positive performance in fifth.

Öncü had been second in Superpole qualifying at this recently resurfaced circuit on the Island of Lombok, with Montella lining up sixth on the grid.

Can set a new lap record of 1’36.303 on lap ten as he chased down top Superpole qualifier and race leader Niki Tuuli. When Tuuli made an error and ran wide with eight laps to go Can pounced for the lead in the hot and humid conditions.

He would lose his confident leading position as his tyre grip dropped, overshooting a curve after almost high-siding, with Tuuli riding past to take the victory.

Can would finally end up third, after Federico Caricasulo also passed him, but his determination and good early pace kept him in a podium position and third in the overall championship fight.

Yari was in line for fourth place but he missed out by just 0.008 seconds as new World Champion Dominique Aegerter just passed him over the finish line.

After the Mandalika round there will be a swift change of location for all as the season finale will take place at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Australia, between 18-20 November.

Can Öncü, stated: “I think we are improving every time and I am proud of my team. I tried my best but made a small mistake on the back straight with a near-highside, so I did not want any more risks. I tried to finish second after that but in the end I had another slide and Caricasulo passed me. I could not do better but it was a good podium. Our dream is, of course, to finish in first position, so let’s target it, hope for it and try to do it.”

Yari Montella, stated: “I ran a good race but perhaps we could have done a little more. I maybe made a mistake in managing the initial phase and lost contact with the leaders. From then on, it was an uphill climb but in the end I brought home a solid fifth place, just missing out on fourth. We need to continue like this because we’ve again shown that we have the potential to reach the podium, so that’s my goal for tomorrow’s race.”

Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) was tenth in Race One, one place ahead of Tom Booth-Amos (Motozoo Racing by Puccetti Kawasaki).

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