New Delhi:
Mahi Racing Team India rider Kenan Sofuoglu finished at the top in the seventh leg of the 2013 World Supersport Championship, pipping leader Sam Lowes from previous race by three seconds.
The defending world champion, who began the race in second spot after the qualification rounds held yesterday, overtook Lowes on the first turn itself and then maintained the lead throughout the race which was affected by an oil spill on the track.
Till the spill, Sofuoglu had asserted his supremacy on the race with the fastest lap of 1.51.960 on the third lap to open up a big gap between him and Lowes.
The race was red flagged with 14 laps to go when Prorace Honda rider Valentin Debise had an engine blow out and oil spilled on the track. The race was not immediately stopped but with two more incidents of slipping due to the oil spill forced the race stewards to bring out the red flag and bring an end to the race.
Sofuoglu's victory also ended a four race winning sequence of Lowes.
"Though I would have loved to have taken the chequered flag at the end of the full race, a win is a win and I am very happy to return to finish at the top," said the Turkish rider.
Mahi Racing's second rider Fabien Foret finished 12th in the race.
With Mahi Racing Team getting back to a winning spree, Sofuoglu now stands second in the overall standing with 106 points and is 35 points behind Sam Lowes, whereas Fabien stands at the third position with 85 points.
Mahi Racing Team India Chairman Arun Pandey congratulated Sofuoglu for securing the top position and said the performance today was a proof that they were strongest contender in this year's Championship.
"With half way mark, the performance of the riders is very satisfying right now and we are confident we will be only bettering ourselves from here on," he added.
