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Every active pilot has this question anchored in their mind and which becomes more and more important as the years go by: what next? When you have to leave the stage and return to the ranks after having lived your passion so intensely and experienced fame and popularity, what meaning can you still give to your existence? Kenan Sofuoglu, he chose to enter politics. And listening to it, he would almost bite his fingers...

Kenan Sofuoglu retired on May 13, 2018 following a final injury sustained in Australia. Supersport World Champion in 2007, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016, the Turkish driver invested the money earned in commercial activities and real estate. Then he entered politics. With some success because he now sits in the Turkish parliament. But his life became hell.

During his career, he tried to move up to Superbike in 2008 (18th place) and Moto2 in 2011 (17th) without making any sparks. On the other hand, he is the master of Supersport. No one has won more than him in the category. 5 world titles, 43 races won, 85 podiums and 34 pole positions, 2 points collected and 429 fastest laps. He retired, pushed by a physical state close to wear and tear. But also to respond to the request of the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who wanted him by his side during the elections last June.

A trajectory that he explains thus on speedweek : " currently I am a senator, but the goal is to become minister of sports “. However, Kenan Sofuoglu does not consider himself a politician: “ the others had to have a thirty-year political career before obtaining a seat in parliament. I have arrived and am sitting in Parliament, which makes a lot of characters angry. They are also unhappy with my lifestyle, no other senator drives a Lamborghini and goes to the track with motorcycles. I'm too famous "

His assessment is clear: if he had known, he would not have come. His reputation as a pilot allowed him to win the polls, but in return, now, many people are asking him something: “ they expect me to help Turkey in sport. This is why many believe that I will be the next sports minister, but we will have to wait four years. Building a sports career was very difficult, no one helped me, I had to overcome complicated moments, I gave up a good part of my private life... The first half of my life was hard, I don't want to not that my second part is like that. And I don’t want to constantly worry about other people’s problems…”

He specifies : " everyone wants something from me, they stop me and they want to talk to me. If I apologize and say I don't really have time, then they say they chose me to help them and now I don't listen to them anymore. Everywhere I get stopped, people ask for help and tell me I should solve their problems. But it's impossible"

Many criticize him for having a Lamborghini and a luxury house, while a good politician should drive a normal car and live in a more modest house: " But why ? I did not receive these things from the government. I worked for it, I won world titles and I had a lot of sponsors… When I won, I had a lot of money. And I gained a lot. I'm sure I made more money for each win than Jonathan Rea." comments the one we nicknamed on the track Kenan the Terrible... Very helpless in this environment of sharks.