It was in 2007 that the Turk Sofuoglu won the Supersport World Championship for the first time, on a Honda. He obtained his second title in 2010, still on a 600 CBR, then he won again in 2012, 2015 and 2016, on Kawasaki, before becoming a senator and stopping racing in 2018. at the request of the President of the Republic. » He has since helped young talents from his country to develop and progress at a global level.
“I miss racing a lot, I often ride motorcycles, because I train almost every day with Toprak Razgatlioglu, Can Öncü and other young people, and I see that I still go fast, but the races are another thing and I really miss them » explained the Turkish senator during a interview on Instagram for WorldSBK.
Can Öncü
« Can Öncü had an incredible race at Valencia in 2018, becoming the youngest driver to win a world race (he was 15), but then he came under too much pressure, even from me, as we all expected another victory or a podium. »
“At some point last year, I told him that if he didn't finish the season well, I would take him to the Supersport 600 World Championship, because he needed a change around him: not just of motorcycles, but of everything around them. »
“At first he didn't agree, then he agreed with me and this year we've only seen him in one World Supersport race, at Phillip Island, but he's already shown good potential (he finished eleventh). I think he just needs time, but he can start doing well next season. »
“There are a lot of differences between our two careers. I had a very difficult season in 2006, although in 2007 I won my first Supersport World Championship. »
“I think Can will need more time to adapt because the 600 is very different from Moto3, and the championships are also very different. I expect him to get on the podium this year and from next year he will start winning. »
“I helped Can Öncü from a young age, he came from motocross, and in 2013 I told him: “ I can't help you much if you stay in motocross, but if you come to the track, I have a chance to help you grow. » I bought him a motorbike to practice on and started racing him around my track. Just five years later he won a Moto3 race. I'm very proud of it. »
Kenan and his best race
“That of the United States in 2009, when I fought with Eugene Laverty and Cal Crutchlow and that I won by leading the last lap. I also fondly remember my first world victory in Assen, but that race in Salt Lake City was very fresh in my mind, and I consider it the best I have ever done. »
Regrets ?
“A lot of people ask me why I didn’t go straight to World Superbike. Well, when I was little, my dream was to race in World Supersport because no Turkish driver had ever done it. Not only was I able to participate, but I also won five titles. »
“Then I also did tests in Superbike and Moto2, but I saw that it would take too long to be competitive and so I gave up. My goal became to open a door to drivers in my country, to encourage them to race. I spent a lot of energy developing drivers. »
Soil
“I think the most successful thing I've done is this: I worked 10 years with Toprak to get him to where he is now. I also made a small track at home where we can practice. And at the beginning, Toprak was very slow. Today he is one of the fastest in the Superbike World Championship. »
“He has already received a good offer from a good MotoGP team. But I told him right away that the goal was to win the World Superbike Championship this year. When I put him on a Superstock 1, I told him straight away that his goal was to win the Superbike World Championship, but not the MotoGP. Because MotoGP is very different from Superbike. »
“Toprak can win many Superbike World Champion titles. If he wins the title, if there is a request for an official team and if Toprak likes it, we will go to MotoGP, but for the moment it is not in our plans. »
“The plan is for him to make World Superbike history, to become like Carl Fogarty, Troy Bayliss, James Toseland… I want Toprak to become a reference like them, for Turkey. But he is still very young, he has a thousand chances before him. »
Bad experience in Superbike
“Going to World Superbike after the Supersport title in 2007 was a big mistake: the problem was that I was alone, I had no one to talk to and ask. »
“If I had stayed in Supersport for a few years, I would have seen that the Honda was not the right bike for Superbike. Honda destroyed the careers of many drivers that season. Jonathan Rea also struggled a lot afterwards. »
Turkish drivers in the World Championship
“Can Öncü is the youngest winner of a Grand Prix in Moto3 and he has made a good start in World Supersport. Deniz Öncü made his first race in Qatar this year and did not have bad results (he finished 12th), Toprak Razgatlioglu is at the highest level in World Superbike and won his first race with Yamaha. We need to bring more drivers from Turkey to the World Championship. »
“A lot of young people come to me, if I see talent, I will do my best to bring them to the World Championship. The Turkish Federation also supports me in this mission. Our country needs good results from athletes. And soon we will have others in motor sports” concluded Kenan Sofuoglu.
