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4 September 2024

Season Restarts In France For Öncü

Can Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) will get his 2024 WorldSSP campaign back on track between 6-8 September at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in France.

The regularly visited 4.411km long WorldSBK circuit located in the epicentre of France will form the eighth round of the season, which is taking place four weeks after the previous event in Portugal.

The 2024 season has presented some challenges to Öncü but the 14-times podium scorer and proven race winner is ready to compete once again at what has been a good circuit for Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R riders in the past.

Can has already been the second fastest qualifier this season, at round two in Barcelona-Catalunya, with a best race finish of seventh at the most recent round in Portugal.

In a hugely competitive season this year Can is currently 13th overall, with 52 points to his credit.

He is now 18 points from the rider in tenth place with five rounds and ten points scoring races to go in the season.

Under new 2024 championship regulations Free Practice and Superpole qualifying will start the weekend, on Friday 6 September. Race One, over 19 laps, will take place on Saturday 7 September, with another 19-lap points scoring contest on Sunday.

A slight change in the regular WorldSBK weekend schedule at this round will see the WorldSSP races take place at 15.15 CET on Saturday and then 14.00 on Sunday. 

Can Öncü, stated: “In Portugal I was able to obtain my best result of the season, but we want more of course. We’re looking for the best setup for our bike and, physically, I’m training hard so that I’m ready for this round. It will be important to quickly adapt our bike to the French track if we want a good grid position so that we can aim high in both races.”

Local rider Guillaume Antiga will ride in place of Marcel Brenner (Viamo Racing by MTM Kawasaki) at Magny-Cours. Gabriele Giannini (Prodina Kawasaki) will once more take part in the WorldSSP Championship itself, and the WorldSSP Challenge, for riders who compete at the European races only.

After the French round has been completed there will be one free weekend before an intense finish to the WorldSSP season features four race weekends in five weeks. The first of those will be a local round for the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing Team, at the Cremona circuit in Italy between 20-22 September.

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