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The official race report service of Kawasaki Racing Team.

19 September 2021

De Rosa A Fraction From Catalunya Win

Philipp Öttl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was eighth in Race Two and his team-mate Can Öncü no scored after a fall while competing in the leading WorldSSP group. Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) was once again the top Kawasaki rider as he finished second, within 0.021 seconds of what would have been his first career race victory in this category.

After day one’s suddenly wet track surface caused much disruption for all Race Two was held in almost perfect sunny conditions. The pace at the start was such that that rapidly advancing Öncü would set a new lap record on the revised Catalunya layout, with a 1’45.486 on Lap Three.

Öttl was in early podium contention too but even though he moderated his pace to look after his race-long tyre performance he experienced a drop in traction that would see him finally finish a battling eighth, after 18 laps.

Leading from lap four to lap five Can was riding confidently after a recent podium showing in France, but he finally fell on lap eight, at Turn Five. He rode back to the pits but his bike was too damaged to continue in the pursuit of more championship points.

It was the resurgent De Rosa that was to take more podium glory today, leading the race from the 12th lap until the last few corners. Using all his experience he pulled out of eventual race winner Manuel Gonzalez’s slipstream on the approach to the finish line but his much-coveted race win proved agonisingly elusive again.

In the championship, after eight rounds, Öttl is fourth with 197 points, De Rosa is eighth with 113 and Öncü tenth with 103.

The next round takes place next weekend, at the Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto, between 24 and 26 September.

Philipp Öttl, stated: “It was a strange weekend because we started very well but in FP2 we lost our way completely. I don’t know what we could have done differently. We tried a few things but nothing really seemed to work. I tried to save the tyre in the beginning of the race, which worked not so badly. Pirelli advised us to do so, but the tyre was done in the end. I lost three or four positions after that. We have to look forward because we have been strong on so many occasions this year.”

Can Öncü, stated: “My race was short. I crashed but we need to look forward positively because we have done a good job. Compared to the start of the season we have improved a lot. From this crash we need to learn that mistakes can happen but this crash makes us stronger. We will be stronger in the races in Jerez. Now our target is not to make a podium but to win.”

Raffaele De Rosa, stated: “We were very close to winning today but I am happy to add this podium to the one we scored yesterday. Today, we needed to confirm that result and I am happy we did. The team works hard every weekend and they believe in me. I tried to win but I did not expect a pass in the point that Manuel made it. I am very happy and confident for the rest of the season.”

Leonardo Taccini (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) was 13th and in the points in Race Two, while Michel Fabrizio (G.A.P. Motozoo Racing by Puccetti Kawasaki) ended up 21st and his team-mate Shogo Kawasaki 25th.

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