Kenan Sofuoğlu (born 25 August 1984 in Kuzuluk, Akyazı) is a Turkish parliamentarian and former professional motorcycle racer. He holds a record five Supersport World Championship titles (2007, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016). Sofuoğlu also competed at the Superbike World Championship in 2008 and at the Moto2 World Championship in 2010 and 2011.
| Kenan Sofuoğlu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Sofuoğlu in 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Turkish | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 25 August 1984 Kuzuluk, Akyazı, Sakarya Province, Turkey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sofuoğlu announced his retirement from racing in May 2018,[1] and became an elected politician in June 2018.[2] He made a brief comeback appearance at the Imola, Italy, World Championship event on 13 May where he qualified in third place but entered the pit lane immediately after the sighting lap, choosing to withdraw from the race.[3]
He suffered injuries in a crash at Phillip Island, Australia, earlier in 2018, exacerbating his previous pelvis fracture from a crash during practice at Magny-Cours, France, on 30 September 2017,[1] which initially appeared to have ended participation in the 2017 season.[4] After a period of only five weeks, he returned to participate in the last meeting at Qatar,[5] finishing the race in third place and totalling enough points to finish second in the championship.
Sofuoğlu also competed in Moto2 for the Technomag-CIP team, having made his debut at the end of 2010 and remained with the team for the 2011 season.[6] He previously won the Supersport World Championship with Ten Kate Honda in 2007 and 2010. He raced in the World Superbike Championship for Ten Kate in 2008, but with limited success.
Racing for Kawasaki in 2012, Sofuoğlu claimed his third Supersport World Championship at the Portuguese Grand Prix, in the penultimate race.[7]
As a five-time champion, Sofuoglu is the most successful rider to have competed in the Supersport World Championship and holds many records in the class.[8]
Career
editSupersport & Superbike World Championship
editAfter winning Class B of the Turkish Supersport Championship in 2000 and the German Yamaha R6 Cup in 2002, Sofuoğlu moved into the European Superstock Championship, finishing second and third in two seasons. Subsequently, Sofuoğlu entered the Supersport World Championship full-time in 2006 after three races in 2003. Sofuoğlu dominated the 2007 season, winning five of the first eight races, and broke the record for the most wins in one season. These included a two-lap charge from sixth to first at Monza, and a win on his first ever visit to Donington Park, in the wet. He also won at Losail, Spain and Assen, Netherlands. He clinched the championship with three races to go, by finishing second at Brands Hatch, becoming Turkey's first major motorsport world champion.[9]
Sofuoğlu then signed with Ten Kate Honda for three more years. For 2008 he rode a 3rd Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR in World Superbikes, as part of a junior team. He was not successful, and returned to Supersport with the team for 2009. This time the team struggled to match Cal Crutchlow's Yamaha and the Parkalgar Honda of Eugene Laverty, leaving Sofuoğlu to fight for third in the standings. He opened 2010 with a succession of podium finishes, leaving him in a 3-way championship battle with Laverty and Motocard Kawasaki's Joan Lascorz. He eventually claimed the title, finishing on the podium in every race.
For 2013, as the world champion, Sofuoğlu had the option of riding for the Italian Pedercini Team but he opted to join the Indian Mahi Team owned by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.[10]
Moto2 World Championship
editTowards the end of the 2010 season Sofuoğlu appeared in Moto2 at the Portuguese Grand Prix, with the Technomag-CIP team, replacing Shoya Tomizawa, who had died in an incident at Misano. Sofuoğlu was fourth fastest in practice, which put him on the front row after qualifying was rained out. The race marked his first ever dry laps on the bike, but he led for the majority of the race before finishing the race in fifth despite having to try to adjust the handlebars of the bike while racing.[11] Sofuoğlu remained with the team in 2011, riding one of the team's Suters.[6] His best finish was 2nd place at Assen.
Injuries
editDuring training for the 2017 Supersport World Championship in early February, Sofuoğlu broke a finger bone. He had to undergo two operations. Just before the first round of the championship in Australia, he performed a two-day test, but was not ready to race because of pain when braking, and decided not to start. He flew back home to undergo another operation, and stated that he would miss the opening two rounds, but would be present again in Spain, the third round of the championship.[12]
On 30 September Sofuoğlu broke his pelvis in three places after a crash during the Superpole session of a championship race in France.[13] The same day, he was flown to Istanbul, Turkey for medical care by air ambulance. His doctor stated that Sofuğlu could be discharged from the hospital in 5–6 weeks if everything went right.[14] Sofuoğlu confirmed the recovery period as 12 weeks.[15]
After a period of only five weeks he returned to participate in the last meeting at Qatar,[5] finishing the race in third place and totalling points for second place the championship.
Sofuoglu announced his retirement from racing on the build-up to the fifth round of the 2018 season at Imola after sustaining another injury at Phillip Island. This is in addition to a crash at Magny-Cours in the previous year, when he suffered a hip injury.
Career statistics
editSupersport World Championship
editRaces by year
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Superbike World Championship
editBy season
edit| Season | Motorcycle | Team | Number | Race | Win | Podium | Pole | FLap | Pts | Plcd | WCh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Honda CBR1000RR | Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Jr. | 54 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 18th | 0 |
| Total | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 0 |
Races by year
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Bike | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Pos | Pts | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | ||||
| 2008 | Honda | QAT 12 |
QAT 10 |
AUS 14 |
AUS 11 |
ESP 12 |
ESP 15 |
NED 12 |
NED 19 |
ITA DNS |
ITA DNS |
USA 12 |
USA 14 |
GER Ret |
GER 21 |
SMR 18 |
SMR Ret |
CZE 10 |
CZE 10 |
GBR 13 |
GBR 17 |
EUR Ret |
EUR DNS |
ITA Ret |
ITA Ret |
FRA 9 |
FRA 19 |
POR | POR | 18th | 54 |
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
editBy season
edit| Season | Class | Motorcycle | Type | Team | Number | Races | Win | Podium | Pole | Pts | Plcd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Moto2 | Suter | Suter MMX | TechnoMag-CIP | 54 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 29th |
| 2011 | Moto2 | Suter | Suter MMXI | TechnoMag-CIP | 54 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 59 | 17th |
| Total | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 70 |
By class
edit| Class | Seasons | 1st GP | 1st Pod | Race | Win | Podiums | Pole | FLap | Pts | WChmp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moto2 | 2010–2011 | 2010 Portugal | 2011 Netherlands | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 0 |
| Total | 2010–2011 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 0 | ||
Races by year
edit(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Class | Bike | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Pos | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Moto2 | Suter | QAT | SPA | FRA | ITA | GBR | NED | CAT | GER | CZE | INP | RSM | ARA | JPN | MAL | AUS | POR 5 |
VAL Ret |
29th | 11 |
| 2011 | Moto2 | Suter | QAT 18 |
SPA 16 |
POR Ret |
FRA 26 |
CAT Ret |
GBR 8 |
NED 2 |
ITA 10 |
GER 11 |
CZE 10 |
INP DNS |
RSM | ARA | JPN 19 |
AUS 6 |
MAL 12 |
VAL 20 |
17th | 59 |
Politics
editSofuoğlu was elected in June 2018 as a Justice and Development Party (AK Party) parliamentarian for the Sakarya Province.[2]
On 4 July 2018, the Turkish parliament's opening day for the 2018–2019 session, Sofuoğlu arrived driving a Lamborghini Aventador, which he parked in a space reserved for an opposition deputy.[16] This drew criticism about the "luxury car" but Sofuoğlu—who also owns two Mercedes SUVs, a Ferrari, and a Fiat 124—responded that the critics have taken aim at him because of his party affiliation and the car was only an excuse.[17] Sofuoğlu has stated he gives his elected deputy's salary to charity.[18]
Personal life
editSofuoğlu is the third child of İrfan Basri Sofuoğlu and his wife Nurhayat.[19] He has one sister and two brothers. His father is a motorcycle repairman with his own garage. Two of Sofuoğlu's brothers, who were also local motorcycle racers, have died in accidents. Sofuoğlu's eldest brother Bahattin, himself a domestic Turkish motorcycling champion, died in a traffic accident in 2002. His next eldest brother Sinan died during a race training incident at the İzmit Körfez Circuit in May 2008.[20]
Sofuoğlu speaks German, French, English and Turkish.[21] Sofuoğlu is a practising Muslim, and observes daytime fasting during Ramadan. His bike number 54 stems from his home town's (Sakarya Province in Turkey) license plate number. He has noted that his riding style uses too much upper-body effort, causing him to tire on the bike.
On 3 September 2014 he married Julia Looman, after a two-year engagement. After the wedding ceremony in his hometown Sakarya, the couple flew to Barcelona, Spain.[22]
On 14 March 2015 Kenan Sofuoğlu became the father of a son named Hamza, who was born in the Netherlands. On 2 May 2015 the infant suffered a cerebral hemorrhage during a family holiday in Alanya. He was transferred to Istanbul, and underwent surgery.[23] Hamza died on 25 July 2015, aged four months, and was buried in the family grave at Akyazı, Sakarya.[24]
Since then, the couple has welcomed four more children into the world. Mahir Sofuoğlu, born 19 April 2016, Zayn Sofuoğlu, born 11 April 2019, Lila Sofuoğlu, born 26 May 2021, and Rayen Sofuoğlu, born in 2023.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Supersport legend Sofuoglu to retire after Imola www.motorsport.com 7 May, 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018
- ^ a b Colorful figures from athletes to actors win seats in Parliament Daily Sabah, June 26 2018. Retrieved August 27 2018
- ^ Sofuoglu pulls out of farewell Supersport race www.motorsport.com 7 May, 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018
- ^ Magny-Cours WorldSBK: Sofuoglu confirms crash is season-ending Bike Sport News, 1 October 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017
- ^ a b Mahias on top, Sofuoglu set for second medical assessment before FP3 crash.net, 2 November 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2017
- ^ a b "Kenan Sofuoglu chooses Technomag for 2011". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
- ^ "Turkish rider Sofuoğlu crowned 2012 champ". Today's Zaman. Archived from the original on September 24, 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
- ^ Paddock Talk, 4 October 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2017
- ^ "Turkish Press Review". World Bulletin. CM Bilişim & Capitol Medya. 6 August 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Dhoni's humility touching: Sofuoglu". The Times of India. 30 March 2013. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013.
- ^ Beer, Matt (31 October 2010). "Bradl wins, Sofuoglu stars in Moto2". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
- ^ "Kenan Sofuoglu out of opening two rounds due to injury". SBK Motul. 2017-02-21. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
- ^ "Sofuoglu declared unfit in France". SBK Motul. 2017-09-30. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
- ^ "Kenan Sofuoğlu'nun sağlık durumu hakkında açıklama". NTV (in Turkish). 2017-10-01. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
- ^ Sofuoglu begins rehabilitation following crash in France worldsbk.com, 30 September 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017
- ^ "AKP deputy arrives at parliament with Lamborghini". Ahval. London. 4 July 2018. Archived from the original on 8 September 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- ^ "Kenan Sofuoğlu Meclis'e Lamborghini ile gitti" [Kenan Sofuoglu went to the Parliament with a Lamborghini]. Hürriyet (in Turkish). 4 July 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- ^ "Kenan Sofuoğlu Lamborghini eleştirilerine yanıt verdi" [Kenan Sofuoğlu responds to Lamborghini criticism]. Cumhuriyet (in Turkish). 7 July 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- ^ Zabcı, Faruk (2010-10-04). "Kenan'dan büyük başarı". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 2010-10-07.
- ^ Ntvmsnbc.com related news(in Turkish)
- ^ KENAN SOFUOGLU
- ^ "Kenan Sofuoğlu ve Julia Looman evlendi (3 Eylül 2014)". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 2014-09-04. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
- ^ "Kenan Sofuoğlu evlat üzüntüsüyle İtalya'ya gitti". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 2015-05-08. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
- ^ "Kenan Sofuoğlu'nun oğlu Hamza toprağa verildi". NTV Turkey (in Turkish). 2015-07-26. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
External links
edit
- Kenan Sofuoğlu at MotoGP.com
- Kenan Sofuoğlu at WorldSBK.com
