British rider Kyle Ryde has parted ways with the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing outfit ahead of the final two rounds of the World Supersport Championship.
Ryde joined the Supersport World Championship full–time in 2016 after an impressive wildcard outing on a Yamaha at Donington in 2015, in which the 2014 National Superstock 600 champion finished third.
Moving to reigning champions Puccetti for 2017, Ryde‘s season started well with a fourth and fifth–place finish in Australia and Thailand.
However, since the summer break Ryde has failed to score any points, and it is this lack of strong results alonide financial troubles that has forced both parties to mutually go their separate ways.
“It is with sadness that Kawasaki Puccetti team announces that, with immediate effect and by mutual agreement, the amicable ending of the partnership between Kyle Ryde and the Puccetti Racing Team in the World Supersport Championship,” a team statement read.
“This is due to a number of performance and financial reasons agreed between Puccetti team and Ryde which have regrettably not reached fruition.
“Being in a high profile world championship winning team seemed, initially, like a dream come true for Kyle but, as the season unfolded and despite the committed hard work from both Kyle and the team’s technical personnel, it became clear that the team’s structure could not successfully accommodate Kyle’s needs while also focusing on another rider likely to win a world championship.
“Unfortunately, Kyle also found that his laptimes on the differently configured and lower specification Ninja ZX–6R ridden at the end of last season were considerably better.
“With these factors in mind, the hard decision was made that Kyle should step down to provide the team with the immediate opportunity to run with another rider at the final two rounds of the championship.
“The partnership was formed with genuine positive intent and goodwill, and so Kyle would like to wish everyone at the Puccetti Racing Team every future success and to also wish Kenan (Sofuoglu, team–mate) a full and speedy recovery from his recent injuries.
“Kyle would also like to take this time to thank everyone involved, particularly his sponsors, Jonathan Rea and all the Team 77 members.
“This now gives Kyle time to look ahead and focus on next season and his future racing career.”
The Puccetti team is yet to announce a replacement for Ryde to partner now ex-team-mate Michael Canducci for the final two rounds of the season at Jerez and Qatar.
At Magny–Cours, Puccetti rider Kenan Sofuoglu‘s hopes of a sixth WorldSSP title were ended when he suffered a hip injury in a Superpole fall.
The Turkish rider flew home for surgery and has been given a recovery time of at least 12 weeks. GRT Yamaha rider Lucas Mahias currently leads the standings by nine points.
