---
title: "Sofuoglu to remain with Puccetti for 2018 Supersport campaign"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2017/05/31/sofuoglu-remain-puccetti-2018-supersport-campaign/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "SBK"
published: "2017-05-31T19:15:17Z"
modified: "2017-05-31T19:15:46Z"
---

# Sofuoglu to remain with Puccetti for 2018 Supersport campaign

Reigning World Supersport champion Kenan Sofuoglu has signed a one-year deal to remain with the Puccetti Racing Kawasaki team for the 2018 season.

The Turkish rider is a five-times world champion in the 600cc class, winning three of his titles with Kawasaki and the previous two with the Puccetti outfit.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/05/689427006.jpg)

The defence of his fifth crown got off to a troubled start, Sofuoglu breaking his wrist in the off-season, which resulted in him sitting out the opening two rounds. A crash whilst fighting for the podium on his return in Aragon saw his title tilt take another knock.

Casting the championship to the back of his mind after that and instead focusing solely on race wins, Sofuoglu stormed to victory at Assen, Imola and Donington, bringing his deficit to championship leader Lucas Mahias down to 30 points with six rounds left this season.

Entering his 10th full season in WorldSSP in 2018, Sofuoglu has put his decision to stay down to his strong relationship with Kawasaki and hard work the Puccetti team do in preparing him a bike he can extract the maximum from.

![Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2017/05/689049420.jpg)

“Firstly I would like to say a big thanks to Kawasaki,” he said.

“They see me as ‘their’ rider and they would be very happy for me to stay in WorldSSP and keep winning on their bike.

“From my side, I have a very good connection with Kawasaki, especially Racing Manager for Europe, Steve Guttridge. When he brings anything to me I do not have to think about it.

“The Kawasaki Puccetti Racing team is another reason I want to continue, as I am really enjoying my racing and they are doing a great job. They build me a bike which is ready to win.

“All of these reasons have lined up perfectly to allow me to continue racing and enjoy my riding. The bike gives us what we need to win races and it has proved itself at the highest level.

“Right now we are taking 100% from the bike. With all of these things together, I am happy to race again with this package.”