Sunday’s World Supersport race at Assen delivered one of the best head-to-head fights the category has ever witnessed. Class veterans Jules Cluzel and Kenan Sofuoglu would go toe-to-toe in a scintillating battle which raged until the very last corner, with the Turkish rider coming out of top following a collision.

The incident was briefly put under investigation, although Race Direction soon decided that no action should be taken and that the race result would stand.

Post-race, opinions in the paddock were varied on who was to blame, although none were more divided than those of the riders themselves.

Kenan Sofuoglu / Kawasaki Puccetti Racing / Winner:
“I knew I had the pace to win this race. I started doing very fast laps at the end, but Jules was able to keep up with me. I knew he was going to try at the chicane. I took a very tight line to close the door on him. There was no door open. He still tried to attack me and he missed the corner. When he missed the corner, he opened another door for me. I just opened the throttle. Then I saw he wanted to close the door, but I was already on the throttle and heading for the finish, so I am not going to close it off.

He was lucky he didn’t crash. I don’t understand why he complained, but probably because of losing the race and not about what happened there. I know why he was angry: because he lost the race, after trying to win following a lot of problems in the last few races. I know that he deserved to win in Thailand and that in Aragon he was also fighting for the race. He needed the motivation and needed to win here. Of course he needed to win here, so it is very disappointing when you lose. He has found something to complain about but it’s not a problem. We have got the 25 points.”

Jules Cluzel / MV Agusta Reparto Corse / Second position:
“He is surprised by my reaction…I have no answer to that. I think everybody saw that I just tried to pass, like I needed to do. I was in front and he just hit me because I didn’t see him. It’s nice for the people who watch on TV, for sure, but what is the next step? Do I need to come back and hit him, so he crashes or we crash together? I’m not here to get injured like that. I just tried to pass him and he tried to pass me, but every time he passed me I would be pushed wide and lose a second.

“He is just a step more crazy than me. I will try to be a little bit more crazy with him, but I don’t understand. I think he has trained how to hit people and not crash. I never train like this; if I hit somebody, I nearly crash. This is not my philosophy. I enjoy racing, I enjoy fighting and I will learn. Sometimes I don’t know what is happening in his head. I just hope he keeps calm until the end of the season. I think he is scared about us.”

A review of the Sofuoglu/Cluzel battle will feature in the post-Assen After Hours video, which is coming up on WorldSBK.com this Thursday.