News 9 Nov 2010

MotoGP: Sofuoglu confirmed for Moto2 full time in 2011

Supersport champion Kenan Sofuoglu will ride Moto2 full time next season.

Supersport champion Kenan Sofuoglu will ride Moto2 full time next season.

Kenan Sofuoglu’s impressive Moto2 World Championship debut in Portugal has led to a permanent deal with the Technomag-CIP team for 2011, which was confirmed at Valencia.

The 26-year-old reigning Supersport World Champion received a number of offers for next season thanks to his outstanding introduction to GP racing.

However, Sofuoglu explained in an interview with motogp.com that he turned them all down to remain with Technomag on a full-time basis after they handed him the chance to step onto the world championship stage in these final two rounds of 2010.

“I’m very happy because I believe I’ve made the right decision,” said Sofuoglu. “I had a very interesting offer from the world championship winning team, Gresini, and I was very close to having a deal with them, but finally I signed with this team.

“It wasn’t about what I got offered, it was about how I worked with the team and how they want to work with me. I also did the last two races with this team, and they are very exciting when I’m in the garage.

“I believe this team has the potential to win the title. I have seen it because I’ve ridden the bike at Estoril and here [Valencia], and I took this decision because I see a team that is very hungry to win the championship.

“I also want to say thanks to all the teams who made me offers to me, but finally I made a decision which came from the heart, to stay with this team.”

Sofuoglu is confident he can challenge for the title in his first full season in the category.

“Now a new story starts,” he added. “I want to fight for the title in 2011 and I believe I have the potential.”

An off-track excursion while in podium contention spoiled Sofuoglu’s Valencia race on Sunday.

With Sofuoglu turning down the Gresini offer, the Italian team has signed Michele Pirro and Yuki Takahashi.

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