2017 Thailand WorldSSP Race Results
Gordon Ritchie | March 12, 2017
Caricasulo Wins Crazy WorldSSP Race On New Yamaha
Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) ended up the winner of the 17-lap WorldSSP race at Chang, from local wildcard Decha Kraisart (Yamaha Thailand) and fast Finn Niki Tuuli (Kallio Race System Yamaha). It was an all Yamaha podium, one new one and two 2016 versions, run on tarmac that reached 65°C, according to tyre supplier Pirelli.
A race full of incident saw potential winner Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) out with a technical issue, another top man Patrick Jacobsen (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) also lose power and stop, fast wildcard Chalermpol Polamai (Yamaha Thailand) fall and another surprise leading package Christian Gamarino (BARDHAL EVAN BROS Honda Racing) crash mid-corner as Kyle Smith (GEMAR Balloons – Team Lorini Honda) overtook him. Smith was eventually given an order to drop three positions, did not do so and was given a ride-through penalty despite moving into a podium place. He was eventually given a black-flag penalty and although working his way up to the leading positions, was excluded.
Caricasulo and Jules Cluzel (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) have recent history after Caricasulo crashed and put Cluzel out via a massive highside at Phillip Island. The Italian reached the Frenchman at half race distance and the top three hardened up before Cluzel went out.
Fourth for a time just behind the leaders, was late season sensation last year, Tuuli, having survived a massive moment early in the race. He was suddenly promoted to third after long-time leader Cluzel saw his engine expire, putting almost all the top championship contenders except PI winner Roberto Rolfo (Team Factory Vamag MV Agusta) out of the race.
Behind the leading three local Sofuoglu replacement Thitipong Warokorn (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) moved up from 18th place on the grid to fourth, ahead of his team-mate for the weekend Kyle Ryde (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). Hikari Okubo (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) was sixth, Sheridan Morais (Kallio Race System Yamaha) eighth, Aiden Wagner (GEMAR Balloons – Team Lorini Honda) ninth and Robin Mulhauser (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) rounded out the top ten.
Gino Rea (Team GO ELEVEN Kawasaki) was also given a ride-through penalty and then was black-flagged for not coming in on time.
In the championship Rolfo still leads with 30 points, Tuuli is second on 27, Caricasulo has 25 and Kyle Ryde 24.