Kenan Sofuoğlu

Profile Overview

Kenan Sofuoğlu (born 25 August 1984 in Kuzuluk, Akyazı) is a Turkish parliamentarian and former professional motorcycle racer. He holds a record five Supersport World Championship titles (2007, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016). Sofuoğlu also competed at the Superbike World Championship in 2008 and at the Moto2 World Championship in 2010 and 2011.
Sofuoğlu announced his retirement from racing in May 2018, and became an elected politician in June 2018. He made a brief comeback appearance at the Imola, Italy, World Championship event on 13 May where he qualified in third place but entered the pit lane immediately after the sighting lap, choosing to withdraw from the race.
Sofuoğlu suffered injuries in a crash at Phillip Island, Australia, earlier in 2018, exacerbating his previous pelvis fracture from a crash during practice at Magny-Cours, France, on 30 September 2017, which initially appeared to have ended participation in the 2017 season. After a period of only five weeks, he returned to participate in the last meeting at Qatar, finishing the race in third place and totalling enough points to finish second in the championship.
Sofuoğlu also competed in Moto2 for the Technomag-CIP team, having made his debut at the end of 2010 and remained with the team for the 2011 season. He previously won the Supersport World Championship with Ten Kate Honda in 2007 and 2010. He raced in the World Superbike Championship for Ten Kate in 2008, but with limited success.
Racing for Kawasaki in 2012, Sofuoğlu claimed his third Supersport World Championship at the Portuguese Grand Prix, in the penultimate race.
As a five-time champion, Sofuoğlu is the most successful rider to have competed in the Supersport World Championship and holds many records in the class.