Perez Gonzalez #73 WSBK SSP300 Vice-World Champion

José Luis Perez Gonzalez #73 (Kawasaki Ninja 400) was the only rider to fight for the championship title with Jeffrey Buis. After starting from Pole Position, the Spaniard managed to pull a gap on the rest of the pack. The only rider who was able to keep up with him was Mirko Gennai. With a lead of six seconds, this pair fought until the very end, when the driver of the Accolade Smrz Racing BGR team managed to get into the lead and cross the finish line in first position. However, the race management ultimately decided that Mirko Gennai was the winner due to the maneuver that Perez Gonzalez took the lead in the final meters of the race. The Czech team will thus take two podium positions and the title of vice-champion of the world from Portugal. Two controversial penalties that he received this weekend and earlier in Assen seem to have robbed Perez Gonzalez of his world title.

José Luis Perez Gonzalez:

“I am happy to finish the season so strong. It was a difficult race, we fought for the title until the end. I would like to say thanks to the team and everyone who has been supporting me. Thanks to my sponsors and the team boss, Kuba, for everything they have done for me.”

Jakub Smrž (team manager):

"If someone told me before the season that we were going to fight for the world championship, I wouldn’t believe it and today I am disappointed that it did not happen. Also with such a bitter ending since they took away our first victory, which was, in my opinion, unjustified. On the other hand, I am really happy. We are vice￾world champions and we got two podiums this weekend. Thanks to everyone who has been behind us, our team, families, partners, friends and everyone who supports us. Let’s see what happens next.”