Pata Honda rider Kyle Smith was unable to start the eighth-round World Supersport championship race at Misano World Circuit in Italy, which was won by French rider Jules Clusel. Series leader Kenan Sofuoglu crashed out of third place on the final lap, eventually coming home 11th, while Honda CBR600RR rider, PJ Jacobsen, finished second.

Smith crashed out of qualifying early and was unable to secure a grid position higher than 11th. However, the 23-year-old British rider demonstrated the pace shown earlier in the weekend by finishing the morning’s warm-up in fifth place.

Unfortunately, as Smith went to the grid on his sighting lap for the 19-lap race, a technical problem prevented him from completing the lap. His crew are still investigating the reason for the issue.

The World Supersport championship will re-group in Sepang, Malaysia for the next round on 2 August, when Smith and his crew will be hoping for better luck than they experienced in Italy this weekend.

Kyle Smith - DNSThere is not much to say, really, other than I had a technical problem on the sighting lap. I could have ridden the bike back to the pits for the guys to investigate but I was stopped by the marshalls. It’s a real shame because I was hoping to make up for my mistake in qualifying yesterday, but that’s how it goes sometimes and we’ll have to try to come back stronger in Malaysia. I’ve never been to Sepang, but I’m really looking forward to racing there.

Pieter Breddels - technical co-ordinatorIt’s been a very difficult weekend for Kyle and his crew and things have certainly not gone as we had planned or as we would have wished. All we can do is apologise to Kyle for not giving him a CBR that he could race today. We’ll investigate the issue that ended our weekend early and try to learn whatever lessons we need to.