Kenan Sofuoğlu Pisti

Good to know

• Racecourse
• 5 kmfrom Akyazi center
• Wheelchair accessentrance
• Parking
• Restroom
• Official site
• 4.6 / 5202 reviews
• Akyazi

The Champion Behind the Circuit

Kenan Sofuoğlu won five Supersport World Championship titles during a career that made him a household name across Turkey. After retiring from competition, he channeled his passion into creating infrastructure for the next generation — and this track in his hometown district of Akyazı is the centerpiece of that mission. The facility sits on the D-140 highway in the Erdoğdu neighborhood, modest in scale but rich in purpose.↗↗

Sofuoğlu also served as a Member of Parliament for Sakarya, further cementing the circuit's connection to the region's identity. When the track officially opened, the ceremony drew the provincial governor, mayors, the Turkish Motorcycle Federation president, and thousands of spectators from Sakarya and surrounding provinces who packed the grounds for a day of racing and celebration.↗

Where World Champions Train

The circuit functions as what Spanish motorsport media has compared to Valentino Rossi's famous VR46 Ranch: an intimate, daily-use training facility where Sofuoğlu coaches a stable of elite riders. Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, the 2021 World Superbike Champion, has trained here alongside Sofuoğlu, as have Can and Deniz Öncü (competing in Moto3 and Moto2 world championships), Bahattin Sofuoğlu in Supersport, and Asrın Rodi Pak in Spanish Superbikes.

The track's dimensions limit it primarily to machines up to 600 cc, with most riders training on Yamaha R3s that Sofuoğlu himself provides from the garages adjacent to the circuit. The surface is asphalt, optimized for motorcycle grip, and the layout runs counter-clockwise — a compact technical circuit that rewards precision over outright power.↗

Notable corner sequences include heavy-braking right-handers that decide race positions, fast left-hands that test lean-angle confidence, and a final hairpin that sets up the main straight for overtaking opportunities.↗

Race Weekends and Atmosphere

Beyond daily training sessions, the circuit hosts Turkish national motorcycle racing championships, including Supersport and Superbike series rounds. Race days draw a festival-like atmosphere — during the opening event, thousands of fans descended on Akyazı, cheering between race heats while a Press Cup race (featuring journalists on bikes) added a theatrical flourish to the program.↗↗

Spectator areas are positioned near key braking zones and the start/finish straight, offering a close-to-the-action feel that large international circuits often sacrifice. Basic food and drink stalls are set up on race days, and the paddock remains accessible only to teams and authorized personnel.↗

Getting There

The circuit sits in the town of Akyazı, in Sakarya Province in northwestern Turkey — roughly two hours' drive from Istanbul via regional roads connected to the D-140 highway. Istanbul Airport is approximately 150 kilometers to the west. On-site parking is available, and the venue is wheelchair accessible at both the entrance and parking areas.↗↗↗

The facility operates Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and is closed on Sundays. Contact can be made by phone at +90 264 458 61 64.↗

For the Motorsport Pilgrim

This is not a grand-prix venue with corporate hospitality suites and F1-style grandstands. It is something more compelling for anyone fascinated by motorcycle racing culture: a working training camp where you can feel the genuine energy of a champion's mission to build Turkish racing talent. The fact that riders competing at the highest levels of world championships — from MotoGP support classes to WorldSBK — have lapped this asphalt gives the modest circuit an outsized significance in the global paddock.

Timing a visit to coincide with a national race weekend gives non-riders the best experience: the roar of superbikes, the local crowd's infectious enthusiasm, and the chance to watch the sport's future stars compete on the very track where they learned their craft.↗↗