Kenan Sofuoglu talked about Zayn’s future! Formula 1…

Five-year-old Zayn Sofuoglu, who has gained admiration for his talents and determination in motorsports, is on the fast track to success, competing against older rivals. Kenan Sofuoglu, a five-time World Supersport champion and captain of the Turkish Motorcycle Federation’s (TMF) national teams, is training his son Zayn and 12-year-old Berkay Sariay to become international pilots.

Sofuoglu, who has led Turkish riders like Toprak Razgatlioglu, Can Oncu, Deniz Oncu, and Bahattin Sofuoglu in world championships, is now focusing on nurturing new talents for sustained success.

Sofuoglu shared his thoughts on Zayn and Berkay Sariay’s future while speaking at the Kocaeli Korfez Race Track. Reflecting on Zayn’s abilities, he said, “When I first brought Zayn to the track, I noticed something different in how he handled cars, karting, and motorcycles. Most importantly, Zayn has a passion for it. I always use this example: my older son has no interest in motorsports; he’s more into football.”

Regarding whether Zayn will excel in motorcycles or car racing, Sofuoglu said, “So far, he’s setting faster times than previous athletes in both motorcycles and karting. If he succeeds, he could become the youngest champion in the Turkish Motorcycle Championship next year. What he’s achieved so far is promising for the future, but it’s still early. His performance in races in Italy when he’s 7-8 years old will be crucial. In 2025, we’ll compete in the UK Championship, where 6-year-old Zayn will race against 8-year-olds. If he stands out in the UK, Zayn will truly be one of the top candidates for Formula 1.”

Sofuoglu also mentioned the challenges of coaching his son, saying, “The advantage is that we can spend a lot of time together. The downside is that we’re now part of a professional team with coaches. We’ve become a part of the Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport (BOM) Karting Team, and this year we’ve developed a good synergy.”

He added that Zayn enjoys both motorcycles and karting: “First, he needs to love it. If he loves it, he will progress. The same applies to Berkay, Toprak, Can, and all my athletes. They must want it first, and then we can provide them with opportunities. We work hard, especially during race weeks, but we don’t train every day. When there are no races, I like to leave him at home with his mother, and he prefers staying home. But after a few days, he gets bored and says, ‘Dad, when are we going to the track?’ That’s exactly what I’m looking for. He needs to want to go to the track.”

Kenan Sofuoglu, expressing that his efforts have paid off, said: “When we started the season with the BOM racing team, to be honest, we struggled a lot in the first race. But as the season progressed, Zayn grew and improved. I used to give Zayn directions through a headset, but now we don’t even need the headset anymore. We made significant progress throughout the year. I’m also trying to make sure he enjoys this. We practice for half a day, and in the afternoon, he plays with his toys at home. This way, I ensure he enjoys it and doesn’t get tired of it.”

“I’m raising the bar according to his potential”

Kenan Sofuoglu noted that what helped Zayn not fear motorsports wasn’t himself or the opportunities, saying: “My other son has no interest in motorsports. Zayn loves the motorcycle. He sees his brother Berkay, his brother Toprak, and he also wants to go to the track. So far, he has never said, ‘I don’t want to race.’” Sofuoglu explained that Zayn’s widely viewed videos involve a lot of hard work, adding, “Zayn always believes he can do it. I don’t set goals for him that he can’t achieve or that would put him in danger. I’m raising the bar according to his potential. Zayn is getting used to people’s attention and taking pictures with him. He’s like friends with his older brother, who isn’t very interested in these things. Thankfully, his brother is progressing in football. We go to watch his brother with Zayn, and when Zayn has races, his brother comes to watch him.”

When asked whether he prefers karting or motorcycles, Zayn said, “I like karting more because it’s fast. I love racing.”

Speaking about his record, Zayn said, “I did 312, and I’m going to improve it,” adding that he plans to surpass both his father and Toprak Razgatlioglu.

“Last month, we included Berkay Sariay in KNN54 Riders”

Kenan Sofuoglu also spoke about the training of 12-year-old Berkay Sariay, who practices with Zayn: “What we did with Toprak, Can, Deniz, Bahattin, and Asrin Rodi Pak has become a goal for motor sports enthusiasts in Turkey. Berkay is one of the athletes raised to be like his brothers Toprak, Can, Deniz, and Bahattin. About four years ago, his father came to me, and he started training with us. I told them the paths they needed to overcome, and Berkay followed that path. He competed in Turkish championships, Balkan championships, and various European championships, achieving successful results in each. I closely monitored Berkay’s progress. Once he was ready, we included him in KNN54 Riders last month. A week later, Berkay went to Austria and won the race there.”

Highlighting Berkay’s bright future, Sofuoglu added, “Hopefully, in the future, he will carry the flag like his brother Toprak. I believe he will build his career, character, and future in the best way possible.” Berkay Sariay also expressed his ambition, saying, “I had an interest in motorcycles. Then, when I saw my brother Kenan and my brother Toprak, my interest increased even more. My goal is to become a world champion like my brother Kenan and brother Toprak.”

BOM Karting Team athletes Zayn and Ayse Cebi practiced with karting, while Zayn also participated in motorcycle training with Berkay Sariay.