2006 European Superstock 600 Championship
Assen, NL
Circuit: 4.555 kms. Crowd: 61,000 (3-day) Weather: Mostly
dry 21C.
XAVIER TAKES A NARROW SECOND.
Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Xavier Simeon had to
be satisfied with runner-up spot at Assen today after leading
all but the last lap. Xavier started the race in storming
style and looked set to rack up win number five this season,
but his biggest rival Nicola Canepa (Ducati) slipped up the
inside of him entering the final chicane and Xavier was unable
to regain the lead. At the end, the margin of Canepa’s
victory was only a tenth of a second. Third went to Davide
Giugliano (Kawasaki), with Andrea Antonelli (Honda) fourth.
XAVIER - 2nd
I am a bit cross with myself for letting Canepa get past me
after all the good work I did during the race. I led from
the start and I knew that he would mount a strong challenge
in the closing stages and that’s what he did. Maybe
I left a little gap on my inside going into the final chicane
and he managed to make the pass. I tried to get on the gas
early and overtake him on the run to the flag, but he just
managed to hold me off. If I’d been a bit more aggressive
in the final turn, maybe I would've hit him, so I did sort
of ease off in the middle of the chicane, otherwise maybe
we would have both gone down. But, it’s another twenty
points and it’s Canepa who will be under pressure in
the last three rounds. I have a 34 point advantage and I intend
to maintain it.
Results
1 Canepa (I-Ducati), 2 XAVIER SIMEON (B-Alstare Suzuki Corona
Extra), 3 Giugliano (I-Kawasaki), 4 Antonelli (I-Honda), 5
Junod (CH-Suzuki), 6 Walraven (NL-Suzuki),
Points: 1 XAVIER SIMEON (Alstare Suzuki
Corona Extra) 160, 2 Canepa 126, 3 Giugliano 100, 4 Antonelli
68, 5 Colucci 55, 6 Jezek 51,
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