2006 World Supersport Championship
WSS Round 6 – Misano (Italy) - Raceday
SOFUOGLU BATTLES HARD FOR EIGHTH PLACE AT MISANO
Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) fought hard
from a ninth place start to finish eighth overall at Misano,
after 23 laps of intense competition in hot temperatures.
He had been as high as fourth at one stage, but as the time
wore on and the heat started to tell, he slowly moved back
to finish eighth, scoring valuable points in his championship
effort. His team-mate for this weekend, Arie Vos, scored points
for his 14th place finish, making up several positions from
his 23rd place qualifying spot.
The race was taken by hometown rider Massimo Roccoli, from
Simone Sanna and Broc Parkes. Despite Sebastien Charpentier
missing this race through injury, he did not lose as many
points to his main challenger, Kevin Curtain, as feared. Curtain
finished only sixth, making up only ten points on Charpentier’s
championship lead. Charpentier has 116 points, with Curtain
now on 86. Sofuoglu now has 35 points in ninth place, with
Vos scoring two points for 14th.
Ronald Ten Kate – Team Manager
“The most important thing for us is that we still have
a strong lead in the championship with Sebastien, and his
main rivals did not score so well. The damage is not so big
after Seb had to miss this round. The good news is that we
spoke with him and his doctors again today and it is very
sure he will be fit again for the Brno race, so it will be
good to have him back there. The weekend for us was very different
without Sebastien around, but I think Kenan did quite a good
job, and I think that after the weekend he has had, eighth
position was the maximum possible for him. He showed his speed
again and was in a group battling for fourth until he got
blocked a bit by a crashing rider and he lost some time. Arie
has had to race every weekend for the past seven weekends,
and has a normal job as well, so he is quite worn out. But
I am happy to see him finish in the points. At World Supersport
level, you have to arrive in perfect shape if you want to
be in the top ten. He did good job. Compliments to him”
Kenan Sofuoglu – WSS Winston Ten Kate Honda
Rider
(8th position – Championship Position: 9th with 35
points)
“I started very well but it was I was really tired
after five laps, but if I had condition today for sure I would
have had a podium. Until the seventh lap I was as fast as
the guys ahead of me, but after that lap I had to slow down.
I was very nervous before the race and that made me tense
on the bike. I just have to learn to relax more and if I can
do that then no problem.”
Arie Vos – WSS Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider
(14th position – Championship Position: 31st with 2
points)
“There was a lot of work to do because of the start
position but I kept my position at the start and pushed hard
in the first laps. I tried to find a good rhythm, and stay
focused for a long race. It think I pushed to the maximum
today and if I had been offered 14th place before the weekend
I would have said 14th place was not so good. But after the
weekend, 14th place is not so bad. Before this weekend I have
had seven consecutive races, so I was not so fit, because
I had no breaks. The preparations were not so good, but I
am very pleased to have been asked to ride for the team, and
thanks to them.”
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDING:
1. Charpentier - Winston Ten Kate Honda - 116 points
2. Curtain - Yamaha - 86 points
3. Parkes - Yamaha - 74 points
4. Harms - Honda - 74 points
5. Roccoli - Yamaha - 71 points
9. Sofuoglu - Winston Ten Kate Honda - 35 points
31. Vos - Winston Ten Kate Honda - 2 points
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