2006 Supersport World Championship
WSS Round 11 - Imola (Italy) - Race Result
CHARPENTIER AND SOFUOGLU PEERLESS AT IMOLA
A superb display of formation flying from Sebastien Charpentier
(Winston Ten Kate Honda) and Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate
Honda) gave them the best result possible, with Charpentier's
win keeping his championship hopes very much alive and Sofuoglu's
second moving him up to third in the overall classification.
Sofuoglu was the long-term leader, until Charpentier passed
with seven laps to go, and other than a short excursion across
the Variante Alta for Sofuoglu with just a handful of laps
left, the race continued to a conclusion without major incident.
A slow-starting Charpentier took the new lap record of 1'53.388
on lap five, as he first caught and then passed Curtain, who
eventually finished a lonely third. After the Imola points
had been awarded, Curtain now leads Charpentier by 18 points,
187 to 169, with Sofuoglu third on 137. One race remains,
at Magny Cours next weekend, on Charpentier's home track.
Ronald Ten Kate - Team Manager
“We had the best possible result today in Supersport
and after practice we knew that we would be strong in the
race. But you still have to go out and do it, so compliments
to the riders who have made such a good job. Kenan made a
good start and pulled quite a gap, so Sebastien had to make
up a lot of ground to him and they were about on the same
pace, with Kenan realising that it was not only about the
race but our chance for the championship. So he didn't make
it too hard for Sebastien to pass, and he didn't fight for
his position. I am happy that we can go to Magny Cours still
fighting for the championship. Today we helped to take the
Manufacturers' Championship for Honda for the fourth year
in a row, so I am happy for this. Now we go to Magny Cours
and hope that we can make a result like this again. Then we
have shown that even with the new bike coming, the old bike
was - like I used to say - not so bad!”
Sebastien Charpentier - Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider
(First Position – 2nd in the world championship with
169 points)
“I am happy, because after the German race it was not
easy for me in my head. Now, for sure, the victory was perfect
for me, and my team, and Honda. This was very important for
the championship, because the last race is in Magny Cours,
in France, and I hope to win again. The package of our bike
and the choice of tyres were good today and my team-mate was
very good today. After my crash in Brno it was not easy, even
if my hand was not completely perfect today, because I hurt
it in Germany. The start was not ideal for me, but I closed
the gap step-by-step. Robbin Harms crashed in front of me
and it would have been easy to hit him or make a mistake.
I have to say thanks to everyone for the good weekend we have
enjoyed here. Sometimes it is not so easy, like after Germany,
but thanks to everyone, the team and my family, for the good
support.”
Kenan Sofuoglu - Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider
(2nd position – 3rd in the world championship with 137
points)
”Of course I am really happy with this race, and with
Sebastien and I finishing first and second. Sebastien was
trying for the championship so I did not really try too hard
- but Sebastien was already riding really fast anyway. We
had good bikes and good set-up. I hope in Magny-Cours we can
win the championship and I can be on the podium too. We will
keep working hard and looking to next week.”
WORLD STANDING:
1. Curtain - Yamaha - 187 points
2. Charpentier - Winston Ten Kate Honda - 169 points
3. Sofuoglu - Winston Ten Kate Honda - 137 points
4. Parkes - Yamaha - 129 points
5. Harms - Honda - 107 points
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