2006 Superbike World Championship
SBK Round 9 – Assen (Netherlands)
Race Report
TOSELAND REGAINS SECOND IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP AT CHANGEABLE
ASSEN
With heavy rain in race one and a drying track in race two
Assen presented two different challenges to the Winston Ten
Kate Honda team and despite some bad luck James Toseland (Winston
Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) left his team’s home race
second in the championship standings. Karl Muggeridge (Winston
Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) was once more a challenger for a
podium place, but misfortune also left him down the order.
In a fully wet race one Toseland slipped back from a top
five place when he ran into the gravel and restarted to finish
tenth, one place behind Muggeridge, who had to re-start after
falling on lap 12, when sitting in fourth position.
In race two Toseland was taken out at the first corner, but
restarted to score an eventual ninth, and overtake double
non-finisher Noriyuki Haga in the standings in overall second.
Muggeridge found his rear traction dropping off in dramatic
fashion in race two, as he went from fourth to 13th. The races
were won by Chris Walker (in the wet opener) and Championship
leader, Troy Bayliss.
Ronald Ten Kate – Team Manager
“A fantastic comeback after the start James had in
race two. He could have just laid the bike down and walked
away, but he would never have made second place in the series
if he had. Karl had no luck today and we will have to see
what happened in the second race. A very strange weekend for
us in Superbike but with James back into second place in the
championship we have left our home race better than some.
The weather on raceday played a big part in everything, but
we know that Assen can be like this.”
James Toseland – SBK Winston Ten Kate Honda
Rider
(Race 1: 10th – Race 2: 9th – Championship Position:
2nd with 232 points)
“In race two I had a decent start and got into the
first corner OK, until I saw a Corona Suzuki on top of me.
I understand he might have clipped Haga, so it may not be
all Corser’s fault, but I went down and then climbed
back on the bike. I still had my brakes working, but no fairing.
But I got points and fought to the finish, and that gave me
second place in the championship back. I did what I always
do, and I never give up. If I had stopped and quit I would
still be third. In race one we set off well, but my front
locked on the first corner and I had to go straight. Unfortunately
it took me a little bit of time to come back on track, then
I had a very bad feeling with the front tyre. If there were
no problems and the track was dry we would have had two podiums
for sure.”
Karl Muggeridge – SBK Winston Ten Kate Honda
Rider
(Race 1: 9th – Race 2: 13th – Championship Position:
15th with 76 points)
“My rear tyre just tore up after five laps in race
two, and I went from doing low twos to fives in one lap. Couldn’t
do anything with that rear. I made a small mistake in race
one and missed out on the podium really.”
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDING:
1. Bayliss - Ducati - 332 points
2. Toseland - Winston Ten Kate Honda - 232 points
3. Haga - Yamaha - 230 points
4. Pitt - Yamaha - 197 points
5. Corser - Suzuki - 193 points
15. Muggeridge - Winston Ten Kate Honda Team - 76 points
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