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2006 Supersport World
Championship
WSS Round 9 – Assen (Netherlands)
Race Report
SOFUOGLU TAKES A SUPERB WIN AS CHARPENTIER BATTLES
TO FOURTH
Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) scored his
first ever World Supersport race victory on the home track
of his team, after a two-part aggregate race, held in atrocious
conditions. Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda
CBR600RR) crossed the line first in the second leg of the
21-lap combined race, but was only fourth overall.
The race was halted after ten laps when two riders crashed
on the fast back straight section, while Sofuoglu was in a
commanding lead, which translated to a four second margin
of victory overall.
At the head of the championship Charpentier now sits on 144
points, second behind Assen second place Assen race finisher
Kevin Curtain, who has a total of 151. Sofuoglu is now an
improved fifth in the championship chase.
Ronald Ten Kate – Team Manager
“A great result for Kenan, he has been showing his
potential especially in the second half of the season, when
he has been growing as a rider. To see him doing this is especially
good in these difficult conditions. It shows we made the right
choice for this season and I am happy because he has not had
things easy. For Sebastien, in the conditions of race one
he just wanted to sit and wait to see how things went, and
that was the correct choice, before making a push to catch
the front group. Then the race was red flagged, so we knew
that in the second part it was always going to be difficult
to gain the positions to the front. But he has shown us he
is back on track and the championship is still open. I am
a happy man to see this win for Kenan in front of my home
crowd.”
Kenan Sofuoglu – WSS Winston Ten Kate Honda
Rider
(First – Championship Position: 5th with 92 points)
“I am particularly happy because it didn’t start
right for me, Friday and Saturday were not particularly nice.
I started from ninth position but when it started to rain
I knew I had a different chance. I am now really happy to
win especially at Assen because it is Ten Kate’s home
race and I live just 30km from here. So it is particularly
nice. Now we got to Lausitz and I know it and like it. Hopefully
I can win another race in the three that remain.”
Sebastien Charpentier – WSS Winston Ten Kate
Honda Rider
(4th – Championship Position: 2nd with 144 points)
“Happy? Yes and no but I am not satisfied, because
I finished fourth. That does not make me happy but it was
a crazy race, not easy, and I tried my best to make a small
gap in the second leg. The championship is open, and for me
seven points is what I have to make up. There is no choice
for me now, and maybe now I need the help of the other Honda
riders to take points from my rival. I am very happy for Kenan.”
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDING:
1. Curtain - Yamaha - 151 points
2. Charpentier - Winston Ten Kate Honda - 144 points
3. Parkes - Yamaha - 119 points
4. Harms - Honda - 97 points
5. Sofuoglu - Winston Ten Kate Honda - 92 points
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