World Supersport Championship
Round five: Assen, The Netherlands - Event preview
HANNspree Ten Kate Honda brings in wingman to support
top riders
The fifth round of the 2007 World Supersport Championship
at Assen will see HANNspree Ten Kate Honda contest its home
race with a formidable line-up of three riders. Defending
champion Sébastien Charpentier returns from injury
to battle for the title alongside current series leader Kenan
Sofuoglu and Valencia stand-in Andrew Pitt.
HANNspree Ten Kate Honda made the decision to run a three-man
team following Pitt's impressive performance in Spain. The
Australian rider crossed the finish line in second position
behind Sofuoglu to secure a spectacular one-two finish for
the team. Pitt will be able to offer invaluable support for
the two permanent riders in the continuing development of
the new Honda CBR600RR.
After securing his third race win of the season in Spain,
Sofuoglu heads to Assen with a stunning 95-point championship
lead - a huge 44 points clear of second place rider Fabien
Foret. Although not complacent, the Turkish rider is confident
that he can do his team proud once again in The Netherlands
this weekend.
Sébastien Charpentier has been undergoing an intensive
rehabilitation programme since his free practice crash at
Donington Park just over three weeks ago. He has made a good
recovery from his pelvic and coccyx injuries and is looking
forward to making a triumphant return to the Supersport series.
Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager:
"Assen is a special event for us as it is our home round.
The riders know how important it is to us and so they see
it as their home round also. We have Sébastien back
for Assen, which makes us truly happy. It has been very strange
racing without him because he has been a part of the team
for so long. I'm sure he will give it 100% to make a remarkable
return to the championship.
"Assen is a track with good memories for Kenan as he
got his first ever Supersport win there last year. I know
that he will be giving it his all again this year. For Assen,
we have decided to bring in a wingman to support and two top
gun riders. Andrew impressed us a lot in Valencia so we see
this as thank you to him for all his efforts. He is able to
do some very important testing work on the new CBR600RR, which
is still in the early stages of development. All in all, we
are ready to race. we are ready for Assen!"
Kenan Sofuoglu
"I am still feeling very happy about the results in
Valencia and want to thank the team once again for all the
hard work that went into achieving the win. I am focusing
on the future and I just want to keep getting good, consistent
results for the team. This race is important because it is
the home race for Ten Kate. I won here last year, so I am
confident about the track, but I know that anything can happen
so I'm just going to keep my head down and concentrate on
bringing in the points."
Sébastien Charpentier
"I am feeling a lot better and I'll be coming to Assen
with a clear mind. I'm determined to be back at the front
and I just want to forget the beginning of the season and
concentrate on the future. The championship is long and I'm
going to give it everything I've got to get back the title."
Andrew Pitt:
"I am really happy to be riding for HANNspree Ten Kate
Honda again. I had a great time in Valencia and I felt like
I worked well with the guys so it's an honour to be asked
to ride in Assen. I understand how important this race is
for the team so I'm going to come and do my absolute best
- let's hope we can go one better than Valencia and see a
full HANNspree Ten Kate line-up on the podium."
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