Title chase hots up at Monza World Superbike Championship Round six: Monza, Italy Monday 7 May 2007 Event preview The 2007 World Superbike Championship heads to Italy this weekend for round six of the series at the picturesque Autodromo Nazionale di Monza near Milan. The racing is getting more exciting with every round as the title favourites step-up their campaigns – and Monza is sure to be no exception. James Toseland further extended his series lead at the fifth round at Assen after a spectacular battle with Troy Bayliss that will go down in Superbike history as one of the all-time greats. The British rider is now more aware than ever that he has to fight hard to reclaim the prestigious title of World Superbike Champion. With this in mind, his main aim for Monza is that elusive double win. Team-mate Roberto Rolfo is looking forward to the first of three events in his home country after he achieved his best result of the season so far at Assen. The Italian rider hopes to follow-up his impressive fifth-place finish with two strong performances in front of his home crowd at Monza. Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager: “With James still leading the championship and with the way he is riding at the moment, we don’t want to settle for anything less than two podiums at Monza. Having said that, we know that racing is very intense at this circuit so we will have to see what happens. For Roby, the second race at Assen gave him his best result of the season so hopefully we had a breakthrough for him there. It gives us something to build on and I am sure the Monza circuit will suit his riding style. The aim is to better his best result of the season there.” James Toseland: “We kept the winning streak going at Assen – although the double win escaped me yet again thanks to Troy! I hope I can carry it on at Monza and get another double podium. I wasn’t happy with my results at Monza last year – I had a high speed crash in race one and finished fifth in race two – so this year I hope to wipe out those memories with two successful races to keep and extend the championship lead.” Roberto Rolfo: “I am feeling good about my progress after the Assen round and I’m really looking forward to the first Italian round at Monza. I know I will have a lot of support in the crowd from HANNspree and the Italian team sponsors and I think that will make a lot of difference to me. Monza is a circuit that suits my style and now that I have a good feeling on the bike, I think I have a good chance of at least matching my results at Assen.” More, from another press release issued by Ten Kate Honda: Return of the Supersport dream team World Supersport Championship Round six: Monza, Italy Monday 7 May 2007 Event preview The sixth round of the 2007 World Supersport Championship will take place at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza near Milan this weekend. HANNspree Ten Kate Honda will contest the race at the 5.793km circuit with permanent riders Kenan Sofuoglu and Sébastien Charpentier aboard the CBR600RR. Sofuoglu heads to Italy with a huge 120-point tally in the championship standings after another stunning performance at Assen. The Turkish rider has so far racked up five podium finishes in as many rounds, including four race wins. He is looking to increase this to six podiums and five race wins after this weekend’s race in Monza. Charpentier made an admirable comeback at Assen after a month-long recovery from pelvic injuries sustained during the third round. The Frenchman is now confident that he is back to full race fitness. Last year’s Monza round saw Charpentier recover from a jump start penalty to finish third after a display of brilliant riding. He hopes to equal, if not beat this position in 2007. Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager: “Although Assen was a very memorable weekend for us in Supersport, we have to keep our focus on the future. We will come to Monza with our permanent riders Kenan and Sébastien. Kenan is riding on a high at the moment, and with Sébastien’s injuries healing well, we are expecting a good result from him at Monza. Hopefully we can make this round as memorable as the Assen race.” Kenan Sofuoglu: “I was on a high after Assen because I really did not expect to win the race with such strong competition. It was a tough contest but I was able to judge the situation well and I didn’t push hard until I needed to. I will take this approach again at Monza and I think I have a good chance of a podium finish. My aim is to be consistent and to finish in the top three – the race win would be a bonus.” Sébastien Charpentier: “I think at Assen I was probably 80 per cent fit – the circuit is very physical and it was not easy for me to finish the race. I was holding on with just my fingers by the end. For Monza, I am much closer to being 100 per cent fit and this is a less physical track so I am feeling confident about the race. I think I have a good chance of finishing on the podium – last year I finished third despite a jump start and going straight on at the chicane and in 2005 I was second – so it’s a good track for me. Plus, I am very motivated and the bike is very, very good so the odds are in our favour.”