HANNspree Ten Kate Honda ready for fresh challenges The countdown to the 2007 World Superbike Championship has begun and HANNspree Ten Kate Honda is ready for the challenges it faces to claim the Superbike title. The first round of the series takes place at Losail International Circuit in Doha, Qatar on 24 February. Youngest ever Superbike Champion James Toseland and new team-mate Roberto Rolfo will contest the championship aboard the formidable CBR1000RR Fireblade. Hopes are high as the team makes its final preparations before travelling to the 5.4km circuit on the outskirts of Qatar’s capital city. Twenty-five-year-old James faces his seventh World Superbike Championship and second consecutive year with Ten Kate Honda. The 2006 series saw the British rider achieve 12 podium finishes including three victories, five second and four third places to take second position overall. James is looking to improve on this in 2007 by reclaiming the title. Last year’s season opener at Qatar saw the rider take his first race win of the season so expectations are high for 2007’s corresponding race. Joining JT in the 2007 HANNspree Ten Kate Honda line-up is rising star Roberto Rolfo. The Italian rider made his first world Superbike appearance last year following a successful seven-year career in the 250cc World Championship and a year in MotoGP. With the support of HANNspree Ten Kate Honda, the talented 25-year-old is set to fulfil his potential and could become the rider to watch in 2007. Ronald Ten Kate, Team Manager: “After a winter of hard work, I am really happy that the season is starting again. I believe we are ready in all areas and should be competitive from the start. For sure there is a big challenge ahead of us with a lot of good riders and teams to compete with for the title. I think our Honda machinery, riders and team are ready to take on the challenge.” James Toseland: “I have been looking forward to the first race since I finished so strongly at the end of last year. I won the first race of the season in Qatar in 2006, which was a big surprise to everyone including myself particularly as I had switched to Honda after being with a rival manufacturer for five years. This put us in a good position to battle for the championship for the rest of the year and this it the kind of start I am hoping for again. I want to keep the winning streak going. The development of the HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR in pre-season testing has been really strong. After the final test in Valencia last week, I think we are ready to go to Qatar and be capable of winning.” Roberto Rolfo: “For the first race of the championship I am very focused on understanding and applying everything we have learned during the winter testing. I have learned a different riding style and I am really happy with the progress that I have made with HANNspree Ten Kate Honda. Qatar is a track that I like very much because I have always had good results there. I’m glad that the first race is there because hopefully I can start the series well and carry this on through the rest of the championship.” HANNspree Ten Kate Honda ready for Supersport success With less than two weeks to go until the first round of the 2007 World Supersport Championship, HANNspree Ten Kate Honda is well prepared for the season ahead. The opening race will take place at the 5.4km Losail International Circuit in Doha, Qatar on the 24 February. HANNspree Ten Kate Honda’s World Supersport riders return to the championship aboard the all-new CBR600RR. The 600cc four-cylinder bike has performed well in winter testing and is sure to follow the success of its championship-winning predecessor in the 2007 series. Defending back-to-back Supersport champion Sébastien Charpentier is hoping to score a hat trick of series wins in his third year with the team. At the 2006 Qatar round the Frenchman secured the best lap time, pole position and race win. The track obviously suits his riding style, so the team is expecting good things for the 2007 race. Turkish rider Kenan Sofuoglu also retains his place in the team and is set to provide a serious challenge to his team-mate. The 22-year-old secured third position overall in the 2006 Championship an impressive achievement for the young rider’s first year in world Supersport. After securing seven podium finishes in 2006 including two race wins ­ Kenan is likely to be a serious championship contender in 2007. Recent tests in Phillip Island and Valencia have given the HANNspree Ten Kate Honda riders the chance to get to grips with the new bike. The team is looking forward to kicking off the battle for the championship title in Qatar next week. Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager: “We are all excited about racing the new Honda CBR600RR. The bike has already shown its potential during winter testing, but of course racing is something different. We still have some development to do with the bike but I think we will have a solid start to the season. We have worked really hard, so big compliments to Honda Japan for delivering a standard bike that is already strong; to the Ten Kate tuners for making the bike so quick and also to the team for building what I think is the best CBR600RR in Ten Kate racing history. Now we have to take it racing and we look forward to getting the best results possible. Both Kenan and Sébastien are aiming for wins this season so we will keep our fingers crossed.” Sébastien Charpentier: “Qatar is a good track for me, I won the first race of the series there last year and in 2005 so it is suited to my style. I think with the new bike there is a good possibility for me to finish on the podium. The team has worked very hard to get the bike ready for the first race. I feel very relaxed.” Kenan Sofouglu: “I am really looking forward to the start of the season. For me, it is better than last year because 2006 was my first year in Supersport and I had no idea what would happen. Now I know the class, I know the other riders, I know my team and I know what to expect. We have already tested with the new bike and it is a big improvement. The test times are much faster than last year. I think Sébastien and I we will do a very good job for HANNspree and Ten Kate Honda.”