FIM Supersport World Championship Imola, Italy September 30, 2006 Final Qualifying Results: 1. Sebastien CHARPENTIER (Hon CBR600RR), 1:52.245 2. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Hon CBR600RR), 1:52.541 3. Katusaki FUJIWARA (Hon CBR600RR), 1:53.441 4. Kevin CURTAIN (Yam YZF-R6), 1:53.512 5. Gianluca NANNELLI (Duc 749R), 1:53.758 6. Robbin HARMS (Hon CBR600RR), 1:53.902 7. Willliam DE ANGELIS (Hon CBR600RR), 1:53.906 8. Gianluca VIZZIELLO (Yam YZF-R6), 1:53.960 9. Broc PARKES (Yam YZF-R6), 1:53.991 10. Johan STIGEFELT (Hon CBR600RR), 1:54.019 11. Yoann TIBERIO (Hon CBR600RR), 1:54.225 12. Chris PERIS (Yam YZF-R6), 1:54.373 13. Massimo ROCCOLI (Yam YZF-R6), 1:54.426 14. David CHECA (Yam YZF-R6), 1:54.429 15. Christian ZAISER (Duc 749R), 1:54.497 16. Mauro SANCHINI (Yam YZF-R6), 1:54.563 17. Stephane CHAMBON (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:54.599 18. Barry VENEMAN (Suz GSX-R600), 1:54.730 19. Kai Borre ANDERSEN (Suz GSX-R600), 1:54.895 20. Maxime BERGER (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:54.975 More, from a press release issued by Winston Ten Kate Honda: CHARPENTIER AND SOFULOFLU DOMINATE FINAL QUALIFYING Both Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) and Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda) improved on their Friday best time to secure a 1-2 start for their Dutch-based team, giving them the best possible preparation for Sunday’s 21-lap race. The last few minutes of qualifying were an exciting time in the Winston Ten Kate Honda pit, as the crews working with each rider had their own battle for supremacy on the track. It was a successful campaign for both, as the nearest challenger ended up some 1.2 seconds behind Charpentier and 0.9 seconds behind Sofuoglu. The top three was an all-Honda affair after Katsuaki Fujiwara scored third best time, heading off Charpentier’s championship rival, Kevin Curtain. Charpentier needs to beat Curtain on Sunday, and try to keep as many riders between him and his great rival as possible, to stay in contention for the championship itself, by reducing Curtain’s advantage going into the final round next weekend. Ronald Ten Kate – Team Manager “Big compliments to all my riders and my team staff who have been working very hard to have a strong day today. We also improved on what were already impressive times from yesterday, and at a certain point the feeling inside the garage was like there was an epic battle going on and Kenan was very determined to grab the pole. He did not succeed but he came very close so we have to express our admiration for his efforts. For the race configuration, we are quite fast and constant. It’s all we want to concentrate on right now, trying to win the race tomorrow. I think this was one of the most exciting qualifying sessions inside this garage, because they broke the lap record, and it was incredible. It’s great to see Seb back on his old form, dominating again like he did at the start of the season, before he suffered a serious injury. He has had some difficult times. The Magny-Cours test was the breakthrough for him, and now it is good to see that he is the true champion.” Sebastien Charpentier – Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (Pole Position – 1’52.245 11 laps) “Not bad, a new lap record, and the mechanics worked really hard to allow me to do this. The bike was nice today and the bike looks good for tomorrow. I worked in a good direction and I used just one new tyre. Now I am happy, and as the temperature was hotter than yesterday, things worked better today. The best thing about the race is that all the other top Supersport riders are some way behind, and we made many fast laps. I expect a very good race with Kenan tomorrow, and I’m going for maximum points. The strategy is to go into the lead and ride hard, and then have a look at the situation. I love this track, it is the best track in the world, and a very famous venue.” Kenan Sofuoglu – Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (Second Position – 1’52.541 – 12 laps) “It’s OK, and I was very close to pole. OK, I couldn’t take it but it was a good thing that we could do constant 52s, and that is what will be important for the race. I hope that I can make a very good race tomorrow and that I can help Sebastien. He looks good and we were really fighting. He has more experience than me and therefore he could put it all together in one lap. I made a little mistake putting my best lap together as I was nervous, but it’s OK.” More, from a press release issued by Scuderia SC Caracchi: Gianluca Nannelli will start from the second row tomorrow at Imola for the Supersport race, thank the fifth fastest recorded today on his SC 749R Ducati. Also if he lost a position in the grid Gianluca Nannelli is obviously satisfied for his performance. “The bike suffered a small trouble in the final stage of qualifying.” related Gianluca Nannelli at the end of practice. “Despite that I repeated, or better increased, yesterday’s laptime so I’m rather satisfied for that result. With the race tyres we have selected I found a good pace, as top speed the bike is one of the fastest, so I’m confident to be able to offer a good performance tomorrow, to reward the team for the great work done.” Satisfied Stefano Caracchi too; the team general manager commented: “Now I believe that people which say that our 749R is an obsolete and not developed machine has been denied by the truth. Easton recorded the highest top speed and Nannelli is in front, fighting for the victory. Actually, thanks the skill and professionality of Franco Farnè and all the guys, the bike is continuously developed, of course under the expenses limit of a private team, and it’s still a very performing machine. The Nanna’s talent made the difference, but on a bad bike you’ll never could challenge the leaders!” Luka Nedog is getting better performances and here in Imola has been able to stay in front of experienced riders. “I suppose I could more improve my lap time, but I’m quite satisfied for today’s result.” related Luka Nedog at the end. “I made still some mistake in the fastest lap, but now I’m fighting with riders that at the beginning of the season were in front of me, also when Imola is new for me and is a very demanding track. However I’m rather satisfied because for tomorrow’s race I’m very confident.” Today too Stuart Easton’s bike has been recorded as the fastest of Supersport group by the speed trap after the finish line. Easton improved his lap time more as a second and failed the fifth row for a fistful of thousandth of second. “The engine push in a fantastic way: Today I tried to improve my lap time.” – has been the comment by Stuart Easton rejoining the pit. “I clearly improved my lap time and I failed for a whisker a better row in the starting grid. But, has I always say, The race is to run tomorrow and I’m confident to tone the last details on my bike during the warm up and to be ready and OK for the race.”