FIM Supersport World Championship Eurospeedway Lausitz, Germany September 10 Race Results: 1. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Hon CBR600RR), 23 laps, 39:29.099 2. Kevin CURTAIN (Yam YZF-R6), -0.130 second 3. Fabien FORET (Yam YZF-R6), -9.654 seconds 4. Robbin HARMS (Hon CBR600RR), -10.564 seconds 5. Gianluca NANNELLI (Duc 749R), -19.925 seconds 6. Gianluca VIZZIELLO (Yam YZF-R6), -24.288 seconds 7. Christian ZAISER (Duc 749R), -24.980 seconds 8. Kai Borre ANDERSEN (Suz GSX-R600), -25.058 seconds 9. Matthieu LAGRIVE (Hon CBR600RR), -30.289 seconds 10. Stephane CHAMBON (Kaw ZX-6RR), -34.854 seconds 11. Staurt EASTON (Duc 749R), -35.811 seconds 12. Massimo ROCCOLI (Yam YZF-R6), -36.092 seconds 13. Mauro SANCHINI (Yam YZF-R6), -36.430 seconds 14. Chris PERIS (Yam YZF-R6), -36.845 seconds 15. Tatu LAUSLEHTO (Hon CBR600RR), -60.846 seconds 16. Vladimir IVANOV (Hon CBR600RR), -67.040 seconds 17. Vesa KALLIO (Yam YZF-R6), -67.258 seconds 18. Miguel PRAIA (Hon CBR600RR), -70.978 seconds 19. Gregory LEBLANC (Hon CBR600RR), -71.430 seconds 20. Lorenzo ALFONSI (Yam YZF-R6), -71.718 seconds 21. Gunter KNOBLOCH (Yam YZF-R6), -92.063 seconds 22. Katsuaki FUJIWARA (Hon CBR600RR), -2 laps, pitted 23. Tom TUNSTALL (Hon CBR600RR), -2 laps, pitted 24. William DE ANGELIS (Hon CBR600RR), -2 laps, DNF, mechanical 25. Alessio ALDROVANDI (Hon CBR600RR), -4 laps, DNF, mechanical 26. Alessio VELINI (Yam YZF-R6), -6 laps, DNF, mechanical 27. Yoann TIBERIO (Hon CBR600RR), -7 laps, DNF, mechanical 28. Sabastien LE GRELLE (Hon CBR600RR), -10 laps, DNF, mechanical 29. Johan STIGEFELT (Hon CBR600RR), -11 laps, DNF, crash 30. Andrea BERTA (Yam YZF-R6), -12 laps, DNF, crash 31. David CHECA (Yam YZF-R6), -15 laps, DNF, mechanical 32. Luka NEDOG (Duc 749R), -15 laps, DNF, mechanical 33. Sebastien CHARPENTIER (Hon CBR600RR), -15 laps, DNF, mechanical 34. Maxime BERGER (Kaw ZX-6RR), -19 laps, DNF, crash 35. Julien ENJOLRAS (Yam YZF-R6), -23 laps, DNF, crash More, from a press release issued by Winston Ten Kate Honda: SOFUOGLU TWO FOR TWO AFTER CHARPENTIER RETIRES FOR AN INJURY Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) once more showed his true talent and class by winning the German round of the championship, being content to sit behind long term leader Kevin Curtain until the 19th lap of 23, then pouncing to score his second win in as many weekends. His team-mate Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR), who is chasing the overall title, was in some difficulty in the early laps and ran off the circuit on the seventh lap. He went down the escape road at turn one, but took a wrong turn in the tyre barrier area, hit the tyres as he attempted to pass between them, and restarted well down on the leaders. He pulled in to retire from the race on lap nine dropping valuable championship points. Sofuoglu also scored the new track lap record, on lap four, with a 1’42.090. In the championship Charpentier has an unchanged 144 points, with Kevin Curtain on 171 Sofuoglu now sits fourth, only two points from third. Ronald Ten Kate Team Manager “Of course I have very mixed feelings at the moment. Clearly we have lost some very important points for the championship with Sebastien, and the gap now means that we have no more opportunities to have the cards in out hand for the rest of the year; we have to wait for Kevin now. That is a big pity. On the other hand, when we look to the other side of the garage, we saw Kenan win again, and it was a strong win. He won in the wet at Assen and there were maybe more people even then who still doubted the abilities of Kenan in the dry, but he has answered that only a week afterwards. I think it is clear that he is going in the correct way. I am so happy for him.” Kenan Sofuoglu Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (First Championship Position: 4th with 117 points) “I am very happy because last weekend when I won in Assen it was in the rain but now in the dry I have won again and that is very satisfying. Now I have one race victory in each condition. I have to keep working like this; I have two races more and I should be on the podium. I would like to say thank you to Honda and Winston Ten Kate Honda Team because they have worked really hard with me for the second half of the year and now the results are coming. My career really started here in Germany, at this track in 2002, so it is fantastic to win a race here.” Sebastien Charpentier Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (DNF Championship Position: 2nd with 144 points) “When I ran off the track and then hit the tyre barriers I hurt my left hand a lot in the impact. I simply had to retire from the race after that. I fractured my ring finger but I should be able to race in Imola. It’s very disappointing to lose so many points today.” CHAMPIONSHIP STANDING: 1. Curtain – Yamaha – 171 points 2. Charpentier – Winston Ten Kate Honda – 144 points 3. Parkes – Yamaha – 119 points 4. Sofuoglu – Winston Ten Kate Honda – 117 points 5. Harms – Honda – 107 points More, from a press release issued by Beowulf Racing: BEOWULF’S McDOUGALL SHOWS COURAGE UNDER FIRE 2006 FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, Rd 8: Eurospeedway, Germany If races were won on sheer determination, Beowulf Racing’s Pat McDougall (Suzuki) would be the runaway leader of the 2006 FIM Superstock 1000 Cup. Sadly the young hotshot had to contend with another dose of setbacks in today’s shortened and accident-hit eighth-round race at the Eurospeedway circuit in Germany. McDougall made an excellent start to the race’s scheduled start this morning, jumping up three places to 22nd position as the bikes reached the first timed split on the opening lap. Following a horrific accident on the next, involving riders Ilario Dionisi (MV Augusta) and Alessandro Polita (Suzuki), which saw the machines bursting into flame and debris being scattered all over the track, there was no other option than to red-flag the race. Although the accident had happened well ahead of McDougall, he still had to ride past the fires and carnage on the circuit. The incident was so bad that Beowulf team boss Andy Stone gave him the option of not entering the afternoon restart, which would be run over a shortened distance of nine laps. Being the committed team player that he is, Pat confirmed that he had not come all this way not to race. When the bikes reconverged on the grid, McDougall made what appeared to be another excellent getaway. Sadly, it had been too good he had jumped the start and had to complete a mid-race ride through the pitlane as a penalty. With just three laps remaining, this effectively put paid to any chance of a decent result and many riders would simply have retired at this point. McDougall defiantly refused to quit, accepted his punishment and re-commenced battle. Being the last bike to cross the finishing line in 28th place, he had done well not to be lapped whilst his lap time of 1:48.013 was better than the two riders ahead had managed. On the tail of a host of machinery problems at last weekend’s Dutch round of the championship, Beowulf Racing are finding this year’s Superstock Cup tough going. Both the rider and team will be hoping for a better turn of events when the series begins its ninth round at the Italian circuit of Imola on September 29th. To learn more about Pat McDougall and Beowulf Racing visit www.beowulf-racing.com FIM SUPERSTOCK 1000 CUP, RD 8: GERMANY Race result 9 laps 1. Claudio Corti (Ita) Yamaha 15:39.368 2. Brendan Roberts (Aus) Suzuki +00:01.082 3. Loic Napoleone (Fra) Suzuki +00:04.486 28. Pat McDougall (GBr) Suzuki +01:12.437 Championship standings after 8 of 10 rounds: 1 Allessandro Polita (Ita) Suzuki – 137pts 2. Luca Scassa (Ita) MV Augusta 118pts 3. Claudio Corti (Ita) Yamaha 115pts More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing: SOFUOGLU SCORES SECOND WIN IN SUCCESSION AS CHARPENTIER IS FORCED OUT After winning a torrentially wet aggregate race at Assen last weekend, Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) played a waiting game to score his first dry weather win in his rookie full season. He stalked the long-term leader Kevin Curtain until lap 20, passing to score a narrow but confident race win and promote himself to fourth in the championship, only two points from third place with two rounds to run. Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) like Sofuoglu, started the race from the front row but was overtaken in the early stages, and ran off track onto the turn one slip road on lap seven. While attempting to squeeze between the tyre barriers he made a sharp impact and suffered a fracture in his left hand. He carried on for a time, but retired on lap nine. With Curtain second in the Lausitz race and now on a total of 171 points, and with Charpentier 27 points behind with two rounds to run, the 2005 World Champion is hoping to be fit to battle on in the next two rounds at Imola and Magny-Cours. Sofuoglu is fourth, on 117 points and is now the new Lausitzring lap record holder, having set a 1’42.090 lap time fourth time around. Yoann Tiberio (Team Megabike Honda CBR600RR) and Katsuaki Fujiwara (Team Megabike Honda CBR600RR) each retired from the race, Tiberio on lap 17 and Fujiwara – finally – on lap 22, after pitting for two laps and changing a rear tyre. Sofuoglu was an impressive winner at one of his favourite tracks, and was particularly pleased to have won in dry conditions, after qualifying second on the grid. “I am very happy because last weekend when I won in Assen it was in the rain but now in the dry I have won again and that is very satisfying,” said the new fourth place rider. “Now I have one race victory in each condition. I have to keep working like this; I have two races more and I should be on the podium. I would like to say thank you to Honda and Ten Kate because they have worked really hard with me for the second half of the year and now the results are coming. My career really started here in Germany, at this track in 2002, so it is fantastic to win a race here.” Charpentier had no option to retire, and now hopes to be ready for the final season push to keep his championship hopes alive. “When I ran off the track and then hit the tyre barriers I hurt my left hand a lot in the impact,” said Charpentier. “I simply had to retire from the race after that. It’s very disappointing to lose so many points today and they think my hand is broken, but I will try to race at Imola.” Tiberio experienced problems with concentration and focus in the race, and eventually pulled in to retire, having qualified only 12th. “The set-up of the bike was not bad, not perfect, but the problem was my own, not the bike,” said Tiberio. “I found it very difficult to concentrate on the race today and I never felt at ease even from the start. When I dropped out of the points I came in to retire.” Fujiwara found the stress of racing on his frequently injured wrist difficult to bear in full race conditions, especially at a tight and twisty circuit like Lausitz. “Very soon after the start my wrist started to give me great pain,” said Fujiwara. “I carried on but then it got too much and I pulled in. A new tyre was fitted and I went out again, but basically just to test the tyre.” More, from a press release issued by Kel Edge Photography: 2006 Suzuki GSX-R750 European Cup Round 6, Eurospeedway Lausitz Circuit: 4.265 kms. Crowd: 51,000. Weather: Dry, sunny 23C. BRITON SYKES TAKES LAUSITZ GLORY Briton Tom Sykes took over the ride of William Dunlop for Lausitz and immediately carved his name in glory by winning the fifth round of this year’s Suzuki GSX-R750 European Cup. Sykes led from start to finish and never looked in trouble during the 12-lap race, held in front of a 51,000 strong crowd. Second was series leader Xavier Simeon, with Rene Mahr third. TOM SYKES -1st I made a good start, maybe because I practised one or two yesterday, and for the first few laps I made sure that I had heat in the tyres before I really got my head down. Fortunately I was able to pull out a bit of a gap on the other riders , but I couldn’t see my pitboard, so I used the hairpin to have a sneaky look round from time to time. I had a few little slides towards the end of the race and that kept me awake and smiling. It’s been a fantastic experience racing in front of a Superbike crowd and I really enjoyed myself this weekend. I can’t wait for the next one. XAVIER SIMEON – 2nd The bike was better today and I rode steadily to take points instead of doing anything silly. For the first few laps, Sykes was faster then me, but later I began to close in a little. My start was OK and I’m happy to take my second runner-up spot of the weekend and keep a good lead in the series. More, from a press release issued by Scuderia SC Caracchi: AT EUROSPEEDWAY GOOD RESULTS IN SUPERSPORT FOR NANNELLI AND EASTON Good results in Supersport race at Eurospeedway, where Gianluca Nannelli and Stuart Easton finished into the points their race. “At the start the riders in front of me started all well and in the confusion of the first corner, I’ve been not able to earn any position.” commented Gianluca Nannelli at the end of the race. “At the first lap I was seventh, but the leaders were already running with a three seconds advantage, while Zaiser and Charpentier were slowing our group and were very difficult to overtook too. I selected tyres with the guarantee of to finish the race, and in the early laps they were not performing at the best. When finally I passed I had in front of me Stigefelt and Harms, but they had a good advantage. I pushed to catch Harms, but then I made a mistake and I lost some time, so I preferred to avoid any risk to throw away a good result. Friendly I was hoping something better, but I’m however satisfied, we’re the best of 749R,I’m the first between Italian riders, finally I’m able to fight with the best, I’m satisfied as I’ll look to get something more.” Very well Stuart Easton too: after a very brilliant start that put him in 15th position at the first lap, Stuart finished the race as eleventh. “I got a good start.” – said satisfied Stuart Easton. “After a lot of troubles during the practice day the bike performed well and at the first lap I was just behind the leading group. It was not easy to fight against expert riders like Anderson, Chambon and Roccoli, but at the end I got a good result and I made a good experience. During the final laps both Roccoli and Sanchini tried to pass me in every corner, but I’ve been able to resist and end in front of them.” Unlucky today too Luka Nedog. After a new crash during the morning warm up session, during the race the bike had some problem and Nedog stopped along the circuit. “It a race to forget.” has been the bitter comment by Luka Nedog. “The team assembled at the best the bike after the yesterday’s fire and maybe something has been damaged out of our control. I had a good start, earning several position at the first split, but then the bike started to fail and I must stop along the track.” On the contrary in Superbike Roberto Rolfo lived a black day, with a stop at the last lap in race-1 and a wrong tyre selection in race-2. “During race-1 the bike stopped along the track during the last lap, so I’ve been not classified too.” said Roberto Rolfo at the end of the day. “For race-2 we made a wrong tyre selection and I had any chance to recover from my bad starting position. I’m rather disappointed; I hope that for Imola we’ll find all together a good solution because in Italy I’m looking for a good result