FIM Supersport World Championship Eurospeedway Lausitz, Germany September 9 Qualifying Results: 1. Kevin CURTAIN (Yam YZF-R6), 1:41.006 2. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Hon CBR600RR), 1:41.402 3. Christian ZAISER (Duc 749R), 1:41.502 4. Sebastien CHARPENTIER (Hon CBR600RR), 1:41.679 5. Johan STIGEFELT (Hon CBR600RR), 1:42.001 6. Gianluca NANNELLI (Duc 749R), 1:42.120 7. Gianluca VIZZIELLO (Yam YZF-R6), 1:42.125 8. Fabien FORET (Yam YZF-R6), 1:42.180 9. Stephane CHAMBON (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:42.290 10. Katsuaki FUJIWARA (Hon CBR600RR), 1:42.293 11. Kai Borre ANDERSEN (Suz GSX-R600), 1:42.341 12. Yoann TIBERIO (Hon CBR600RR), 1:42.352 13. Robbin HARMS (Hon CBR600RR), 1:42.383 14. William DE ANGELIS (Hon CBR600RR), 1:42.509 15. Matthieu LAGRIVE (Hon CBR600RR), 1:42.520 16. David CHECA (Yam YZF-R6), 1:42.713 17. Massimo ROCCOLI (Yam YZF-R6), 1:43.028 18. Maxime BERGER (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:43.058 19. Barry VENEMAN (Suz GSX-R600), 1:43.183 20. Tatu LAUSLEHTO (Hon CBR600RR), 1:43.317 21. Chris PERIS (Yam YZF-R6), 1:43.352 More, from a press release issued by Winston Ten Kate Honda: SOFUOGLU AND CHARPENTIER ON FRONT ROW AT LAUSITZ Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda) and Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) will start the 23-lap World Supersport contest at Eurospeedway Lausitz from the front row, after Kenan scored the second fastest lap time in combined qualifying, with Sebastien fourth. An exciting race is assured, as Kevin Curtain, Charpentier’s main championship challenger, went pole and thus lines up on the front row alongside the Winston Ten Kate Honda pairing, and the Ducati of Christian Zaiser. Sofuoglu and Charpentier will once more attempt to improve the set-up of their machines around the bumpy and tortuous Lausitz circuit during Sunday morning’s warm-up session, but they have already slashed into Curtain’s day one advantage on the time sheets after a very fruitful day of work today. Charpentier is a mere seven points behind Curtain in the championship at present, with all to play for at Lausitz and the final two rounds of the year, scheduled for early October. Ronald Ten Kate Team Manager “With both riders on the front row we have reached our main aim for this stage of the race weekend. It is twisty around here so you need to be at the front at the beginning. We are quite happy about the improvement Sebastien has made. Yesterday was difficult and we had to work hard to sort out things on the machine, and it seems we are getting there step-by-step. Again we will try to improve the bike for tomorrow’s race, and we have found out where to go. Now it is a matter of getting the bike even more sorted for tomorrow, and I am quite sure we will all work hard and he will fight hard for a top result tomorrow. So we have to wait and see what happens. Kenan was excellent once more, a great qualifying performance from him.” Kenan Sofuoglu Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (2nd Fastest – Fastest Lap 1’41.402 – 35 Laps) “Not so bad today, even better than yesterday and now I see the chance for the race again. Now Curtain and Sebastien are riding for the championship and I would like to help Sebastien. We will see how the race turns out, and how I am going in it, but I have to be consistent to be strong in the race. Hopefully I can take another podium tomorrow.” Sebastien Charpentier Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (4th Fastest – Fastest Lap 1’41.679 – 32 Laps) “The mechanics have worked very hard to improve the bike, many people try hard to help me in the last session and thanks to everyone. I am OK for tomorrow, and I will be going to win the race for sure. I would be happier being on pole – I have lost 0.6 to Curtain, but it is not a problem, as I still have tomorrow morning, with another alternative set-up on the bike. But I’m going all out to win the race, 100%.” More, from a press release issued by Scuderia SC Caracchi: AT EUROSPEEDWAY SECOND ROW FOR “NANNA” IN SUPERSPORT As happened yesterday the best news from Eurospeedway, in the final practice day for the WSBK German round, went thanks 749R Ducati Supersport. On this track, where also in the past season, Gianluca Nannelli was one of the fastest during the summer test session, will start from the second row and is planning to fight in the top group. “This track has a debit with me!.” remembered Gianluca Nannelli at the end of the day. “During the past season we went for a test here and we recorded very good results. Unfortunately later the Assen’s accident forced me to miss this round. For this year I want back some of the lucky that last year I’ve lost. The bike performs well, is still not very fast, but I have a good grip and a good handling. During the morning’s free practice session I tested a long run, 22 laps with race tyres and my pace was good. For tomorrow I’m confident to stay with the leaders, the team merits a good result to pay all the excellent job they made.” The sceptre as most unlucky today is for Luka Nedog. After a positive free practice session in the morning, in the afternoon session he has not made any complete lap, because he crashed just at the starting lap, maybe for a cold tyre, and the bike burned out and practically is destroyed owing the late action by the track marshals with the extinguisher. “I can’t believe it!.” commented Luka Nedog back in the pist. “The bike was firing and nobody was making anything. When finally the arrived with an extinguisher the front of the bike was already destroied. After the morning’s session I was confident to earn some grid position. On the contrary just I started the bike made a high side and I crashed on the grass, then the fire did complete an all black afternoon. The guys are already working to assemble a bike for the race, I’m really unhappy for what happened.” No luck for Stuart Easton too. During the morning’s practice the engine was not very fast and the new one, put on in the afternoon. showed some electrical trouble that prevent the young Scot from earn more grid position. “It has been a rather unlucky day.” – related Stuart Easton at the end of practices. “The new engine was looking to be good during the running in time, then when I started to push I had continuous electrical troubles that forced me for a long time in the pit. I improved my grid position, but not as I would and as I could be able to do.” On the contrary in Superbike Roberto Rolfo still suffers for missing the feeling with his bike, and that does not allowed him to open the throttle outing the corners, most the slow corners. “We changen the engine and controlled the package set up.” said Roberto Rolfo at the end of qualifying . “Unfortunately I go on to have any feeling when I manage the throttle out of the corners. That’s not an engine problem, it pushes very hard, as the front look to be OK. That’s just the missing of confidence to the rear; it has a good grip until a moment, and quickly, without any symptom, no more grip. In such condition I’m not able to ride as I would, especially on a stop and go track like this one, and I don’t have any result.” More, from a press release issued by Millet Racing Yamaha Junior Team: GOOD FIGHTING RACE FOR FRANCK MILLET After good qualifying practices, Franck Millet had a great fight during the all race to finish 12th. He therefore got 4 useful points for the championship. Michael Savary qualified also well but started too early and was penalized. On Saturday morning, both riders were much faster than the day before. Michael Savary was 12th in 1’48.755 (on Friday 1’50.370) and Franck Millet 13th in 1’48.763 (on Friday 1’50.475). In the race, Franck started with a good group fighting a few seconds behind the leaders. The fight was incredible, with the riders passing each other all the time, sometimes in the dirt! The braking stages were really impressive. 10th for a while, Franck finally ended up 12th. Michael Savary could not prove his talent as he started too early and was penalized. Franck Millet: «I had an average start, and then I was aggressive to stay with the group I was racing with. It was close. After that, I had trouble catching the guys in front of me. Overall, I think this is not bad. This means 4 more points.” Michael Savary: “I was quickly conscious that I started too early. I kept on racing, but without taking too many chances. It would have been useless. After my penalty, I kept on riding to finish the race.” Jean-Louis Millet (team manager): “After his good qualifications, Franck deserved to be in the fast group he was in. He did a good race, which gives him confidence. I am rather happy of this weekend, despite Michael Savary’s penalty.” Race results: 1-Canepa (Ducati), 2-Giugliano (Kawasaki), 3-Siméon (Suzuki), 4-Colucci (Ducati), 5-Lundh (Honda)”¦12-Millet (Yamaha)”¦24-Savary (Yamaha) Superstock 600 European Championship standings: 1- Siméon (Suzuki) 176 points, 2-Canepa (Ducati) 151, 3- Giugliano (Kawasaki) 120, 4-Antonelli (Honda) et Colucci (Ducati) 68″¦8- Savary (Yamaha) 41, 13- Millet (Yamaha) 31 9th round of the Superstock 600 European Championship: September 30th at Imola (Italy) More, from a press release issued by Team Alstare Suzuki: XAVIER TAKES ANOTHER PODIUM 2006 European Superstock 600 Championship Round 8, Eurospeedway Lausitz Saturday 9th September Circuit: 4.265 kms. Weather: Dry, overcast 18C. Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra ride Xavier Simeon has to be content with third place at the Eurospeedway Lausitz today, but still leads the series by a healthy twenty-five points with just two rounds remaining. The young Belgian had a terrific race-long fight with David Giugliano for second spot, but decided that third place was better then making a risky pass. Italian Nicola Canepa (Ducati) led all but the first lap of the race and took the chequered flag by four tenths of a second. XAVIER – 3rd The race was a good one and I enjoyed the battle very much. The three of us at the front had a good, fast rhythm and we soon pulled away from the rest of the field. I did get past Giugliano one time, but he repassed me almost straightway and after that I just shadowed him and waited in case he made a mistake. If I had tried a difficult move, I might have crashed, so I did the best I could, with an eye on the championship. Results 1 Canepa (I-Ducati), 2 Giugliano (I-Kawasaki), 3 XAVIER SIMEON (B-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), 4 Colucci (I-Ducati), 5 Lundh (S-Honda), 6 Jezek (CZ-Kawasaki), Points: 1 XAVIER SIMEON (B-Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) 176, 2 Canepa 151, 3 Giugliano 120, 4 Antonelli 68, 5 Colucci 68, 6 Jezek 61, More, from a press release issued by Kel Edge Photography: SYKES ON TOP 2006 Suzuki GSX-R750 European Cup Round 6, Eurospeedway Lausitz Saturday 9th September Circuit: 4.265 kms. Weather: Dry, mostly cloudy 16C. Briton Tom Sykes took pole position by a comfortable margin in final qualifying for the Suzuki GSX-R750 European Cup. Sykes has taken over the ride from William Dunlop and straightway managed to get on the pace at the 4.265 kilometre track. Second is Rene Mahr, with Roman Stamm third and Philipp Hafeneger fourth. TOM SYKES – 1st, 1:45.053 It’s all generally gone very well and I’ve been enjoying myself out there. I’ve spent most of the time learning the bike and haven’t really made my changes to it so far. The track is fairly straightforward and now I’m really looking forward to the race tomorrow and having a lot more fun. I like this race series a lot! More, from a press release issued by Beowulf Racing: BEOWULF RACING IN CONFIDENT MOOD FOR GERMAN RACE 2006 FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, Rd 8: Eurospeedway, Germany Qualifying session 2, Sat 9th September Although he didn’t manage to beat his Friday qualifying times at the Eurospeedway circuit in Germany today, Beowulf Racing’s Pat McDougall (Suzuki) is still in a buoyant mood as he prepares for tomorrow’s eighth-round race in the 2006 FIM Superstock 1000 Cup championship. Yesterday Pat had managed to put in one blisteringly fast lap to take a provisional 19th place on the grid. In today’s second qualifying session he was slower but much more consistent in his times, boosting his confidence. His Friday lap of 1:45.820 will stand as his best of the two days and means he will line up in 25th place for the start of tomorrow’s 14-lap event. McDougall knew that his Friday performance would be a tough act to follow. Instead of trying to better himself and risk crashing the Beowulf Suzuki in the process, he concentrated on making gradual improvements lap by lap. Starting the 25-minute session in the mid-1:49’s, Pat chipped steadily away to end over two seconds faster with a time of 1:48.197. After the disastrous run of bad luck the rider and team has had to recently endure, it is pleasing to report that the session ran smoothly and without incident. With a pack of riders around him to run with, McDougall should find it much easier to work his way up the field come the start of the race on Sunday. In just his third race for the Shepton Mallet-based team this year, and after a mid-season switch from the British R6 Cup, tomorrow could prove to be the Guildford hotshot’s best chance yet of hitting his target of a top-twenty finish in this class. To learn more about Pat McDougall and Beowulf Racing visit www.beowulf-racing.com FIM SUPERSTOCK 1000 CUP, RD 8 GERMANY Final Combined Qualifying Times 1. Claudio Corti (Ita) Yamaha 1:41.992 2. Luca Scassa (Ita) MV Augusta 1:42.623 3. Ayrton Badovini (Ita) MV Augusta 1:42.859 25. Pat McDougall (GBr) Suzuki 1:45.820