The last two World Supersport champions, Andrew Pitt (2008) and Kenan Sofuoglu (2007) of the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team, head to Valencia in Spain this weekend (3-5 April) for round three of the 2009 championship holding first and second places in the points table. After winning the season opener in Australia, Turkish rider Sofuoglu finished fourth last time out in Qatar, while his Australian team-mate, Pitt, has taken second place in both encounters to hold a two-point margin at the top of the leader board. The 4km Ricardo Tormo circuit just outside Valencia sees the first outing for the 2009 version of the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR since the 2008 model was used by the team in the two opening rounds this season. Whilst not radically different from its predecessor, the 09 model is eagerly anticipated by the entire team. Andrew Pitt championship position 1st I’ve been in Italy since the last round, doing a lot of cycle training. I spent a few days with Ben Spies, who’s got a nice place up by Lake Como, and it’s been good to do some training with him. Valencia is not my favourite circuit and, although I don’t have a problem doing a good lap time, the results have been hard to come by. The track surface can change from hour to hour so it can be an interesting place. But the team and I are pretty motivated with the arrival of the new bike. The Ten Kate boys know how to get the most out of Honda’s CBR so we should hit the ground running and we’ll aim for another good result. Kenan Sofuoglu championship position 2nd I was a little sore from the two crashes I had during practice in Qatar, and a little frustrated and disappointed at finishing in fourth place there. However, after seven days at home I was fully recovered, back into a full training programme and I realised that fourth gave me some valuable points. Now I am back to full strength and really hungry to be winning again. I have been so happy to back on the CBR600RR this season but, although I am very attached to the old bike, I am really looking forward to riding the new one and will be aiming to give it a win in its first race. Ronald ten Kate team manager Yes, we’ve had a really good start to the season and first and second in the championship is where we want to be at the end of the season, as well as now. Valencia will mark the first outing for our 2009 CBR600RR and we’re very excited about that. The first impressions show that there has been a very positive evolution of the bike that has won the last seven world championships for us and the new version is another step forward. We’re definitely ready to rumble.