From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

BRANDS HATCH BECKONS HONDA SUPERSPORT MAESTROS

After six free weekends, with no World Supersport races having taken place since Silverstone on 13 June 2004, the series reconvenes in England once more, at the natural amphitheatre of Brands Hatch. Most of the strong entry of supported Honda CBR600RR riders will enter the round in enviable championship positions, with the Ten Kate Honda riders Karl Muggeridge and Broc Parkes the best placed, in first and third places overall.

Muggeridge has had an outstanding run of recent form, with three wins and a second place his personal tally in the last four outings. He leads the championship with a healthy 107 points to Yamaha rider Jurgen van den Goorbergh’s 92. For Parkes, with three straight podium finishes under his belt and some encouraging results from a recent Oschersleben test session alongside team-mate Muggeridge, third place is his current status, on a total of 69 points. His closest competitor Kevin Curtain is adrift by 11 points.

With six full-time WSS competitors supported by Honda in 2004, the importance of the championship should not be underestimated, and in the Klaffi team Honda has a potent force to take on the competition in this intense and ever combative class. Experienced WSS rider Sebastien Charpentier leads the Klaffi charge in seventh place in the table, but he is well supported by the 20-year-old talent of Germany’s Max Neukirchner (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) who has been an impressive inductee from the 250cc Euro championships, lying tenth overall so far.

Team Italia Megabike Honda regular riders Alessio Corradi (Team Italia Megabike Honda CBR600RR) and Denis Sacchetti will be joined by Aussie Anthony West, a major name in the MotoGP two stroke firmament, who is taking advantage of an offer to compete at Brands for the Italian-based team. The 23-year-old Australian will add extra spice to what is already a red-hot line up of talent in what is one of the toughest forms of Motorsport around.

Points leader Muggeridge has enjoyed his summer break, and is typically laid back in mood in readiness for the latest challenge. “We tested recently at Oschersleben and it all went very well; mostly chassis things for two days and then some tyre tests in the last hours. We did well against our main opposition and that’s a positive going into Brands. I did some climbing in Switzerland during the break, and otherwise I’ve just been training to keep fit for Brands.”

For Parkes the recent test session should have a far-reaching significance. “I was at the Ten Kate workshop for a few days during the break, and we had a good test as well. We haven’t tested this year other than Valencia and one windy day at Assen, so it was just what we needed. Before this test even though I understood the way the team works we did not really connect together perfectly. Now I feel we do and I’m learning a lot more from them. At the last test we all worked very well together and I feel it will show. Brands isn’t my favourite circuit but I have never really been there with a good bike, so I think it should be OK.”

Charpentier is positive about his second run out on English tarmac this year; “I’ve had some good results at Brands before, so I hope to repeat them. I want to get a podium in this race and it helps there are not such big jumps in the settings of the bike when going from a track like Silverstone to Brands Hatch. I have my goals very clear in my head for this weekend, and feel under no pressure at all.”

Neukirchner, who was a spectator at the Sachsenring MotoGP race, feels ready for his first taste of MotoGP action. “I haven’t done so much in the break but I have trained a lot and I will be in good shape for the race itself,” said Max. “Brands Hatch will be another new track for me but I like learning new tracks and have an experienced team behind me. I have heard a lot about Brands Hatch so I want to see it for myself.”

Three days of WSS action culminate in the race itself at Brands on August 1, with the next round of the championship at Assen on September 5.