HONDA RIDERS TO EXPERIENCE NEW TRACK AT FINAL ROUND The all-new 4.592km Portimao circuit in the Algarve plays host to the final round of the World Superbike Championship on November 2, the culmination of a 14-Round series that started way back in February, at Losail in Qatar. Spaniard Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) has enjoyed a fruitful rookie season in the WSB class, having won two races so far, and taken a further four podiums on the latest model Fireblade. His first race win proved to be a double win, at the all-new circuit of Miller Motorsports Park in America, and Checa will be looking to repeat that performance to allow him to move up the championship table. He is currently fifth overall, the top placed rookie, and he is only 14 points away from fourth place rider Max Neukirchner. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) will return to competitive action at Portimao, having been forced to miss the last round due to a collarbone fracture suffered in testing before the Magny-Cours race. He is ninth overall at present and has an even better winning record than his fellow World Superbike rookie Checa. ‘Kiyo’ now has three wins to his credit, plus a third place from the Monza round. With the World Supersport Championship now decided, Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) has swapped grid places for this round with Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR Jr), meaning that Rea will have his first WSB ride on Sofuoglu’s regular machine this weekend, and Sofuoglu will return to the category he was champion in during the 2007 season, riding in place of Rea. In 2009, Rea will partner Checa and Kiyonari in Superbike full-time and Sofuoglu will go back to being a regular competitor in WSS. Gregorio Lavilla (Vent-Axia VK Honda CBR1000RR) will be attempting to defend his more than respectable championship placing in the final round, as he aims to be the top overall privateer. He is 12th at present, three places ahead of Karl Muggeridge (DFX Corse Honda CBR1000RR). Currently 15th and one point up on Sofuoglu, Roberto Rolfo (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR1000RR) will finish the season in that position because of the Turkish rider’s move back to Supersport. That will not stop him going all out for his best finish in a season punctuated by some ups and downs. Shuhei Aoyama (Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR) is out to score points of some kind at Portimao, and break away from Chris Walker (Vent-Axia VK Honda CBR1000RR) in the standings. They are tied on five points each, with Walker having scored one point in five of the eight races he has taken part in this year. Checa said: “I hear a lot of good things about the new Portimao circuit so I’m looking forward to riding it myself. It’ll be great to be among the first riders there, but I hope the track surface doesn’t give us too many problems with grip. I’m hoping of course to finish the season on a high note and it will be good to prepare for 2009 with a positive finish. It’s been a great first season in World Superbike for me, with a new team, new bike, new tyres, and new championship. There has been a lot to learn and it’s been tough, particularly since the wins in America. But we’ll use this last race to finish as high as we can in this year’s championship and to start making improvements for next season.” Kiyonari said: “I had the operation on my shoulder in Japan so I’ve just been relaxing at home there and got back to Europe around a week ago. The shoulder feels good but I’ve seen the video of Portimao and it looks like it will test the injury! It seems to be very up and down a bit like Brands Hatch or Phillip Island but it also looks like fun. I am relaxed and want to finish the season with two strong results this weekend.” Rea said: “It’s going to be quite different from riding the Supersport bike and I’m really, really happy to get this chance, although I’m sad not to be able to finish off the year with my Supersport crew. They’ve been brilliant all season and I really wanted to win the title for them. If everything clicks and I can ride to my potential, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be near the front. Portimao is new to everyone, but everyone has also had all season to get their bikes working how they want, so I know how hard it’s going to be. The first session on Friday will be just getting comfortable on the bike so I don’t expect anything spectacular then. But I’ll be aiming for Superpole and looking to score points in both races.” Rolfo said: “I’m ready for the last races of the year here in Portugal. The Autodromo Internacional do Algarve will be a completely new experience for me. I’ve heard it is a very nice track and this is the kind of circuit that I like. My team hasn’t stopped working on my bike and I hope to be as competitive and achieve the same good results that I obtained in Magny-Cours.” Muggeridge said: “I’m looking forward to riding at a new track and the track does seem to be very impressive. I just hope that the weather behaves itself for a change, as we’ve had a lot of bad weather in practice this year.” World Supersport Championship Pitt Set To Celebrate Championship Win In Style Having wrapped up the World Championship in some style with his fifth win of the 2008 season at the previous Magny-Cours round in France, Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) has one more chance to record a win, in this his second World Championship winning season. His team-mate Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR), is currently second in the WSS series but will be competing in the Superbike class this weekend, allowing for the return of the 2007 WSS champion, Kenan Sofuoglu to the 600cc division. Rea’s second place status will come under serious scrutiny in his absence, as Josh Brookes (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsports Honda CBR600RR) is only seven points behind, and is well capable of finishing with more points than he needs to go second himself. Privateer Honda rider Joan Lascorz is fifth overall, while Robbin Harms (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsports Honda CBR600RR) is seventh and Gianluca Nannelli (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR600RR) tenth. Russell Holland (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR600RR) hopes to finish his half season in the Supersport class with a strong finish, after some recent misfortunes and injuries. Pitt said: “There were some crazy days after we tied up the championship in Magny-Cours. Phone calls and emails to answer, and some interviews to get through but it was a great feeling. I spent a few days in the UK and I’ve just been chilling and looking forward to riding this new track at Portimao. Because it’s so new, I have a feeling it might be a bit like Qatar in that there’ll be one racing line because of all dust and dirt on the track. But it’s the same for everyone, so we’ll wait and see. It’ll feel weird turning up for a race without any pressure a bit like the BSB round we did at Donington. But we’ll try to set the tone for next season with a win.” Sofuoglu said: “I’m really excited about getting back on the CBR600RR with the team that helped me win the World Supersport championship last year. I’ve been relaxing in Turkey with my friends and family and working a lot on my fitness so now I feel strong to finish the season in a good position. We will see this as a practice race for next season, but Portimao looks like a very interesting place and I am really looking forward to riding there.” Brookes said: “This will be my last race of the year in this championship and in this team. It’s going to be a bit strange, but I hope to make it a good final weekend. The first session on Friday will be just getting to know the track and getting comfortable with the bike. Currently I’m third in the championship but, as Rea decided to not ride this weekend, I have a good chance to bring home that second place.” Harms said: “I’m excited to race in Portimao, a completely new track. I have heard from the guys who have been there testing this week that it should be fantastic! There are many fast sections, twisty corners and the width of the track means there’s plenty of room for overtaking. This weekend is my last race with the team, so I want to finish it well and get a good result.” Nannelli said: “I usually dislike new circuits because I’m not familiar with them, but I want to get to know the Portimao track as quickly as possible in order to be very fast immediately. I only hope it will not be too cold. I want to make the best race possible for both me and for my team. I’m very motivated because it will be the last race of the season and I’ll work very hard with my team because I want to reach a good result in Sunday’s race.” Holland said: “Of course I have never been to this track before and I’m eager to ride and get to know it. I would like to end the season with a good result to thank my team and my sponsors for their great help. My physical condition is good and I don’t feel any more pain from my old left wrist injury. In Portimao, I want to fight for the podium.”