FIM Supersport World Championship Assen, Holland September 3 Race Results (scored on aggregate time): 1. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Hon CBR600RR), 21 laps, 41:49.124 2. Kevin CURTAIN (Yam YZF-R6), -4.581 seconds 3. Kai Borre ANDERSEN (Suz GSX-R600), -9.241 seconds 4. Sebastien CHARPENTIER (Hon CBR600RR), -9.489 seconds 5. Arie VOS (Hon CBR600RR), -29.994 seconds 6. Barry VENEMAN (Suz GSX-R600), -31.858 seconds 7. Gianluca VIZZIELLO (Yam YZF-R6), -54.312 seconds 8. Massimo ROCCOLI (Yam YZF-R6), -56.085 seconds 9. Robbin HARMS (Hon CBR600RR), -69.735 seconds 10. Stuart EASTON (Duc 749R), -73.899 seconds 11. Maxime BERGER (Kaw ZX-6RR), -81.451 seconds 12. Sebastien LE GRELLE (Hon CBR600RR), -86.458 seconds 13. Alessio VELINI (Yam YZF-R6), -92.137 seconds 14. Vesa KALLIO (Yam YZF-R6), -97.377 seconds 15. Gianluca NANNELLI (Duc 749R), -105.357 seconds 16. Tom TUNSTALL (Hon CBR600RR), -105.957 seconds 17. Katsuaki FUJIWARA (Hon CBR600RR), -108.767 seconds 18. Miguel PRAIA (Hon CBR600RR), -123.264 seconds 19. Vladimir IVANOV (Yam YZF-R6), -140.260 seconds 20. Tatu LAUSLEHTO (Hon CBR600RR), -180.887 seconds 25. David CHECA (Yam YZF-R6), -8 laps, DNF 27. Johan STIGEFELT (Hon CBR600RR), -9 laps, DNF 28. Chris PERIS (Yam YZF-R6), -10 laps, DNF 29. Yoann TIBERIO (Hoin CBR600RR), -11 laps, DNF 37. Broc PARKES (Yam YZF-R6), -19 laps, DNF Supersport World Championship Point Standings (After 9 of 12 races): 1. Curtain, 151 points 2. Charpentier, 144 points 3. Parkes, 119 points 4. Harms, 94 points 5. Sofuoglu, 92 points 6. Roccoli, 86 points 7. Tiberio, 67 points 8. Stigefelt, 57 points 9. Javier Fores, 49 points 10. Vizziello, 46 points More, from a press release issued by Winston Ten Kate Honda: SOFUOGLU TAKES A SUPERB WIN AS CHARPENTIER BATTLES TO FOURTH Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) scored his first ever World Supersport race victory on the home track of his team, after a two-part aggregate race, held in atrocious conditions. Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) crossed the line first in the second leg of the 21-lap combined race, but was only fourth overall. The race was halted after ten laps when two riders crashed on the fast back straight section, while Sofuoglu was in a commanding lead, which translated to a four second margin of victory overall. At the head of the championship Charpentier now sits on 144 points, second behind Assen second place Assen race finisher Kevin Curtain, who has a total of 151. Sofuoglu is now an improved fifth in the championship chase. Ronald Ten Kate Team Manager “A great result for Kenan, he has been showing his potential especially in the second half of the season, when he has been growing as a rider. To see him doing this is especially good in these difficult conditions. It shows we made the right choice for this season and I am happy because he has not had things easy. For Sebastien, in the conditions of race one he just wanted to sit and wait to see how things went, and that was the correct choice, before making a push to catch the front group. Then the race was red flagged, so we knew that in the second part it was always going to be difficult to gain the positions to the front. But he has shown us he is back on track and the championship is still open. I am a happy man to see this win for Kenan in front of my home crowd.” Kenan Sofuoglu WSS Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (First Championship Position: 5th with 92 points) “I am particularly happy because it didn’t start right for me, Friday and Saturday were not particularly nice. I started from ninth position but when it started to rain I knew I had a different chance. I am now really happy to win especially at Assen because it is Ten Kate’s home race and I live just 30km from here. So it is particularly nice. Now we got to Lausitz and I know it and like it. Hopefully I can win another race in the three that remain.” Sebastien Charpentier WSS Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (4th Championship Position: 2nd with 144 points) “Happy? Yes and no but I am not satisfied, because I finished fourth. That does not make me happy but it was a crazy race, not easy, and I tried my best to make a small gap in the second leg. The championship is open, and for me seven points is what I have to make up. There is no choice for me now, and maybe now I need the help of the other Honda riders to take points from my rival. I am very happy for Kenan.” More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing: SOFUOGLU TAKES HIS DEBUT WIN IN ATROCIOUS CONDITIONS Heavy rains and a crash mid-way through the Supersport race at Assen made for a two-part aggregate race in Holland, with WSS rookie Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) doing enough in leg one to allow his team-mate Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) to lead the field home in the second leg, and yet still let the young Turk take a popular first WSS race win by over four seconds. Charpentier finished fourth on aggregate, and with his main championship rival Kevin Curtain second, Sebastien lost his championship lead for the first time this season. He now sits second, on 144 points, with Curtain leading on 151. Sofuoglu’s superb performance on his Winston Ten Kate squad’s home circuit puts him fifth overall, with 92 points. Yoann Tiberio (Team Megabike Honda CBR600RR) fell from the leading group in the first leg, after ten laps had been completed, but will be fit for the next round at Lausitz next weekend. He qualified fourth before the race, and now sits seventh in the rankings, with 67 points. Katsuaki Fujiwara (Team Megabike Honda CBR600RR) did not gain his normal confidence in the rain during his comeback ride, partly because all previous sessions had been dry, and was 17th In the race, going 22nd in the points. Sofuoglu looked an assured and composed winner at Assen, after a disappointing ninth in dry qualifying. “I am particularly happy because it didn’t start right for me, Friday and Saturday were not particularly nice,” said Sofuoglu in the post race press conference. “I started from ninth position but when it started to rain I knew I had a different chance. I am now really happy to win especially at Assen because it is Ten Kate’s home race and I live just 30km from here. So it is particularly nice. Now we got to Lausitz and I know it and like it. Hopefully I can win another race in the three that remain.” Charpentier was disappointed with fourth but got caught out in the wet weather conditions of race one, after qualifying impressively on pole in dry conditions. “Happy? Yes and no but I am not satisfied, because I finished fourth,” said Charpentier. “That does not make me happy but it was a crazy race, not easy, and I tried my best to make a small gap in the second leg. The championship is open, and for me seven points is what I have to make up. There is no choice for me now, and maybe now I need the help of the other Honda riders to take points from my rival. I am very happy for Kenan.” Tiberio was running in the leading group when he fell in the first leg, but in the prevailing weather conditions at Assen, there were 17 non-finishers in total. “It was not easy after qualifying had been dry,” said Tiberio. “I was happy in the position I was in and I just made a mistake. I have to look to Germany now to get back some round in the championship points.” Fujiwara found his recent injury to his hand much improved, and qualified ninth, but his set-up in wet conditions did not inspire confidence. “As soon as the race started I just did not feel happy with the feel of the bike,” said Fujiwara. “I really felt I could go no faster or I would have crashed, so I had to concentrate on getting to the finish. My hand was not real problem, so that was positive” More, from a press release issued by HP Suzuki Racing: STUNNING SECOND IN EUROPEAN SUPERSTOCK FOR ROBERTS IN ASSEN Brendan Roberts once again showed his true form at the weekend by coming second in the European Superstock race for HP Suzuki Racing Team. The 21-year-old stunned everyone on his debut appearance at the technical and fierce Assen Circuit, 1st – 3rd September. Renowned as one of the toughest tracks on the World Superbike Calendar. Roberts was strong throughout the weekend and eventually qualified the GSXR-1000 on the front row of the grid in third position. The race was delayed due to horrendous wet weather conditions and an oil spillage on the Circuit, the World Superbike riders were sent out first due to TV commitments. Roberts was stunningly fast in morning warm up in the rain and was a second faster than his nearest rivals. A positive start saw him leap to second place by the first corner. A battled ensured between himself and third place-man, Alessandro Polita. The Italian rider forced his way through to second place on the second lap and held off Roberts’ strong efforts to make a pass on him until lap seven. The young Australian made a tidy pass on the Suzuki rider and was on a mission to hunt down race leader Claudio Corti for the lead. Roberts made up almost a second in one lap and was soon battling with Corti for the eventual race win. Setting four fastest laps in the closing stages Roberts made a confident pass on the Yamaha rider on lap ten and was eager to bridge a gap. Roberts was running smooth and confident and a small mistake on the last corner of the last lap saw him run into the gravel trap. Allowing Corti through and to go on and win the race. Roberts stayed on and managed to still gain second place, a disappointment for the youngster but still a very creditable result. Commenting he said “I nearly had him, next week I’ll be going out for one better! The race was really hard right from the start. I had to battle past Polita who didn’t want to let me go, but once I had clear track in front of me I knew I could chase down Corti. It was a small error on my part that cost me the win, I went into second gear as I held a tight line entering the last corner and the wheel locked up and straight ahead I went.” Roberts is now lying in 9th place in the Overall Championship standings after only competing in three rounds of the series, a fantastic performance. Roberts will contest the three remaining rounds of the series at Germany, Imola and Magny Cours. Roberts will be riding next weekend at the Lausitz Ring, Germany next weekend, 8th – 10th September in the European Superstock Championships. European Superstock Race Result – Assen C Corti Yamaha B Roberts HP Racing Suzuki A Polita Suzuki M Baiocco Yamaha L Scassa MV Agusta Overall Championship Points: Polita 131 Badovini 109 Scassa 107 Corti 90 Rocamora 65 Baicco 51 Chairello 47 Sacchetti 45 ROBERTS 42 Cooper 37