2007 FIM Supersport World Championship Valencia, Spain April 15, 2007 Race Results: 1. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Hon CBR600RR), 23 laps, 38:08.523 2. Andrew PITT (Hon CBR600RR), -4.911 seconds 3. Gianluca NANNELLI (Duc 749R), -5.200 seconds 4. Fabien FORET (Kaw ZX-6R), -5.619 seconds 5. Broc PARKES (Yam YZF-R6), -12.776 seconds 6. David SALOM (Yam YZF-R6), -14.913 seconds 7. Massimo ROCCOLI (Yam YZF-R6), -15.178 seconds 8. Joan LASCORZ (Hon CBR600RR), -25.356 seconds 9. Vesa KALLIO (Suz GSX-R600), -28.454 seconds 10. Craig JONES (Hon CBR600RR), -29.885 seconds 11. Gianluca VIZZIELLO (Yam YZF-R6), -30.422 seconds 12. Davide GIUGLIANO (Kaw ZX-6R), -30.810 seconds 13. Lorenzo ALFONSI (Hon CBR600RR), -31.204 seconds 14. David CHECA (Yam YZF-R6), -35.273 seconds 15. Sebastien GIMBERT (Yam YZF-R6), -37.610 seconds 16. Giles BOCCOLINI (Kaw ZX-6R), -41.628 seconds 17. Javier FORES (Hon CBR600RR), -41.727 seconds 18. Katsuaki FUJIWARA (Hon CBR600RR), -52.600 seconds, crash 19. Vladimir IVANOV (Yam YZF-R6), -59.942 seconds 20. Chris PERIS (Yam YZF-R6), -60.009 seconds 27. Barry VENEMAN (Suz GSX-R600), -1 lap, DNF 29. Simone SANNA (Hon CBR600RR), -11 laps, DNF, mechanical 30. Kevon CURTAIN (Yam YZF-R6), -15 laps, DNF, crash 31. Pere RIBA (Kaw ZX-6R), -15 laps, DNF, crash 33. Tatu LAUSLEHTO (Hon CBR600RR), -21 laps, DNF, mechanical 34. Yoann TIBERIO (Hon CBR600RR), -21 laps, DNF, mechanical Supersport World Championship Point Standings (after 4 of 13 races): 1. Sofuoglu, 95 points 2. Foret, 51 points 3. Fujiwara, 43 points 4. Robbin Harms, 39 points 5. Nannelli, 30 points 6. Parkes, 27 points 7. Roccolo, 26 points 8. TIE, Curtain/Jones, 25 points 10. Riba, 22 points More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: HANNspree Ten Kate Honda dominates Supersport podium HANNspree Ten Kate dominated today’s World Supersport race in Valencia in a thrilling one-two podium finish. Kenan Sofuoglu took the race victory while temporary team-mate Andrew Pitt passed the chequered flag in second place. The stunning success leaves Sofuoglu with a 95-point lead in the standings – a huge 44 points ahead of nearest rival Fabien Foret. The first nine laps of the eventful fourth-round race saw a four-way battle for the top positions between Sofuoglu, Pitt, Kevin Curtain and Pere Riba. Sofuoglu led from the off, closely followed by Pitt. However, Curtain and Riba soon caught up as the four swapped places numerous times in a thrilling display of inch-perfect riding. On lap nine, misfortune struck for three of the front runners as Riba crashed out taking Curtain and Katsuaki Fujiwara with him. This left the way open for the two HANNspree Ten Kate Honda riders to slip into the first and second positions. The pair maintained station for the next 13 laps with Sofuoglu holding an impressive lead of over 3 seconds. Only on the final lap did third place rider Gianluca Nannelli make a convincing attack on Pitt. The Spanish rider passed the Australian for a nail-biting few seconds before Pitt snatched it back and crossed the finish 4.911 seconds after first place Sofuoglu. The Turkish rider’s third race win of the year means that HANNspree Ten Kate Honda maintains it series lead going into the team’s home race in Assen in two weeks time. Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager: “This was a very hectic and eventful race for the Supersport guys today. We were lucky that Kenan took an early lead and broke away from the battling group behind. Andrew was in the group battling for second and he was hanging in really well. When the three riders went down we were in a perfect position for first and second, which the riders delivered to us. I have to give big compliments again to Kenan who rode yet another mature race by keeping his head and not getting stressed. Andrew has given us the perfect gift to reward the team for the ride – he has just shown his capabilities as a rider. The result is just perfect, I couldn’t have asked for more.” Kenan Sofuoglu: “I’m really happy. The dry conditions definitely helped me to get to the podium. For me it is important to stay in a good position for the whole race. When the three riders went down, I knew that I had at least a three second lead didn’t have to push to hard. I tried to maintain the same gap without going too fast as when there is no-one to threaten you there is no need. I could see on my board that the gap was staying the same so I knew there was no-one closing in to make me push harder. Anyway, I am really happy about the win. I want to thank my team for working so hard. They always give me the best and I like to give my best back.” Andrew Pitt: “I’m really happy that I have been able to do the job for the HANNspree Ten Kate Honda team and help them out when they needed it. It was a bit of a lottery going into the race in the dry when we had done so many laps in the wet. We used a softer front tyre, which gave me a couple of problems towards the end but I tried hard to bring it home and get on the podium. I want to thank Ronald and Gerrit for giving me the opportunity. The guys have been great all weekend and coming into a team that has won the World Supersport Championship for the last five years makes my job a lot easier. It’s just amazing, they are so easy to work with. I’m happy – very happy!” More, from a press release issued by Honda: SOFUOGLU WINS AND POWERS AHEAD ON POINTS Another almost faultless display of front running delivered Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) his third race win of the year, pushing him into a substantial 44-point lead in the championship after only four of 13 rounds. His excellent performance on raceday was underpinned by an impressive pole win on Saturday, the first of his WSS career, thanks to a time set in the first dry qualifying session. In second place after 23-laps of often incident-packed action, Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) had a dream re-introduction to World Supersport racing, having been drafted in at short notice to replace the recently injured and still unfit Sebastien Charpentier (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR). He qualified fifth. Poor weather issues which had plagued Valencia for most of the weekend did not quite spoil the racing on Sunday, with a drying track allowing Katsuaki Fujiwara (Althea Honda Team CBR600RR) to take a new lap record on lap six, with a 1’37.570. The Japanese rider had qualified in an impressive second place, but got swamped off the line and was eventually knocked off his machine on lap nine when lying fifth. Pere Riba and Kevin Curtain collided in front of him leaving the unlucky Fuji with no escape route. He restarted and finished in 18th place and out of the points. He is nonetheless third in the championship, on an unchanged total of 43 points. Lorenzo Alfonsi (Althea Honda Team CBR600RR) finished his day of work at Valencia 13th, in the same position he qualified. He got boxed in off the start and had to battle with slower riders to get his three points. He is now 18th overall, with 13 points. Sofuoglu led for 20 of the 23 laps and was the most composed rider when it counted, but was modest in his post-race comments. “The dry conditions definitely helped me to get to the podium,” he stated. “For me it is important to stay in a good position for the whole race. When the three riders went down, I knew that I had at least a three second lead didn’t have to push to hard. I tried to maintain the same gap without going too fast, as when there is no one to threaten you there is no need. I could see on my board that the gap was staying the same so I knew there was no-one closing in to make me push harder. I want to thank my team for working so hard. They always give me the best and I like to give my best back.” Pitt was delighted to have stayed clear of the trouble on lap nine and had to fight hard to re-pass Gianluca Nannelli’s Ducati to secure second on the last lap. “I’m really happy that I have been able to do the job for the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team and help them out when they needed it,” said Pitt. “It was a bit of a lottery going into the race in the dry when we had done so many laps in the wet. We used a softer front tyre, which gave me a couple of problems towards the end but I tried hard to bring it home and get on the podium. The guys have been great all weekend and coming into a team that has won the World Supersport Championship for the last five years makes my job a lot easier.” Fujiwara was disappointed at his misfortune, especially as he had potentially race winning pace, despite a slow start and being ninth on lap one. “The bike today was really good and the work of the team was perfect,” stated Fujiwara. ” I knew I had a bike to win but the crash stopped me from having the chance. I have to start better in the future than I did today. I think I was tenth in the first corner. With a good start we can be right up there as our race pace is really good.” A wheelie off the line dropped Alfonsi to 17th on lap one and from then on his race was a struggle to get clear. “I had a not so good start as the front of the bike came up and I ended up losing some places,” said Alfonsi. “I was stuck in a slow group and at this circuit it is particularly hard to pass. I wanted to get away with the group in front but it was not possible. I took a lot of risks to pass people and at least I got two more points than I did at Donington.” More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: Parkes brings it home in sixth, Curtain crashes out Broc Parkes rode through the pain barrier today at Valencia to bring his R6 home in fifth place despite his recent collar bone injury. His team mate, Kevin Curtain, was not so fortunate, crashing out of the race on lap nine whilst battling for first place. The wet conditions that had plagued much of the weekend’s track sessions had cleared going into the Supersport race. With this in mind, both riders were confident of a good ride in the fourth round of the World Supersport Championship today but in the end they were to have quite different results. Kevin got off a good start and maintained his third place, moving quickly up to second on lap two. Feeling comfortable with the bike and track conditions, he was able to put in a determined ride and was in a four-way battle for first place with Sofuoglu (Honda), Pitt (Honda) and Riba (Kawasaki). On lap five Kevin, showing no sign of discomfort from his broken collar bone, took the lead and temporarily set a new lap record. The battle continued until, on lap nine, Curtain and Riba collided catching Riba’s brake lever and taking both riders out as well as Fujiwara Parkes’ race also got off to a good start with him climbing up to eighth place from his start position of 11th. His injuries though, pampered him throughout the race, with him straining to change direction in the twisty middle section of the circuit. He moved up to fourth position as a result of Curtain and Riba’s accident and then found himself embroiled in the middle pack of riders for the remainder of the race. He fought on and finished the race in a very credible fifth position, considering the short recovery period he has had since Donington. Massimo Roccoli, riding in the Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni squad, found himself alongside Parkes for much of the race, with the two riders swapping positions throughout. The dry conditions suited Roccoli’s style more than the rain and he was able to much improve his start 16th start position to eventually finish in a solid seventh slot. Following his crash Curtain was taken to hospital where it was confirmed that his collar bone injury has not been made worse. A long 20cm cut deep into his thigh, caused by his foot peg, has had to be stitched – it was close to an artery but missed it. Following Curtain and Riba’s collision the remaining to riders went on with Sofuoglu finishing in the top spot and ex-Yamaha WSB rider Pitt putting a good performance for second. Rounding up the podium positions was Nannelli (Ducati) who had a good fight with Pitt for second place and narrowly missed out. Broc Parkes (5th – Yamaha World Supersport Team) “I was sore for sure during that race and when the pace picked up I had trouble keeping up because I couldn’t change direction so easily due to my shoulder. I had a pack of riders around me for much of the race, which I didn’t like as it would have been so easy to collide with one of them, like Kevin did. I’d rather have been in front of them, but I couldn’t get past. At least I got some points, which I am happy about and kept it upright this weekend.” Massimo Roccoli (7th – Yamaha Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni) “I had a good start and jumped to sixth position. I was riding with the leading group and after a very difficult practice, I am pleased with my final result. I took some points and have saved the weekend.” More, from a press release issued by Scuderia SC Caracchi: The Saturday’s rain let the field to a cloud, but dry, day and the today’s races in Valencia have been held in regular conditions. In Supersport Gianluca Nannelli finally grabbed once more a podium place, from whom he miss since Imola 2005. After a wrong start “Nanna” started a fantastic recover that put him in 3rd position during the 9th lap, but the the Florentine rider did persist in his action till catching and passing Pitt for the second place, the a couple of bad skidding did suggest him to hold the 3rd place. More, Gianluca finished the the race with the right boot ripped after a contact with a doubled, and so also the position on the footrest wasn’t perfect. “What exciting race!” said at the end Gianluca Nannelli, with a 32 teeth smile. “Finally on the rostrum, it’s the first time for an Italian rider this season! It’s a pity for the bad start, after a lot of start test during the practice, all positive, at the start of the race I remained prisoner inside the first corner, while the fastest were running away; at the first split I was 11th with a three seconds gap. I started early earning positions, 9th at the second lap, 8th at third and 6th at fourth. Then at 9th lap I found myself in third position and I could see Pitt not far from me, so I tried to catch him. I selected rather soft tyres after the warm up, they did guarantee us a good grip as well a sufficient safety, but during the recover I stressed them a little bit and when I grabbed Pitt and overtook him the bike was difficult to control. I made a riding mistake and he passed me once more, that I had a bad skid and I preferred to hold the third place. The team merits absolutely this podium for his great work. Of course I must say that I’ve been lucky for the crash in front of me, but with a good start I’m sure that I stay in the same group and, looking at the end, I close easily my gap with Pitt. In this season we have done a great work and because of several stupid case we didn’t collect how we merit; I hope that, starting from Valencia, the things will start to follow the right direction.”