2007 FIM Supersport World Championship Assen, Netherlands April 28, 2007 Final Qualifying Results: 1. Kenan SOFUOGLU (Hon CBR600RR), 1:41.144 2. Sebastien CHARPENTIER (Hon CBR600RR), 1:41.192 3. Broc PARKES (Yam YZF-R6), 1:41.595 4. Fabien FORET (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:41.618 5. Massimo ROCCOLI (Yam YZF-R6), 1:41.672 6. Steve MARTIN (Yam YZF-R6), 1:41.684 7. Andrew PITT (Hon CBR600RR), 1:41.761 8. Katsuaki FUJIWARA (Hon CBR600RR), 1:41.835 9. David SALOM (Yam YZF-R6), 1:42.043 10. Valdimir IVANOV (Yam YZF-R6), 1:42.322 11. Vesa KALLIO (Suz GSX-R600), 1:42.348 12. Pere RIBA (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:42.388 13. Barry VENEMAN (Suz GSX-R600), 1:42.392 14. David CHECA (Yam YZF-R6), 1:42.433 15. Davide GIUGLIANO (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:42.510 16. Craig JONES (Hon CBR600RR), 1:42.531 17. Joan LASCORZ (Hon CBR600RR), 1:42.547 18. Lorenzo ALFONSI (Hon CBR600RR), 1:42.748 19. Gianluca NANNELLI (Duc 749R), 1:42.779 20. Javier FORES (Hon CBR600RR), 1:42.803 25. Chris PERIS (Yam YZF-R6), 1:43.385 More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: HANNspree Ten Kate Honda strive for perfection World Supersport Championship leader Kenan Sofuoglu secured his second pole position of the 2007 series at Assen Circuit in The Netherlands today. Team-mate Sébastien Charpentier continued his incredible comeback by securing second place on the grid, while temporary rider Andrew Pitt will start from seventh position. This afternoon’s second qualifying session was almost dominated by the HANNspree Ten Kate Honda riders. At one point the timesheet showed Charpentier, Sofuoglu and Pitt in the first, second and third places respectively. Charpentier proved that he is more than ready to race tomorrow by setting a blistering time of 1’41.192, smashing the Assen best lap he set in 2006. The Frenchman’s time remained the fastest for the majority of the 45-minute session until team-mate Sofuoglu just managed to displace him with a lap of 1’41.144. Incredibly, the two riders’ final times were separated by just 0.048 seconds. Tomorrow’s race promises to be a close run for the duo as they take the top two spots on the grid. Pitt once again had trouble with slower moving traffic on track and was unable to hold onto this third place on the time sheet. He settled for a place on the second row of the grid. However he is confident that he can put in a strong performance for HANNspree Ten Kate Honda in tomorrow’s 21-lap race. Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager: “In racing we always strive for perfection and we almost got perfection today in the Supersport qualifying. It looked like our three riders were going to take the top three spots in the front row, but then Andrew ran into traffic on his last qualifying tyre and was unable to hold on to the third place. He only has one bike so at the end of the session he had to be a little bit reserved, but still big compliments to him because he was only one tenth away from the front row. As for Sébastien – what a comeback he has made so far. This morning he raised the bar by beating the best lap. This has given some great motivation to Kenan, who managed to just beat Sébastien’s best lap with a virtually identical time. It just shows what great pair of permanent riders we have. So, we are almost ready to race tomorrow – maybe we can reach perfection then!” Kenan Sofuoglu: “I am really happy with today. In the morning I practiced race distance because my ambition every weekend is to make the first row in qualifying and to make good race distance. This morning my race distance was really good, but I was thinking it would be difficult to stay in the front row because a lot of riders were doing fast laps. When I went out on the last tyre I was just thinking that I had to do one really fast lap to stay in the front row. I am really surprised because there were riders in front of me on my fastest lap. Although my aim is just to be on the front row – pole position is great and I am really, really happy.” Sébastien Charpentier: “Today was a good day for me. I really like the new CBR600RR – it’s a great bike, it’s stronger and I have a much better feeling on it. I have worked really hard today, especially in the session this morning. This afternoon I made a good lap time again and I was even faster than this morning. In the last five minutes I went out on track to try and put in a fast lap but there were too many riders in the way. I am a little bit disappointed but overall I am happy about my comeback – it’s not a bad situation at all. I hope I will be ok for the race because I still not completely sure about the distance I can do. Not because I am in pain, but because after one month break racing is not easy on the body. At the moment my right leg is hurting, but I think I have a good chance of reaching the podium tomorrow.” Andrew Pitt: “I’m a bit disappointed really. We’ve found a good direction with the bike – the bike is perfect. There’s just too many guys out there who don’t look around and get out of the way for riders on a faster lap. I had to abort my fast lap on the tyre at the end twice. I tried to start it twice and had to stop half way though. By the time I was clear the tyre was on its way out. For the race we are looking ok – the race pace is as good as anyone and the bike’s working well.” More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: First and second row starts tomorrow for Yamaha in World Supersport Both Parkes and replacement rider Steve Martin put in excellent performances today to take third and sixth qualifying places respectively on the grid for tomorrow’s race. Having both done two long runs during this morning’s free practice session to test out two tyre options for tomorrow, the riders went into the second qualifying session of the weekend confident of their setting choices. In qualifying Parkes lost his provisional second place that he achieved yesterday in the early stages of the session but sliced off over 0.4 seconds to take third qualifying slot in the last five minutes of the session – his highest qualifying position so far this season. This puts Broc in an ideal position to fight for the race win tomorrow and move up the championship standings board. Martin put in a strong show in only his second day on the YZF-R6 and came up from 13th, where he started the day, to sixth position. The ex-World Superbike rider has not ridden in the Supersport series since 2000 but has adapted to the team and the bike with speed and ease. He is replacing fellow Australian Kevin Curtain while he recuperates from the leg injury he suffered at Valencia two weeks ago. Just in front of Martin, Massimo Roccoli continued his positive weekend by securing fifth qualifying place this afternoon. The young Italian’s confidence has been boosted by his win in the national championship at Mugello last week as well as finding a good set-up during the day. Broc Parkes (3rd – 1’41.595 – Yamaha World Supersport Team) “This is my best qualifying result so far this year. I’m happy because it means I can get on the pace from the very start tomorrow rather than having to battle through the field first. This morning we did two long runs trying two tyre options for tomorrow but we have yet to decide which to use. We will now sit down and look over the data gathered and make the choice.” Steve Martin (6th – 1’41.684 – Yamaha World Supersport Team) “I’m pretty happy with sixth considering this is only my second day on the bike. We have constantly made steps forward this weekend so far and if we keep doing that then tomorrow will be even better. I was going for the front row, naturally, but second row is okay. The team has made the transition for me really easy and that has helped enormously. We are in a good position for tomorrow’s race.” Massimo Roccoli (5th – 1’41.672 – Yamaha Team Italia) “Last week’s win has been a huge boost to my confidence. I found my race set-up very quickly and I feel my bike is very competitive. I must thank my chief engineer Vanni Lorenzini for this. Today I did my best lap time with the rear tyre that we will use tomorrow so I am very optimistic. I normally get a good start and I am confident that will be the case tomorrow.”