World Supersport:

From a press release issued by Team Italia Megabike:

A the end of the first round of 2005 Supersport World Championship, the Team Italia Megabike has centered the first podium of the season.

Michel Fabrizio took the third place with his official Honda CBR 600 RR: he closed behind the two riders of the Winston Honda Ten Kate Team, Fujiwara and Charpentier.

Good also the race by Fabien Foret, who centered his target of the week-end with the final fifth position.

This was a positive week-end for the technician, who will return next days in Italy: they will work with some important informations arrived from the track of Lusail.

The 7th of march, riders of Supersport will run the Winter Test, in program before the second round of Phillip Island.

MICHEL FABRIZIO, Team Italia Megabike, 3rd: “I’m very happy for this result. With the guys of the Team we fight for all the week-end with a not good front fork set-up but instead today was all perfect, also thanks to the soft Pirelli tyre that permitted me to have a fast rhytm durino the race. At the and I ran slower because as not so profit to take other risks. Now we will see the next race with much confidence”

FABIEN FORET, Team Megabike, 5th: “I’m satisfied about my race. I knew that the race would have been hard but I centered my target of the week: I wanted to enter in the top five. I still not have a good feeling with the bike, and also the bad weather has not helped us but i return at home aware to made a constructive work and with more information for the development of the bike”

More, from a press release issued by Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki:

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Javi Fores finished a hard-fought eighth in the opening round of the 2005 Supersport World Championship in Qatar today. The young Spaniard was in the running for a top six finish at one stage, but when Antonello (Kawasaki) crashed he had to take avoiding action and so lost touch with Chambon (Honda) and Parkes (Yamaha).

Considering how qualifying had gone, Javi was happy enough with his debut on the GSX R600. Charpentier (Honda) led most of the 18-lapper but when his tyres went off, he was passed by his team mate Fujiwara. Once Fujiwara was in the lead, the result was never in doubt and the Japanese rider took the win by a comfortable five seconds. Third went to Fabrizio – on another Honda – followed by Curtain (Yamaha), Foret (Honda) and Parkes (Yamaha).

JAVI FORES – 8th,Today, I think we all had some tyre problems and to finish eighth in the first race is not so bad. There was a chance of a top six place for a while, but that disappeared when I had to avoid Antonello’s crash. It was a very interesting race and I enjoyed my big fight with Antonello before he fell. I’m happy because we have done a lot of good work here and I know that we will improve in the next race.

More, from a press release issued by Winston Ten Kate Honda:

Katsuaki Fujiwara won today’s opening round of the 2005 World Supersport championship after stalling his Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR at the start and going into the first corner in last place. The Japanese ace set about attacking the field and chasing down his team-mate Sébastien Charpentier who finished the race in second place.

It was a dream start for pole-sitter Charpentier, who had built up a commanding four-second lead by half race distance, but front end grip problems forced him to ease his pace as the race progressed. Fujiwara meanwhile, who started from second place on the grid, was forcing his way round the 5.38km Losail circuit, eventually taking over the lead from his team-mate with two laps to go.

Ronald ten Kate – team manager:

That was an absolutely incredible ride by Katsuaki after he stalled on the grid. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen someone go from the back to the front like that in a supersport race – maybe never. I’m very proud of him and Sebastien, too, after the problems he encountered that we just didn’t expect. It’s a fantastic start to the new campaign for us but the strange nature of this one-two finish is typical of the last few weeks for us – nothing has been normal. But if they all finish like that, I’m happy!

Katsuaki Fujiwara – first

This is my first season on the new CBR600RR and I stall the bike in the first race! By the time I got the engine going again with the electric start, everybody had disappeared. I had some front end grip problems as well but the set-up of my bike was perfect and I felt so comfortable on it. I had to push very hard from the start to get up to the front. But my crew has been working so hard to make small improvements all week, so I’d like to thank the whole team for the help they’ve given me. It’s a fantastic start for the new Winston Ten Kate Honda squad – and for me too.

Sebastien Charpentier – second

That was a great ride by Kats but I am a little disappointed after being fastest at the test here last week and all the way through practice and qualifying. The problems I had were very strange because I’ve been able to do up to 12 fast laps with the same set-up during practice without any problems. But in the race I ran into trouble after about 10 laps and I was on the limit after that. I couldn’t push too hard because to crash out would not be a good start to the championship. So I’ll accept second place and hope that there are many podiums to follow. A one-two finish is great for the whole team and there is a fantastic atmosphere in the garage, so I’m really happy for everyone.

More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing:

Yamaha Motor Germany riders Kevin Curtain and Broc Parkes displayed true grit to overcome injuries and post top six finishes at round one of the Supersport World Championship at the Losail circuit in Qatar today. The Australians finished the 18 lap race in fourth and sixth places respectively.

Curtain overcame a bad start that saw him end the first lap down in 10th place, but a gritty ride saw the experienced Australian claw his way up to a lonely fourth place by half distance, despite suffering from a lack of front end grip and a shoulder injury sustained in testing last month.

Team-mate Broc Parkes put in a determined ride to finish in sixth place despite the pain of a broken bone in his right hand. The 23-year-old made a good start and ran as high as fourth in the early stages, only to slip back due to the pain in his hand.

The race was won by Katsuaki Fujiwara (Honda) who fought through after stalling on the grid. His team-mate Sébastien Charpentier was second, with Michel Fabrizio (Honda) third.

The next round takes place at Curtain and Parkes’ home circuit of Phillip Island on 3 April, although both should be fully fit when they take part in the official FGSport tests at Valencia on 12-13 March.

Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) – fourth
“It was hard work out there. We knew that we didn’t have a front tyre that would last the distance today and by the end of the race it felt like I was riding in the wet. A few of the other guys went down on right handers, so I guess that most people were having the same kind of problems. But I’m happy with the result, especially after I broke my collarbone last month. It’s a solid start to take to the next round in Phillip Island.”

Broc Parkes (Yamaha Motor Germany) – sixth
“After four or five laps the pain in my hand really started to hit me. I got a good start but as the race went on my laptimes dropped off and there wasn’t a lot I could do about it. I had hoped to finish on the podium in my first race for Yamaha so I’m a little disappointed I didn’t manage that, but really sixth is a good result considering my condition.”