World Superbike

Monza: Supersport: TK Honda preview

WINSTON SUPERSPORT RIDERS SEEK ITALIAN SUCCESS After a dominant start to the 2005 World Supersport championship, Winston Ten Kate Honda riders, SÃ©bastien Charpentier and Katsuaki Fujiwara, head for this weekend's fourth round action at the ...

Published: May 4, 2005, 8:25 PM

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WINSTON SUPERSPORT RIDERS SEEK ITALIAN SUCCESS

After a dominant start to the 2005 World Supersport championship, Winston Ten Kate Honda riders, Sébastien Charpentier and Katsuaki Fujiwara, head for this weekend's fourth round action at the high-speed Monza circuit in northern Italy.

The pairing has controlled the championship from the front with Frenchman Charpentier taking three pole positions and two wins from the three rounds to date. His closest challenger is Fujiwara, however, who won the opening round and, following a thrilling race in the last round at Valencia, sits just twelve points behind his team-mate in the championship table.

Ronald ten Kate - team manager:

"The season has started very well and I have to be honest and say there are no big issues on the Supersport table at the moment. Both riders have settled very well into the team - Sébastien has been in fantastic form and Katsuaki is adapting to the CBR very quickly. I'm very happy with their performances and the way the team continues to work so well together. We'll start at Monza with some small chassis refinements and a new exhaust system from Arrow. And of course we're hoping for a continuation of our early- season success."

Sébastien Charpentier - championship position 1st, 70 points:

"Yes, it's been a fantastic start to the season for me and for my new team. Perhaps without the problem in Qatar I might have three wins to go with my three pole positions. Valencia was as good as it can be for a race weekend because I had pole position, a win and the fastest lap. Everything is just working really well and there's not much more to say - the bike is great, the atmosphere in the garage is really strong and my team mate is pushing me all the time so I cannot relax for a minute. I managed to get some time this week though to do some training with the great Italian cyclist, Luca Paolini, who lives here in Monza. "

Katsuaki Fujiwara - championship position 2nd, 58 points:

"I have a new bike and a new team this year so I cannot be unhappy with my championship position - especially after winning the first race of the season. Valencia was a great battle between me and Sébastien and I think I gave my team a bit of panic when I tried to pass him on the last lap! But I am desperate to win again, not just for me but for this new team who have made me feel so at home. I think on a Ten Kate CBR I have the best chance to succeed here at Monza - I was third here in 2002 and dropped out of third place with a technical problem last year. I like the circuit and now I want to win here."

Monza World Supersport event schedule: Friday 22 April - 09.35-10.20 free practice, 13.15-14.00 qualifying; Saturday 23 April - 10.00-10.45 free practice, 13.45-14.30 qualifying; Sunday 24 April 09.50-10.10 warm-up, 13.20 race (16 laps, 92.688km).

-tkh-

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