Preview World Superbike-Supersport, Assen, Netherlands

2008-04-23 07:59
Netherlands World Superbike at Assen
Wednesday 23 April, 2008

The ever-evolving Circuit van Drenthe near Assen has long been a classic venue for motorcycle races of all kinds, making it one of the most eagerly anticipated events in any race season. For the significant numbers of Honda riders in this year's World Superbike Championship the lure of Assen is as strong as ever, particularly as the passion of the local Dutch race fans is second to none.

Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) may be a rookie in World Superbike terms, but has been racing at Assen for his entire GP career, and knows the 4.555km circuit at least as well as any of his competitors. He has lost little time in transferring his GP knowledge to the Superbike scene in general, and he currently lies fourth in the overall championship rankings. He its on the same 72 points total as third ranked Troy Corser, who has more podium finishes to his name so far in 2008.

Checa's exploits on the all-new 2008 Honda Fireblade may have been exceptional given his relative lack of Superbike experience, but he is by no means the only Honda rider to have posted impressive rides early in the new season.

British Superbike Champion in 2006 and 2007, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) has been on a steep upward learning curve in WSB alongside Checa, and a personal best of fourth in the most recent race at Valencia underlines the fact that a another new force has entered the intensely competitive world series this year.

'Kiyo' is currently 12th, one place behind another former BSB champion, Gregorio Lavilla (Vent Axia VK Honda CBR1000RR) who has scored points in every 2008 race so far, giving him a current total of 32. He only made the transition to the new Fireblade at Valencia, making his early season performances all the more impressive in his return to regular WSB competition.

Just one place and eight points behind Kiyonari is another full-season Honda World Superbike rookie, Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR Jr). The Turkish rider is still learning how to apply the skills that took him to the 2007 World Supersport Championship in the Superbike arena, but has already scored a top ten finish and points in every round so far.

For unavoidable logistical reasons Roberto Rolfo (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR1000RR) has had to develop his 2008 machine largely during race weekends up to now, but advances were made recently, despite torrential rain, during a two-day test at Monza. Rolfo, a real fan of Assen, is currently 16th in the table.

Karl Muggeridge (DFX Corse Honda CBR1000RR) scored a superb sixth place in race one at the Valencia round in early April, showing his real abilities when his new machine set-up and tyre choices worked in harmony. He is 14th in the standings after round three. Muggeridge's team-mate Russell Holland (DFX Corse Honda CBR1000RR) had a very tough Valencia race weekend and the first season WSB rider is now placed 20th in the championship, on 10 points.

Unlike most of the other WSB rookies fielded by Honda this year, Shuhei Aoyama (Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR) enters the class after a career largely spent on 250cc two-strokes. He is still finding his limits on a 200bhp+ Superbike and only had the chance to move onto his 2008 CBR1000RR at Valencia. His team-mate Luca Morelli (Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR) has more experience of SBK racing than Aoyama, but as things stand each is yet to score in the 2008 championship.

Checa, who came close to a home win at Valencia, stated: "I am looking forward to the next race in Assen. I like the track a lot and the atmosphere in Assen is always great. If we can continue the progression we have shown in the last races I am confident we can achieve good results. There will be some pressure on the team to perform well at their home track, but if we continue the rate of improvement we made in the last few races, we can fight for a win. It will not be easy, but after the Valencia race I have plenty of confidence we can be right there."

Kiyonari said: "Assen is a completely new track to me, but with all the data and the experience of the team I am confident about my chances here. For the team's home race I would like to step on the podium, after coming so close to it in Valencia. I really have developed the taste for it and my confidence with the bike is still growing after each outing. My lap times have continuously improved in the last races, but I still need to work on my starts. I am too slow and lose too much valuable time in the first laps of the race and then find it hard to close the gap with the top after the tyres have gone. My understanding of the tyres is getting better."

Sofuoglu said: "I have been waiting for the race in Assen. After completing my first three races in Superbike I now want to put my experience into practice at one of my favourite circuits. It could be the chance for me to jump into the top ten. It's strange for me to be saying that after finishing almost every race in the top three last season, but I guess it's the learning curve I am still going through. Over the last few years I have done well in every race in Assen."

Rolfo stated: "We are glad to have been able to test in Monza for two days. For sure the tests were a good preparation for the next races of the season. We improved the base set-up of our bike significantly and we found some good solutions that could be used in Assen. I like to ride on the 'TT' circuit and I have obtained good results here in my last races."

The World Superbike Championship round at Assen is followed by a visit to another classic circuit, Monza, between nine and 11 May.

World Supersport Championship

After a dramatic World Supersport Championship race in the third round at Valencia the title fight has now taken on a very different character from the one it had after the opening flyaway rounds. A multitude of crashes and no-scores in Spain leaves some key Honda riders with work to do at Assen this weekend, to ensure they get back into championship contention.

Privately entered Spanish rider Joan Lascorz (Glaner Motocard Honda CBR600RR) has been on sparkling form throughout the early part of the 2008 season, taking his first WSS race win at his home race in Valencia on April 6, and earning himself a useful 16-point lead over Broc Parkes into the bargain. Lascorz also has a 21-point lead over third placed Fabien Foret. Top official Honda entrant after three rounds, Josh Brookes (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsports Honda CBR600RR), was forced to retire at Valencia and is currently ranked fourth, on 33 points.

In fifth place, official Honda rider Craig Jones (Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR) is on form again and has now scored two podiums in three starts. He will begin his Assen weekend with an updated engine spec on his 2008 machine, offering him hope for another podium finish.

Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) has experienced two race weekends of agony so far, sweetened by one day of ecstasy, when he won on home tarmac at Phillip Island. Two DNFs, however, hold him down in sixth place at present, on the same 25 points level as Robbin Harms (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsports Honda CBR600RR) another officially-supported rider who failed to score after a fall at Valencia.

Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) is still looking for his first taste of podium champagne in this rookie WSS season, and is currently eighth in the standings. He has scored top six finishes in the two races he has completed and is a consistently fast qualifier, despite his relative lack of 600cc experience.

The top ten in the championship is almost completely dominated by Honda machines, with only Parkes and Foret not riding the CBR600RR. For the next two meetings ninth placed rider Gianluca Vizziello joins current tenth placed competitor Gianluca Nannelli (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR600RR) on another official Honda entry. The team's other CBR600RR will eventually be ridden by 2008 signing Tommy Hill (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR600RR). The Englishman continues his recuperation process after a pre-season fall. Nannelli himself is still recovering from a shoulder injury, but is otherwise ready to face one of his favourite circuits.

Brookes said: "The last race was just unlucky because of a flat tyre, but I guess that can happen to anyone and I can only hope that it will never happen again. I feel really positive about this weekend after having spent some time at the team's headquarters in Sweden. I really feel that the team is working hard for me and that they are making great progress with the bikes."

Pitt said: "We'll have to bounce back and try and put what happened in the last race behind us. So far I've missed two races this year and will have to make up the loss of those valuable points. I try not to let it effect me too much, but there is a fair bit of pressure, I simply cannot afford to make any more mistakes for the rest of the season. We'll have to qualify well and I need to win the race, or at least be on the podium."

Harms said: "I have been training hard the last couple of weeks and I feel in good shape. Assen is a track I like, but I was unlucky last year when I only managed one practice session before I fell and broke my collarbone. Previously, I have done well here both in Supersport and 125cc racing, so hopefully this time I will be able to get back that feeling again."

Rea said: "I have never been to Assen before but I have been watching the DVDs supplied by the team to get an impression of the track. I am very optimistic about riding the home race for the team in front of their fans and hope we can give them some good racing and put both riders on the podium. My performance in the last three races has only been satisfactory for me. I want to be riding where I belong and claim the top spot of the podium."

Nannelli said: "My physical condition is now better than in Valencia. I'm still feeling pain on my right shoulder, but I'm used to pain! I like Assen, even if I preferred the track the way it was before it was modified. Also, the surface has got a lot of grip, even when it rains. Our main goal is to be very fast from the first practice day and I will try to do my best in the race as always."

Source: Honda Pro Image

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