HONDA RACING INFORMATION: CHECA LOOKING FOR MORE SUCCESS AT PENULTIMATE ROUND

French World Superbike at Magny-Cours
Wednesday October 1, 2008
World Superbike and World Supersport preview

Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) approaches the 13th round of the World Superbike Championship with the confidence of a successful recent test at the 4.411km Magny-Cours circuit behind him. Carlos, a rookie in WSB this year despite his long career in MotoGP, has scored two race wins so far, and is fifth in the championship rankings, with only the Magny-Cours and Portimao rounds yet to be run.

Ryuichi Kiyonari (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) had an unlucky end to his otherwise useful Magny-Cours test last week, breaking his collarbone in the closing stages of the final day and ruling himself out of this forthcoming weekend. He is currently being operated on so he can return for the final round in Portugal on 2 November. On his return he hopes to continue an often rich seam of late season form, which has seen him take three wins in six races.

For the Magny-Cours race Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR Jr) can also call on his experience of the Magny-Cours test aboard his CBR1000RR, although the Turkish rider is still carrying some painful bumps and bruises from his unavoidable high-speed crash at Vallelunga on September 21.

Despite the temporary loss of Kiyonari, the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team will continue to field three WSB riders in France, as IDM Superbike Champion for Honda, Martin Bauer, has been drafted in to replace ‘Kiyo’ for this round. He was also present at the recent test at Magny-Cours.

Gregorio Lavilla (Vent-Axia VK Honda CBR1000RR) has four races left to improve on his current 13th place ranking overall, while his team-mate Chris Walker (Vent-Axia VK Honda CBR1000RR) is out to score more points after being signed by the team mid-season.

Karl Muggeridge (DFX Corse Honda CBR1000RR) had an unlucky weekend last time out, but is still looking at a safe top 15 finish if he records strong rides at the final four races.

Roberto Rolfo (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR1000RR) is currently 16th in the rankings, one ahead of Sofuoglu. The Italian rider has had very little good fortune in a season that promised much in the early stages, but an eighth and a tenth at Vallelunga has boosted his confidence at exactly the right time.

Shuhei Aoyama (Alto Evolution Honda CBR1000RR) sits 29th after just missing points at Vallelunga.

Checa said: “The test last week was very positive and the most important thing it provided was an opportunity for me to learn the track. Magny-Cours is a very nice circuit and I liked it a lot. We had some good weather, which makes it much more enjoyable. We found a good set-up, even though we were on base level Pirelli tyres, but there are still some areas to improve. We were also able to test some new parts. Because the CBR1000RR is new this year, there was no data from last season’s race, so it’s important that we have a good base to start from on Friday. I only hope we have similar weather conditions for the weekend.”

Sofuoglu said: “My crash in Vallelunga was very big and I was quite sore afterwards. I did some laps at the test last week but I could not get comfortable on the bike so it was best that I didn’t continue. I felt that we made a step forward at the last round and I was very confident for the races, but two crashes were not the results I was hoping for. I will try my best to make more progress this weekend.”

Bauer said: “As you can imagine, I am very happy right now! I have a lot of work to do for this weekend but I am really excited about this opportunity. I was able to do about 15 laps during the Magny-Cours test last week, but this was my first visit to the circuit. This is probably the best team in the whole paddock, so I cannot wait for the weekend and I hope to make the most of this chance.”

Rolfo said: “Magny-Cours it’s a special circuit because it’s has been planned for car races and so it’s not a technical circuit for our motorbikes. Usually the weather is foggy and cold. The track has a lot of grip and it’s very important to have a steady bike on this circuit because there are a lot of slow curves, like the first one, and you need to jam on the brakes hard in a few places. Last year I enjoyed myself here in Magny-Cours and I reached seventh place in race two. I hope to have at least the same good results that I obtained in Vallelunga.”

Lavilla said: “Another new challenge for us because this is a new track for the team and I have not ridden there since 2003. We have to start from zero again but we are used to that this year. Things have been going better lately so we hope the weather is kind to us, so we can get some good track time in before the races on Sunday.”

Muggeridge said: “We have the possibility of having a good weekend at every race but we need everything to go right in the garage. We ended up with a good bike for the races on Sunday at Vallelunga but it just wasn't to be. If we get everything working well at Magny-Cours then I'm sure we can have strong results because I feel good about the place.”

The championship concludes at the all-new circuit of Parkalgar, near Portimao on the Algarve coast, on Sunday November 2.

World Supersport Championship

Three Honda Riders Still In It At Magny-Cours

After a no-score for long-time championship leader Andrew Pitt (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) at the previous round in Italy, the World Supersport title went from being almost decided to wide open once more. Pitt, who has scored four wins so far, still leads with a points’ total of 169 after 11 of 13 rounds.

On the eve of the Magny-Cours race, three-time race winning rookie Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) is only 11 points behind Pitt, while Josh Brookes (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsports Honda CBR600RR) is 28 off the lead, meaning that nothing can be taken for granted, even at the penultimate round. Yamaha rider Broc Parkes is the only other rider who can win the championship, as he is 30 points behind, with 50 up for grabs for any rider who can win at Magny-Cours and Portimao.

Honda has already won the 2008 Manufacturers’ Championship, and should any Honda rider go on to win the title it would be the seventh success in a row for a Honda-mounted competitor.

There are currently seven Honda riders in the top ten championship positions, with Robbin Harms (Hannspree Stiggy Motorsports Honda CBR600RR) ninth overall and Gianluca Nannelli (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR600RR), tenth.

Russell Holland (Hannspree Althea Honda CBR600RR) should be in better shape than he was at Vallelunga, after suffering a high-speed crash at the Donington round.

Pitt said: “I’ve had a good few days rest since the test last week. I’ve been staying in France with Sébastien Charpentier and keeping loose by cycling with him. I was a little sore after the crash in Vallelunga – in both senses of the word. I looked at the crash again on TV and can only look at it as lost points, but I guess I’d rather be 11 points in front than 11 behind with two races to go. The test was good and I think we've done everything we can to get ready for the fight to start again on Friday. I’m happy with the bike and looking forward to the weekend.”

Rea said: “I’m really looking forward to Magny-Cours. We did a lot of laps during the test and I was able to put together a pretty good race simulation, so I think we’ll be strong from the start. We’ll work, as ever, on putting a good set-up together and hopefully be right up there on Sunday. I’m happy chasing the championship and I really want the last round in Portugal to be exciting, so I need a good result in Magny-Cours to make that happen.”

Joshua Brookes said: “I'm third in the championship with two rounds remaining, so therefore these next races are really important for us. In the last round at Vallelunga we were unlucky not to collect the results and championship points we were hoping for. But we must continue chasing the title and get the best out of these two last rounds. Magny-Cours is a fun track and although I finished in seventh place last year, I know I can definitely do better this time round.”

Harms said: “In Brno and Brands Hatch, I wasn't able to bring home the results due to bad luck and technical issues. But luckily I have progressed since then and so my motivation has increased. In Vallelunga we made some wrong tyre choices for the race, but I still managed to bring home a good sixth pace. Even though I didn't race at Magny-Cours last year, I am hoping for good results this year.  But anything can happen in racing and we will have to see how it turns out this weekend.”

Nannelli said: “Magny-Cours is a nice circuit and I obtained good results there in my last races. I only hope it will not be too cold. After my last races in Donington and Vallelunga I’m very motivated and also more confident with my bike set-up. I want to work very hard with my team starting from Friday morning, because I want to reach a good result in Sunday’s race.”

Holland said: “I have never been in Magny-Cours before and I’m eager to ride and get to know another new circuit. I hope I feel better compared to the race in Vallelunga, and it would be good to be able to ride without pain. Once again I’m working with the Clinica Mobile doctors and I trust in their great ability and my strong determination to race. I want to fight for the podium.”