SBK
Brno preview: Sofuoglu and Honda ready for the restart
19 luglio 2007 
The Turkish star has been the leading light through the entire duration of the championship in 2007 thus far, taking over the reigns of virtual domination of the class from his team-mate Sebastien Charpentier (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR), champion in the 2005 and 2006 seasons. The track at Brno is a perennially tough test for all, and for Charpentier it was almost his undoing in 2006, after suffering serious injury to pelvis and collarbone in a testing crash there mid season. He recovered in time to take the title in dramatic fashion but this year he will be helping Sofuoglu’s challenge as much as he can from now to the championship finish in Magny-Cours in October, after a run of injury and misfortune which sees him currently 15th overall. Katsuaki Fujiwara (Althea Honda Team CBR600RR) is one of the riders still in with a mathematical chance of catching Sofuoglu, as the Japanese star sits third in the championship overall, albeit some 84 points from the leader. ‘Kats’ has scored three podiums this year, with a qualifying best of second at Valencia. Lorenzo Alfonsi (Althea Honda Team CBR600RR), like most of the Supersport field, tested at Vallelunga recently and the positive outcome of those two days is expected to help him meet the stiff challenge of the beautifully sculpted 5.394km Brno track this weekend. Alfonsi, European Superstock Champion of 2004, is currently 12t overall, with his highest finishes on his 2006-spec Honda being a pair of eighths, scored at Monza in the dry and Silverstone in the wet. Conditions at Brno are expected to be blisteringly hot, with temperatures over 40°C forecast as a real possibility on the first day of qualifying. Sofuoglu, who also tested with representative teams from all competing manufacturers at Brno recently, as part of the single make tyre development programme, has clear goals in mind. A podium place of some sort, but ideally a full points score. “The two tests since Misano have gone really well and we have made a lot of good progress with the bike,” said an ebullient Sofuoglu. “My first priority during the tests was to look after my body - I didn't want to crash and be out of the next race so I tried not to ride in a crazy way. We still have some work to do when we get to Brno but we have a good set-up and I am feeling very positive about the race. I was third at Brno last season, so this year I'd like to get the race win.” Fujiwara’s return to points scoring form in the last three races have cemented his willpower to succeed, and he points to the recent Vallelunga tests as reasons to be cheerful when thinking of his Brno chances. “We tried many solutions at Vallelunga and we found a strong set-up to take forward, which made the tests a very good use of two days during the break. I like Brno and we should be able to make a good push there, no matter how hot the weather gets!” Charpentier was another to have the chance to test twice since the previous Misano round, and intends to put his experiences to good use in the Czech Republic. “I am feeling good about the next round after the progress we have made during the tests at Brno and Vallelunga,” stated the 2005 and 2006 World Champion. “I've been having some pretty bad luck so far this year so hopefully things will start to get better from now on. I'm determined to do my best to support my team-mate and finish the season in a good position. We have a lot of new information to use ahead of the race and I feel like I am ready. I'm looking forward to using all the data we have collected to get some good results for the team.” Alfonsi was in good testing form at Vallelunga, securing fourth best time, a morale boosting performance before the real job of points scoring recommences in earnest this weekend. “Those two days of testing made us very content, above all because in the last useful session I was among the fastest. We found a good solution for the Vallelunga race in September, in terms of suspension and tyre choices - and maybe we could have gone better still. This result was a beautiful injection of confidence with the second part of the season looming. It is important to be confident at this time of year.” |
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