SBK
SS Lausitz preview: Sofuoglu back for more with championship now wrapped up
06 settembre 2007
In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Honda has 226 points, some 56 more than the next closest competitor, and thus Sofuoglu and his Honda-riding peers will be out to keep the points margin of 50 or more, and thus win another prestigious title for Honda for the fifth consecutive season. Lausitz is something of a home-from-home for the Turkish rider, as his first career step after racing in his native country was in the German Supersport series. He also won the 2006 Lausitz WSS race when riding his first full season for his current Ten Kate Honda team. Sebastien Charpentier (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) is looking to the Lausitz race to allow him to get back to his very best in real racing situations, after a tough and sometimes injury-blighted season, punctuated by both occasional highs and extreme lows. His recent pole position at Brands Hatch demonstrated that he has never lost his legendary speed, but at Lausitz he hopes to make that speed last all race long, and take his first podium since winning his second title at the last race of the 2006 season. Katsuaki Fujiwara (Althea Honda Team CBR600RR), like Sofuoglu, is a former Lausitz WSS race winner, albeit way back in 2002. Another rider with a tumultuous season behind him, he is nonetheless still third overall and enters the German race looking to start reeling in the 39 points he is adrift of the second place rider, Fabien Foret. Lorenzo Alfonsi (Althea Honda Team CBR600RR) is just inside his target top ten in his first full Honda season in WSS racing, but knows that he needs to ride at his very best to secure an overall top ten position after the last race at Magny-Cours in early October. For Sofuoglu, winning the championship at Brands was the culmination of a lifetime’s ambition, but he fully intends to carry on as if he were still fighting for the crown. “I am obviously incredibly happy to have secured the title, but I still have a job to do for my team and I will be approaching the next races in the same way as I have approached every race this year,” stated the new Turkish national hero. “I am focused and my aim is, as always, to get on the podium - and hopefully get the race win. I like Lausitz and I did well there last year, so I know that this is a possibility. I will do all I can for my team and the development of the bike because I owe them a lot for all their hard work this year.” Charpentier, champion in 2005 and 2006, is determined to get strong points on the board, and is equally keen to get back into race action after a five-week break. “I am looking forward to getting back on track after the break,” said Charpentier. “It's fair to say that this year has been difficult for me, but I am determined to finish the season on a high note if I can. Lausitz is not my best circuit - I was forced to retire from last year's race so of course I am hoping to do better this year. The bike was feeling really good at Brands Hatch and I completed some good laps, so we will have to wait and see what happens." Fujiwara has had an incredible run of misfortune this year, but some strong finishes when he has been in a position to make them have kept him in the top three overall. “Looking at the table so far I cannot believe I am still third, because of all the problems we have had,” said ‘Kats’. “At Lausitz we have to make the effort to get back into contention for second in the championship. I have to push for podium finishes, so I really need to work to make sure we qualify well.” Alfonsi is not a big fan of the otherwise superbly appointed Eurospeedway Lausitz’ track layout, but he is ready to race as hard there as at any other venue. “Lausitz is OK, not a fast place but I think the track is OK,” said the former European Superstock champion. “I have been there before but I can say it is not a favourite circuit, not one of the very best on the calendar for a rider. I like faster corners!” |
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