With dry track conditions gracing the final qualifying session at the 5.380km Losail circuit, the Winston Ten Kate Honda team made the best-possible use of them, monopolising the front two positions on the grid for Saturday’s race. World Champion for Winston Ten Kate in 2005, Sebastien Charpentier, got his title defence off to a great start when grid positions were at stake, taking pole with an impressive new best lap time of 2’03.093. It was his 12th career pole position and his second in succession at Losail for the Winston Ten Kate team. A no less impressive feat for new signing Kenan Sofuoglu was his second fastest lap of the day, putting his in the very position he dreamed off after he set quickest time in Thursday’s wet qualifying session. He hoped to be second on the grid in dry conditions, and his dream was realised, thanks to a 2’04.089. Despite there being 33 bikes involved in the final qualifying session, the Winston Ten Kate Honda team were simply head and shoulders above the rest, with Sofuoglu’s nearest challenger, Yamaha rider Kevin Curtain, 0.652 seconds behind the young Turk. Weather conditions for the 18-lap race on Saturday 25th are expected to mirror those in final qualifying, with warm ambient temperatures and a dry track surface. Ronald Ten Kate Team Manager “That is what you could call a perfect start to the season. It was all the more exciting because there are many new bikes around this season, so it is satisfying to know that the Honda CBR600RR is still the front-running bike in the field. Sebastien we know was fast here in winter testing but to see Kenan doing so well in his first ever qualifying session for our team justifies all the work we have done in the winter. By tomorrow morning, and for the race, I think that the race set-up we used at the beginning of the session will be pretty good and the tyres seem to be lasting well for us. The work of today has paid off, but the important part is tomorrow and we will try to take as many points as possible from here.” Sébastien Charpentier WSS Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (Pole position 2’03.093) “A good day today with a 1-2, a good result for the team, the same as last year when it was Katsuaki Fujiwara and I who were first and second. I feel good about the bike and things are moving forward. I think tomorrow should be good for us. There was a little confusion first thing this morning because the Supersport bikes go out before anyone else and the track was very slippery after so much rain yesterday. Eighteen laps will be good fun tomorrow, and we have probably reached the maximum potential of the bike in qualifying. Tomorrow I will try a new race set-up anyway, but we know we are ready for the race.” Kenan Sofuoglu WSS Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (2nd position 2’04.089) “It was very important for me to test myself, because in the first two races I will learn the most and then I can hopefully grow step-by-step. After the first dry qualifying, to be in second position, is like a dream. We will see what happens tomorrow, but for today I have to thank Honda and my team for giving me this chance and my mechanics who have made such a fast bike for me.” More, from a press release issued by FGSport Group: WORLD SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP After a conservative opening day Winston Ten Kate Honda rider Sebastien Charpentier unleashed his abilities on a dry track in final qualifying, recording a new best lap of 2.03.093. It was his 12th career pole, making him second equal in the all-time standings, alongside Paolo Casoli. Charpentier’s team-mate, Kenan Sofuoglu scored a magnificent second place in dry conditions, with a lap just under second from Charpentier’s unapproachable best. Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) scored top Yamaha placing on the grid, in fourth position, while former Ten Kate Honda rider and 2005 Qatar race winner, Katsuaki Fujiwara (Megabike Honda), went fourth. Broc Parkes (Yamaha Motor Germany was just under two seconds from Charpentier, and fifth fastest, while former Suzuki rider Javier Fores (SLM Racing) was an impressive sixth for his new team. Norwegian rider Kai Borre Andersen (Hoegee Team Suzuki) was best GSX-R pilot on show, in sixth, with Christian Zaiser’s 11th place on the LBR Ducati the fastest twin-cylinder performance. More, from a press release issued by Scuderia SC Caracchi: Despite that the two 749R Ducatis of Scuderia Caracchi have been the fastest top speed on the track, the two riders have been not able to get a good position an the grid. Josh Brookes recorded the 25th fastest and Luka Nedog the 33rd. “I cannot actually be satisfied.” said Brookes at the end of the practices “We worked a lot on the suspensions, but the bike didn’t corner as I like. The only positive thing is the top speed, one of the best of the grid. That’s been a pity because I was waiting for the dry condition to set the package, but we have not been able to obtain what we wish, despite that the team worked very hard. Tomorrow I’ll start from the seventh row, I can actually wait a lot for the race.” “I practised not too much on a track that’s completely new for me.” commented at the end of the session Luka Nedog “The engine pushe very hard and my bike has been the fastest today, with a top speed of 265,4 km/h. But I lost a lot in the corners and I believe that is because of my poor feeling with this track. Tomorrow I’ll start for thye race witha better feeling of the bike and the circuit, I hope in a positive result.”