World Supersport Race Results: 1. Fabien FORET, Honda, 16 laps, 34:37.800 2. Sebastien CHARPENTIER, Honda, -0.258 second 3. Michel FABRIZIO, Honda, -1.109 seconds 4. Kevin CURTAIN, Yamaha, -1.380 seconds 5. Katsuaki FUJIWARA, Honda, -5.490 seconds 6. Robbin HARMS, Honda, -10.430 seconds 7. Broc PARKES, Yamaha, -16.765 seconds 8. Stephane CHAMBON, Honda, -25.592 seconds 9. Tatu LAUSLEHTO, Honda, -25.648 seconds 10. Javier FORES, Suzuki, -25.656 seconds More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing Information: CHARPENTIER SECURES TITLE AFTER THRILLING HONDA 1-2-3 Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) entered the Assen race with realistic expectations to leave as champion and after a dramatic 16-lap race with his fellow countryman Fabien Foret (Team Italia Megabike Honda CBR600RR) he duly took Honda’s fourth Rider’s title in a row – thanks to the 20 points he earned for second place. All four of Honda’s championship wins have come from riders on Ten Kate prepared machinery, including Assen race winner Foret in 2002, when riding a CBR600FS. Since then, the CBR600RR has powered Chris Vermeulen (2003) and Karl Muggeridge (2004) to the title, with Charpentier’s 2005 domination making it a hat-trick of overall victories. This far Charpentier has scored 210 points from a possible 225, scored six wins from nine races, taken eight pole positions, and led for 154 race laps, out of a total of 186 completed to date. The Honda trio on the Assen podium was completed by Michel Fabrizio (Team Italia Megabike Honda CBR600RR) who rode well despite a gearchanging foot injury, suffered during one of his two qualifying falls. Katsuaki Fujiwara (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) is now 83 points behind Charpentier; in second place overall, having finished fifth in today’s race. He twice ran wide when in a podium challenging position. A six-rider fight for the last top ten positions, involving WSS novice Tatu Lauslehto (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR), saw him battle with largely more experienced riders. He finished ninth overall, but second in his own warring group. Charpentier was understandably both relieved and ecstatic about his championship win, and had to show determination as well as speed in the face of a five-rider assault on the podium places for much of the race. “It is difficult for me to realise the situation right now,” stated Charpentier. “The race was great, very hard and Katsuaki passed me, as I thought he would. I think he maybe had a problem changing gears, as he had many rear wheel slides. It was a tough race with Fabien, great fun and it was a perfect day for me. It was also sometimes difficult for me to change gear today, but I was happy to finish second on the final lap. I had realised that Katsuaki was behind, and it was not necessary to push right at the end.” Foret was emotional at his first 2005 race win, but took time to congratulate his friend and countryman on his championship triumph. “I would like to say first of all that Sebastien and I are friends and I am very pleased for him and his win, He was the best this year and deserves his title,” said Foret. “For me this year has been very difficult in places and this was a good moment to bring home our first win. I hope we can do well in the next three races. Our bikes are very close to the Ten Kate ones, and anyway, the bikes are still Hondas, strong enough to win today.” Fabrizio paid tribute to his team for his third place at Assen, with the entire Megabike squad maturing as the season has progressed. “We are a young squad and there was a gap at the beginning of the year because we were racing with the dominant team in the championship,” said the Italian. “Our situation is now good and now there has been the first win with Foret. I think now the team is in a very good situation. And I have to thank them because twice on Saturday I fell and they had to rebuild the bike on two occasions.” Fujiwara was disappointed not to have taken at least a podium finish at his team’s home race, after making a couple of slip-ups at key times. “I had a couple of moments,” said Fuji. “The second time I missed my gearchange, found neutral and almost crashed. First time, I outbraked myself, so a couple of mistakes cost me a place in the podium, which is what I expected to achieve today. It would have been great to be up there with Sebastien. Congratulations to him, he has had a fantastic season.” Lauslehto enjoyed his race, citing it as one of the hardest of his career. “I had the ambition to finish in the top ten this weekend and I did it, after a really hard race against so many different riders,” he said. “This is my favourite track and that helped me but I am exhausted now!” In the overall Championship table, Charpentier has 210 points, Fujiwara 127, Yamaha rider Kevin Curtain 122, with the Team Italia Megabike duo of Foret and Fabrizio fourth and fifth, on 110 and 98 points respectively. Lauslehto is tenth, with 49 points.