From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

IMOLA THE PENULTIMATE HURDLE FOR MUGGERIDGE AND CO

As the perennially tough and ever-popular World Supersport Championship enters its last two rounds, at Imola this coming weekend and Magny Cours in France one weekend later, one rider in particular has a keen sense of anticipation of what may happen at the end of the 21-lap race. Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) has stamped his name indelibly on the championship already this year, to the extent that any result equal to or better than fourth will deliver him his first World Supersport Championship. Any such success would also be the third straight rider’s championship for both Honda and the Ten Kate team. Muggeridge’s only championship rival, Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha) is 38 points adrift of the leading score of 157 points, with only 50 points available to any one rider from the last two races.

Imola is one of the most dramatic circuits on the Supersport calendar, the 4.933km track featuring a tarmac rollercoaster of undulating high-speed corners, interspersed with relatively fast chicanes. A magnificent venue for riders and spectators alike, Imola already has special significance for Muggeridge, who scored the second of his three season ending victories in 2003 at the city centre track.

Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) will happily take a race win from Muggeridge, should the chance arise, but Muggeridge’s team-mate fully understands the importance of the circumstances surrounding the Imola race. The 21-year-old Aussie, still looking for his first win in World Supersport, is based in Italy during the season, and under no illusions of what it means to race on the hallowed tarmac of the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit.

One rider with Parkes firmly in his sights is Sebastien Charpentier (Team Klaffi Honda CBR600RR). With two no scores at exactly the same rounds as Parkes experienced his unwanted double, Charpentier has scored two second places in the last events, nestling only seven points from Parkes’ third place overall.

At the opposite end of the experience spectrum Max Neukirchner (Team Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) will find Imola yet another new challenge, despite attending last year’s race with the Klaffi team as a guest. Currently tenth overall, the 21-year-old has scored as high as fifth place in his impressive rookie season, as he goes for a personal best of fourth place or more.

Team Italia Megabike Honda rider Alessio Corradi (Team Italia Megabike Honda CBR600RR) will miss the Imola race with the wrist injury he picked up at Assen in round 8, and thus regular rider Denis Sacchetti, will be teamed up with former European Superstock Champion and recent MotoGP competitor, Michel Fabrizio.

In the overall championship battle, Muggeridge will be going out to win the title if possible, by sticking to the game plan which has already earned him five wins from eight attempts. “I’m not trying to think in any other way than to have a normal race weekend and see what happens,” said Muggeridge. “It’s not easy but I’m trying to treat it like every other race – Friday is still Friday and Saturday is just another Saturday. If we get those days right then we’ll be ready for Sunday. We need to find a good race set-up on the bike and then see how it goes.”

Parkes has a fire in his belly once more, after feeling disappointed by the previous Assen round. “Normally I have a good result at Imola so I’m hoping for that once again,” said the 22-year-old Aussie. “Assen wasn’t very good so I think I could have a much better result this weekend. I think now that Karl’s pretty much won the championship so I can concentrate on myself. I will be going for the best possible result. I need one before the end of the year. Imola is good for passing in a lot of places. It’s a riders’ track, pretty technical and it always sorts out the best riders.”

Charpentier sees a link between the Imola track and another of his favourites, Brands Hatch. “Imola is a fantastic track, similar to Brands Hatch,” stated Charpentier. “It goes up and down and has some really fast corners. For me it is one of the finest tracks of all. Last year I was in the front row and finished fifth. Like normal, I will try for the podium. Maybe this weekend is my best opportunity for a win because Karl may be under big pressure – he can win the World Championship this weekend. I will push him all the way but he is a great rider on a very fast bike. I think I need to win a race before the end of the season, it will be very important for me to do so.”

Neukirchner looks forward to the penultimate challenge of his season with the enthusiasm of youth. “Both of the last two races will take place at new circuits for me,” said Max. “I was here with the Klaffi team last year, in the pit garage, so I got to look at the track first hand. It’s a fast track and very nice. Even the paddock and the town seem very good places to be. I hope to learn the track layout fast and have the best possible result on raceday.”

For Sacchetti, Imola will be his third home race of the year, the pleasure and pressure balancing each other out. “Last year in Imola I took some points as a wild card. On Sunday I will run on a track that I know, fortunately. With this bike all things are possible but I know that it will be hard to run in front because in Imola many riders go fast. I want to return home with more points for the championship and I know only that I will push hard to take my target.”

Fabrizio’s first World Supersport experience could well be a good one, but the young Roman understands the examination he is about to undertake. “I had my first test of the Honda CBR600RR at Mugello and I enjoyed it very much,” said the 2003 European Superstock Champion. “The Team Italia Megabike Honda is too fast to be a 600 and the team, from Rome just like myself, is fantastic. The most difficult thing for me is that I must to learn to open the gas before the exit of the corner – that’s different from MotoGP or Superstock, with more power on tap. My target for Imola? I don’t know. I will know something after the first two sessions of Friday, when I fight with the others riders. They are many strong and fantastic riders, especially Muggeridge”.

After the dust has settled at Imola, the WSS circus heads west, to the contemporary setting of the Magny Cours circuit in central France, for the final race of the year on 3 October.