Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

World Supersport Race Results:

1. Karl Muggeridge, Honda, 16 laps, 34:05.948
2. Chris Vermeulen, Honda, -0.263 second
3. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Suzuki, -3.959 seconds
4. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki
5. Sebastien Charpentier, Honda
6. Fabien Foret, Kawasaki
7. Jorg Teuchert, Yamaha
8. Gianluca Nannelli, Yamaha
9. Werner Daemen, Honda
10. Barry Veneman, Honda
11. Alessio Corradi, Yamaha
12. Michael Laverty, Honda
13. Dean Thomas, Honda
14. Jan Hanson, Honda
15. Robert Ulm, Honda
16. Christian Kellner, Yamaha
17. Thierry Vd Bosch, Yamaha
18. Matthieu Lagrive, Yamaha
19. Didier Vankeymeulen, Kawasaki
20. Stefano Cruciani, Kawasaki

27. Simone Sanna, Yamaha, -3 laps, DNF
28. Iain MacPherson, Honda, -8 laps
29. Jurgen Vd Goorbergh, Yamaha, -10 laps
30. Pere Riba, Kawasaki, -14 laps

Fastest Lap: Katsuaki Fujiwara, Suzuki, 2:06.922


More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:

HONDA’S MUGGERIDGE LIFTS ASSEN WIN

Honda CBR600RR rider Karl Muggeridge took a spectacular win–his first for three years–in Sunday’s ninth round of the World Supersport championship at Assen in Holland.

The Ten Kate team, CBR600RR ace snatched the lead from team-mate Chris Vermeulen with half a lap to go in the 16-lap battle to secure a welcome win and the second successive Assen 1-2 finish for the Ten Kate Honda squad.

Winner Muggeridge said: “It’s been a long time and it feels absolutely brilliant to win again. I knew I was capable of it when I held the lead in the early stages of the race and was comfortable with the pace. It’s all credit to the team and the work they’ve done on the CBR600RR motor in the build-up to Assen.”

Runner Vermeulen now leads the championship by 42 points–needing an eighth place finish from either of the final two rounds to be crowned champion. He commented: “I wanted to win but, at this stage of the championship and with the situation as it was on the last lap, I’ll take second.

“I was lucky to finish. When Jurgen van den Goorbergh crashed he hit my machine and damaged the exhaust. It reduced the power a little and I was confused as to what was happening.”

The Suzuki pairing of Katsuaki Fujiwara and Stephane Chambon were third and fourth with Klaffi Honda’s Sebastien Charpentier fifth after holding third place on the opening lap.

“I would have liked to have been on the podium like the last round at Brands Hatch but I’ll take fifth,” said Charpentier. “I chose the wrong rear tyre but the result moves me into 11th place in the standings and I’m happy with that.”

Fabien Foret was sixth aboard his Kawasaki with Jorg Teuchert winning an epic 11-rider battle for seventh place. Gianluca Nannelli was eighth with Van Zon Honda¹s Werner Daemen ninth and Barry Veneman 10th on his wild card Kobutex Honda.

Daemen commented: “That was a terrific battle I was involved in. I chose the wrong front tyre but I’m still happy with ninth place. It’s a good finish for us and the new motor we got from Ten Kate was very, very strong.”

Robert Ulm, on the second of the Klaffi Hondas, took the final world championship point for 15th place, the Austrian said: “Now the machine is perfect but it’s taken us to the race to find the right set-up ­ just because of the wet practice yesterday. I was in the battle for the places between seventh and 15th ­ I suppose I was the loser!”

Van Zon Honda’s Iain MacPherson crashed out on the ninth lap after holding sixth place, he escaped injury and commented: “I chose the wrong front tyre and that’s what caused the crash. It’s my own fault but we weren’t helped by the weather conditions during qualifying yesterday.”


More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Belgarda:

DAY OF DISASTER FOR YAMAHA BELGARDA AT ASSEN

The ninth round of the 2003 Supersport World Championship is one that Yamaha Belgarda would be happy to forget, though the early signs were full of promise. But today’s sixteen lapper saw both Yamaha Belgarda riders Jurgen van den Goorbergh and Simone Sanna crash and end the day without a point to their names. Jurgen made a good start and was second after one lap and looked as if he was settling in for an attack on the lead, but then crashed out on seventh lap – fortunately without serious injury. His team mate Simone Sanna managed a further seven laps, but he too took a tumble and ended up in the dirt. Karl Muggeridge won the race, with Honda team mate Chris Vermeulen second and Katsuaki Fujiwara (Suzuki)) third, Stephane Chambon (Suzuki) fourth, Sebastien Charpentier (Honda) fifth and Fabien Foret (Kawasaki) sixth.

JURGEN VD GOORBERGH – DNF
Well that wasn’t what I planned at all! I made a good start and was happy in the top three when, on the seventh lap, I think I braked a little later then usual and got into a bit of trouble. I was very, very close to Vermeulen and I didn’t want to take him out, so I also used the rear brake and that was enough to crash. I banged my left elbow and a blued a fingernail, but otherwise I was OK. I’m very disappointed because I wanted to do well in front of my home fans and also keep up title challenge. But this time Assen wasn’t kind for me and I now will have to try and make up for it in the next two races.

SIMONE SANNA – DNF
I didn’t get a good start and soon I was involved in a battle with a lot of other riders. I was fighting to get past, but it wasn’t easy, so maybe I was pushing a bit too hard and then I lost the front end and that was that. I like this track a lot, but today was not my day here. Imola is next for us and that will be a ‘home’ race for us, so I really have to do well there.