SOFUOGLU FASTEST DESPITE DESERT RAINS IN QATAR A sensational debut for new Winston Ten Kate Honda rider Kenan Sofuoglu saw him score provisional pole position in what were unexpectedly wet surface conditions at Losail. Such was his pace that he was almost two seconds clear of his nearest challenger, Kevin Curtain. To make Sofuoglu’s impact all the more remarkable, this was his first ever World Supersport timed session, and despite his lack of experience Sofuoglu made the best of his recent test experiences at Qatar, and the slowly drying line around the circuit in the last few minutes of action. The 5.4km track, in the deserts outside Qatari capital Doha, was not so kind to reigning World champion Sebastien Charpentier, who started his title defence for his Winston Ten Kate Honda team with the 12th fastest time of the 33 starters. Unhappy with early track conditions when the rains were at their worst, he sat out the morning untimed session, venturing out in the afternoon to put in a safe qualifying lap, even though conditions are fully expected to be dry from now on. Ronald Ten Kate Team Manager “It’s peculiar to have rain once more in Qatar, in a place where you expect it the least. But the circumstances on track are the same for everyone, so it is good to see Kenan performing well. He has shown more of his potential today and has been very good in testing in the off-season. Tomorrow may be a very different day when it is dry, and I’m sure Sebastien will be picking up a bit of form in those conditions. Sebastien has a quite good rhythm at the moment, and he thinks he can immediately pick up the pace he enjoyed in testing, when he was two seconds quicker than the former best. But for now, I think Kenan will sleep very well tonight, and he can enjoy the moment.” Kenan Sofuolgu WSS Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (Provisional Pole 2’21.890 ) “I am very happy about this but it was in wet conditions. If I can score this position again in the dry tomorrow, then I really will be happy. In the rain we are not so bad, but if I can be second in the dry conditions, behind Sebastien, then I will be even happier.” Sebastien Charpentier WSS Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider (12th 2’27.755) “I’m happy because I qualified at least, in 12th. I felt bad on the bike right away because the track was not clean. I didn’t ride in the morning free session, but tomorrow is a new day. The bike is ready and the weather should be better, so I am prepared. Kenan did very well, he is a good asset for the team. Today was difficult for me, but I have good possibilities here when it dries out, because of the very positive test we made here in the winter.” More, from a press release issued by FGSport Group: SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (WSS™) Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Honda Ten Kate) showed immense speed and commitment in his first ever World Supersport qualifying session, overcoming wet track conditions to score provisional pole by almost two seconds. Reigning champion Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) only went 12th fastest, having set nine tentative laps in the 45-minute session. Yamaha’s new R6 machine, in the hands of Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) was second quickest, with Gianluca Nannelli (Kopron Edo Racing Yamaha) third, and Curtain’s team-mate Broc Parkes fourth. Norwegian rider Kai Borre Andersen added a splash of Suzuki colouring to the provisional grid, taking his all-new Hoegee Team GSX-R600 to fifth. Top Ducati was the LBR Racing 749 of Christian Zaiser, ninth. More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing: Yamaha riders occupied three of the top four places in today’s wet first qualifying session for Saturday’s opening round of the Supersport World Championship. With rain falling just before the start of the 45-minute session, riders remained cautious in the wet and humid conditions – valuing circuit and machine time ahead of ultimate speed. Despite taking it easy, Yamaha Motor Germany’s Kevin Curtain found himself at the top of the leader board until the dying moments of the session, when young Turkish rider Kenan Sofuoglu (Honda) pushed hard to set a time almost two seconds quicker than his opponents. Curtain remained second by the chequered flag with another R6 rider, Gianluca Nannelli of the new Kopron Edo Racing squad third. Curtain’s team-mate Broc Parkes completed the provisional front row on a promising start to what will be the third generation YZF-R6’s first competitive race meeting. Final qualifying for Saturday’s race takes place tomorrow and, with improved weather forecast, today’s times are expected to be irrelevant in deciding the final grid. Round: 1 – Qatar Circuit: Losail Circuit Circuit Length: 5380 Lap Record: 2′ 4.686 (Sebastien Charpentier, 2005) Fastest Lap Ever: 2′ 3.747 (Sebastien Charpentier, 2005) Date: 23 February 2006 Temp: 19ºC Session 1 : Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. 1st Qualifying 1 K. Sofuoglu Honda TUR 2′ 21.890 2 K. Curtain Yamaha AUS 2′ 23.872 3 G. Nannelli Yamaha ITA 2′ 24.021 4 B. Parkes Yamaha AUS 2′ 24.757 5 K. Andersen Suzuki NOR 2′ 25.853 6 M. Sanchini Yamaha ITA 2′ 26.670 7 B. Veneman Suzuki NED 2′ 26.770 8 X. Fores Yamaha ESP 2′ 26.887 9 C. Zaiser Ducati AUT 2′ 26.945 10 K. Fujiwara Honda JPN 2′ 27.615 11 G. Vizziello Yamaha ITA 2′ 27.690 12 S. Charpentier Honda FRA 2′ 27.755 13 A. Gobert Yamaha AUS 2′ 28.284 14 J. Brookes Ducati AUS 2′ 28.508 15 D. Thomas Kawasaki AUS 2′ 28.542 16 D. Garcia Yamaha ITA 2′ 28.596 20 M. Roccoli Yamaha ITA 2′ 29.666 23 A. Velini Yamaha ITA 2′ 30.150 24 C. Peris Yamaha CAN 2′ 30.164 26 V. Ivanov Yamaha RUS 2′ 30.250 27 D. Van Keymeulen Yamaha BEL 2′ 30.832