|
Results at Assen were extremely important in the fight for the
World Supersport Championship. Newcastle’s Kevin Curtain and
Frenchman Sebastien Charpentier went to Assen tied at the top of
the table but after taking second place at Assen behind Turk
Kenan Sofuoglu Curtain arrived at Lausitz with a 7 point
advantage. The Australian declared his intentions to increase
that buffer further by taking pole position ahead of Sofuoglu.
Kevin Curtain used his pole position to good effect and led the
field through turn one while Charpentier bogged a little on the
line and was shuffled down to fifth place in the first corners.
Kenan Sofuoglu was trying to stay with Curtain but the Yamaha
man was trying hard to do escape from the clutches of the young
Turk.
Foret moved up to third place after some strong opening laps.
Sebastien Charpentier was battling for position in the pack but
ran out of track on lap seven and ran on before making some
minor contact with a tyre wall but he remained upright and
managed to rejoin the race well down the order.
Meanwhile up front Sofuoglu continued to sit on the tail of
Kevin Curtain before making his move on lap eight and nearly
took Curtain out in the process. The Turk ran in a little too
deep and Curtain went straight back underneath him and then
redoubled his efforts to try and put safe distance between
himself and the Ten Kate man. The leading pair had more than
four seconds over third placed Foret as they reached the halfway
point of the 23 lap race. Every point of crucial importance to
Curtain as Charpentier entered pitlane to retire from the race
giving the Curtain to leave here with a 32 point advantage
should the results fall his way.
With seven laps to run Curtain had a couple of bike lengths over
Sofuoglu who in turn had a safe six second buffer over third
placed Foret.
On lap 20 Sofuoglu made his move and slipped past Curtain to
take the lead and Curtain let him have the position and sat in
behind the Ten Kate man. Curtain followed for half a lap but
then got on the gas too hard out of long right hander and was
nearly launched over the handlebars, Curtain's rear tyre
obviously a bit of worse for wear. The Yamaha man also went into
one of the next corners with the rear stepped out suggesting his
rear tyre was completely shagged.
Curtain remained on the tail of Sofuoglu on the final lap ready
to pounce on any mistakes from the Ten Kate man but he made none
and went on to take the win. Foret third in his stand in ride
for Broc Parkes, Robin Harms home in a strong fourth.
Sofuoglu celebrated his win with a fantastic mono on the warm
down lap that was reminiscent of a rambunctious Stephane Chambon
when the Frenchman was at the top of his game a few years ago.
Curtain's second place extended his championship lead to a
strong 27 points and with only two rounds remaining that has
promoted Curtain in to the position of firm favourite for the
2006 title.
|
