Preview - Ten Kate

Sunday August 6 is the date of the eighth round of the Superbike World Championship, to be held on the classic English circuit of Brands Hatch - a special race weekend for the whole Winston Ten Kate Honda team. In fact, it’s the second home track of the year for James Toseland, who will race in front of thousands of his countrymen, with his immediate focus falling on nothing less than being able to fight for the race wins. But Winston Ten Kate rider James doesn’t only have a single race meeting in mind; he also wants to keep his chance to fight for the title alive. James sits in third position right now, by the narrowest of margins. It will be also an important race for Karl Muggeridge, who is now totally fit to race after his accident at Valencia, with his immediate objective being podium finishes at Brands Hatch.

Ronald Ten Kate – Team Manager
“We had a good weekend in Brno, even if misfortune tried to ruin James’ weekend. Our English rider was competitive and took good results, even on his second bike, and he scored important points in the championship. Karl suffered a small problem during race one at Brno but he obtained a good result in race two, in seventh position. Brands is James’ circuit, definitely a special race because of the many fans who follow him. For this reason, we want to aim for the maximum points available. I hope that Karl will also confirm his good results of late; with calmness and the right degree of aggression he can climb onto the podium. As far as the bike is concerned, we have some small modifications in hand which should improve the settings and make our results even more competitive.”

James Toseland – Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider
“Another home race for me after Silverstone. I will give my best for the supporters in the stands. It will be a hard weekend because, as in Brno, the competition is going to be really tough. With every passing race there are always more bikes that can win. Physically, I feel well, and I want to provide an emotional and happy race weekend for all my supporters. The world title is still achievable and I’m not giving up yet.”

Karl Muggeridge – Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider
We will start again from where we finished the second race at Brno, when things went quite well, although I want to try to do even better, of course. I really want to step on the podium soon and I will be all out to achieve my goal. Now, after the injury I suffered early in the season, I am almost totally fit to race and I hope to be competitive from the very first day of testing. The good set-up of the bike should allow me to be among the very fastest and prepare for the race with quiet confidence."

Supersport

Even if not at 100%, it’s a Sebastien Charpentier is improving his physical conditions after Brno round and he is ready for the eight round of the Supersport World Championship round. The World Champion expect a lot from this race in Brands Hatch, one of his favourite tracks, and where he has won last year. The competition with Kevin Curtain, who behind him in the championship is about to begin. An hand is ready to give it to him Kenan Sofuoglu, regenerated after Brno’s podium. The Turkish rider wants to reconfirm the result obtained in Czech land and he will try his best to achieve the maximum points possible. Teamwork is always the key word for the Winston Ten Kate Honda Team.

Ronald Ten Kate – Team Manager
“I am really happy to have seen back on the podium Kenan at Brno and I hope he will find the right psychophysical condition to continue at the maximum level for the all season. I know he can. Sebastien hasn’t been lucky during the race. He gave all he had but a some small problems didn’t let him result between the fastest. He did well anyway to bring home some points, and we can’t forge the still is the leader of the World Championship. His physical condition aren’t of course the best yet, but as usual, our World Champion will bit his teeth turn after turn. I would like to have both riders on the podium together again.”

Sebastien Charpentier – Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider
“It’s obvious that I am not at the top of my physical conditions but surely I feel better than two weeks ago. I will not leave anything on the street and I will fight until the last lap to conquer the maximum from the English race. I am working intensively to try to arrive in the best conditions to this appointment. Be sure that I will not race to defend, but I will start to try to win again, like it happen last year, with all my energies.”

Kenan Sofuoglu – Winston Ten Kate Honda Rider
“Brands Hatch is my favourite track, fun, technical and aggressive, adapt to put in evidence my riding style. It’s really fantastic. Here I have most of the times achieved good races and I will give my best to conquer as many points possible to my Team and to the riders standing. It will not be easy because as in Brno the competition is high but Brno’s result gave me a lot of motivation and I will try to use it in the best way.”