Yamaha Motor Germany's Kevin Curtain took the runners-up spot in the 2006 Supersport World Championship after crashing out at Magny Cours today. The Australian needed to finish eighth or higher to deny Sebastien Charpentier (Honda) the world title for the second year, but crashed out of fourth place on the eighth lap of 22. Charpentier went on to win the race from team-mate Kenan Sofuoglu and become the first rider to win the championship two times.
Curtain's still-injured team-mate Broc Parkes rode a brilliant race to take the final podium position. The Australian, who won at Magny Cours 12 months ago, stayed with the leaders for the opening part of the race but slipped back to take the flag 10 seconds behind the leader.
Yamaha GMT94's David Checa finished fifth at his team's home race, his best result since taking fourth place at Misano in June, although it was a bad end to the season for Yamaha Team Italia. Massimo Roccoli crashed out at the final chicane on the second lap while team-mate Gianluca Vizziello scored just two points for 14th position.
The results see Charpentier win the title by seven points from Curtain, with Sofuoglu taking third ahead of Parkes. Roccoli who, like Curtain and Parkes, won one round on his YZF-R6 this year, ends the year in sixth.
Yamaha has re-signed Curtain and Parkes to lead its world supersport challenge in 2006. Roccoli has also demonstrated his commitment to the brand by signing a two year extension to his contract with Yamaha's Italian distributor, Yamaha Motor Italia.
Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) "I just don't know what to say. It all seemed too good to be true and we came back to reality with a bang. That's my first race crash of the year and I just can't believe that it had to happen today. I don't really know what happened, I was running with Checa and was trying to pull a bit of a gap on him as we had almost touched a few times. I was going through the long left when I just lost the front and went down. I'm feeling down just now but I know that I'll be able to refocus and come back to challenge for the title next year."
Broc Parkes (Yamaha Motor Germany) "It's been a very disappointing day for us and I can't believe that Kevin hasn't won the championship. Our team has put so much into this season and after Brands Hatch it seemed that we had two chances at the title. Sebastien has taken the opportunity and I must congratulate him and his team, because they have done a great job. After Assen I lost my own chance of winning the championship when I crashed and got injured, but today I was ready and willing to help Kevin. I thought that he was behind me, in fourth, and it was only when the race finished I knew that he was out. I'm so disappointed for Kevin but I feel that I have ridden well in these last two races. I like this circuit and fully fit I could probably have run with Sebastien and Kenan today. I felt the power drain out of my body at about half distance and I was happy to bring it home on the podium. I want to win the title so badly next year and I'll be training hard over the winter to make sure that we come back fitter and stronger."
David Checa (Yamaha GMT94) "I got a good start and I thought I had a shot at the podium but the headwind lowered our top speed today. I was chasing Curtain when he just lost the front and I had a similar experience when I lost both wheels. I thought I would crash but the bike picked itself up. I think we showed what we could do today, with a little more power we might have been further up."
Gianluca Vizziello (Yamaha Team Italia) "I destroyed my first bike in the morning warm-up and I had to ride my spare bike in the race, with which I do not have as good a feeling. I tried to get some points for the championship but I am sorry for the team as I could not make a good performance today."
Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia) "I was trying to recover from a bad start when my front wheel touched the kerb and I went down at the final chicane. I'm disappointed, because I lost any chance of fifth in the championship, but it has been a good season with our win at Misano the definite high point."
Circuit Length: 4411
Temp: 27
Crowd: 61000
Weather: Sunny
Race 1 - 22 Laps 08/10/2006: 1 Sebastien Charpentier Honda FRA 38'14.775
2 Kenan Sofuoglu Honda TUR 0'3.779
3 Broc Parkes Yamaha AUS 0'10.879
4 Gianluca Nannelli Ducati ITA 0'19.556
5 David Checa Yamaha ESP 0'22.790
6 Robbin Harms Honda DNK 0'25.745
7 Katsuaki Fujiwara Honda JPN 0'29.437
8 Johan Stigefelt Honda SWE 0'31.609
9 Stephane Chambon Kawasaki FRA 0'35.190
10 Yoann Tibero Honda FRA 0'37.552
11 Simone Sanna Honda ITA 0'52.996
12 Mauro Sanchini Yamaha ITA 0'55.346
13 Gregory Leblanc Honda FRA 0'55.462
14 Stuart Easton Ducati GBR 0'59.631
15 Vesa Kallio Yamaha FIN 1'4.252
Best Lap: Sebastien Charpentier Honda FRA 1'42.506
Rider Standings 08/10/2006:1. Sebastien Charpentier Honda FRA 194
2. Kevin Curtain Yamaha AUS 187
3. Kenan Sofuoglu Honda TUR 157
4. Broc Parkes Yamaha AUS 145
5. Robbin Harms Honda DNK 117
6. Massimo Roccoli Yamaha ITA 96
7. Yoann Tibero Honda FRA 80
8. Johan Stigefelt Honda SWE 70
9. Gianluca Vizziello Yamaha ITA 69
10. Xavi Fores Yamaha ESP 49
11. David Checa Yamaha ESP 44
12. Gianluca Nannelli Ducati ITA 43
13. Katsuaki Fujiwara Honda JPN 39
14. Simone Sanna Honda ITA 32
15. Stephane Chambon Kawasaki FRA 31
Manufacturer Standings 08/10/2006 :1. Honda 277
2. Yamaha 240
3. Ducati 87
4. Kawasaki 62
5. Suzuki 39
Related Linkswww.yamaha-racing.com
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