HANNspree Ten Kate Honda’s Carlos Checa concluded a strong weekend of racing with a second and third place place at the team’s home track in Assen today.
The double podium rounds off a successful day of racing for the team, after collecting the number one and two spots in the World Supersport race earlier.
Carlos Checa encountered some technical issues with his bike in the qualifying sessions on Friday and Saturday’s, but the issues were soon a distant memory as he set about to carve his way forward through the field and concluded the first Superbike race with a second place behind Troy Bayliss.
In the second Superbike race, Checa stayed put in 5th place for a while but his consistent pace enabled him to close the gap with Neukirchner and Haga and he found the place to overtake them in the final rounds and claimed a third place behind Troy Bayliss and Noriyuki Haga.
The Spanish rider now holds a second place in the World Superbike Championship standings.
Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager
“Carlos has been riding very well here today. The biggest problems still seems to lie in the first quarter of the race where we have a lack of speed. Towards the end of the race we are able to increase our pace and make up some ground again."
“Kiyonari was showing a good performance throughout the weekend, but hasn’t had the best of luck. I thought he could be on the podium in the second race, where on certain times he was the fastest man on the track, but unfortunately the clamp of his steering damper broke and he had to return to the pit garage.”
“It looked like Sofuoglu was picking up the pace this weekend in practice and first race but in the second race he clearly wasn’t able to hold on to his progression. “
“I am a very happy man after the great results we achieved here today. We didn’t only claim success in the Supersport and Superbike races, but also in the Superstock 1000 race where Maxim Berger claimed the first victory on his CBR1000RR Fireblade. It is good to see him adapting to the new class so quickly."
Carlos Checa, Honda CBR1000RR
“I am very satisfied with the podiums I achieved today in both races. The first race was special riding so close to Neurkirchner, when I tried to overtake him, it sure brought back some thoughts of the Valencia race.”
“I took attention while overtaking him (Neukirchner) and moved into second place, but Troy had already secured a firm lead and it was impossible to catch him, he had a better pace throughout the first race.”
“My target today was to be closer to Troy, but he was just too strong on this track and there was no way for me to fight and overtake him here.”
Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda CBR1000RR
“The clamp of my steering damper broke and I as unable to continue the race. I don’t know why it happened, but it was just very unfortunate having to end the race prematurely.”
“With my riding style I’m still using the front tyre too much and wear it out quickly, it makes it difficult for me to keep my lap times. I’ve changed the front tyre for the second race, it felt better and I tried to push harder and even set one of the quickest lap times, but then had to retreat early.
“I am excited about the fast lap time I managed to set in race two, it gives me the confidence and direction on this new track.”
I’m understanding the machine’s potential better every time out. The setting was good today, for which I want to thank my mechanics, I just hope I’ll have a bit more luck next time.”
Kenan Sofuoglu, Honda CBR1000RR
“What a disappointing weekend. My first race was acceptable, but my last race was just a disaster. I was expecting to achieve a lot more on this track, but I didn’t manage to succeed.”
“My mechanics have worked hard for which I want to thank them. There is no problem with the bike, everything seems to be fine. I just don’t have an answer as to why I am riding like this.”
Results Superbike race 2:
1, T. BAYLISS
2, N.HAGA
3, C. CHECA
4, R. XAUS
5, M.NEUKIRCHNER
6, Y. KAGAYAMA
7, G.LAVILLA
8, J. SMRZ
9, M.TAMADA
10, T. CORSE
