Winston Supersport One-Two At Valencia Test - March 13th 2005

Sébastien Charpentier and Katsuaki Fujiwara head for round two of the 2005 World Supersport championship at Phillip Island, Australia on 3 April in confident mood after completing a two-day official test at Valencia in Spain. The two Winston Ten Kate Honda riders headed the combined time sheets for the weekend in first and second place respectively.

Ronald ten Kate - team manager:

"It's very satisfying to carry our one-two finish at the first race in Qatar through to this test in Spain, although the positions for Kats and Sébastien are reversed. It shows that our Supersport team continues to work hard to improve and develop the new CBR600RR. Grip levels dropped this afternoon as the track temperature rose slightly but we were able to do a good long run with Sébastien this morning when he did consistent 1m38s laps. With Kats, we're still working around the base setting to get him more familiar with how small changes can affect the bike. We're looking forward to Phillip Island, which is like a second home to all of us, although it'll be strange going there without an Australian Supersport rider for the first time in some years."

Sébastien Charpentier - 85 laps (two days), 1m37.880s

"This has been a really good test for me and I'm very happy. The tyres have been fantastic here and the front worked really well in a race simulation, when I was able to do many fast laps. The bike feels very strong everywhere and the team has been working really well together. Everything is perfect and I think we have a great package for Phillip Island and especially for when we come back to Valencia to race in April."

Katsuaki Fujiwara - 88 laps (two days) 1m38.178s

"I'm still learning about the new CBR but I'm working better and better with the team. The race win at the first round in Qatar was fantastic for me but we still have some work to do on the bike - especially the rear. The front is much better now and I think the problems that everyone had in Qatar were because of the surface there. Before Australia, I'm looking forward to spending some time at home in Japan to see my family and maybe do some fishing. I'm also going to have a big party with some people from the Honda factory to celebrate my win in Qatar!"

Valencia test - two-day combined times:

1. 1, Sébastien Charpentier FRA (Winston Ten Kate Honda) 1m37.880s
2. 2, Katsuaki Fujiwara JAP (Winston Ten Kate Honda) 1:38.178
3. 3, Broc Parkes AUS (Yamaha) 1:38.804
4. 4, Kevin Curtain AUS (Yamaha) 1:38.913
5. 5, Fabien Foret FRA (Honda) 1:38.943
6. 6, Michel Fabrizio ITA (Honda) 1:39.238
7. 7, Stefan Folkesson SWE (Honda) 1:39.382
8. 8, Ginaluca Nannelli ITA (Ducati) 1:39.535
9. 9, Barry Veneman NED (Suzuki) 1:39.985
10. 10, Javier Fores ESP (Suzuki) 1:40.072