Cycle News

OKDANI398 If you'RE 60NNA ' PERfORM LIKE 399, ~SSI YOU'LL HAVE 101>0 Briefly... •NoW SAl IT AGAIN, Continued from page 9 was on his way to Qatar on the weekend to test with the Ten Kate Honda Supersport team, indicating that he is now the most likely choice of both the sponsor and Honda Europe. Honda now has manufacturing interests in Turkey, helping Sofuoglu's push for one of the best rides in the championship - despite losing the Superstock FIM Cup in unexpected fashion in 2ooS. The challenge of turning the fast but fragile +00 fRESS IIPS•• ~ Sofuoglu into a real winner is one that Ten Kate would relish, and one at which the team has proven adept in the past. But, according to team manager Ronald Ten Kate, the Qatar test should determine much. "We are quite close to agreeing terms with Kenan," Ten Kate said. "He seems the most likely rider for the second place in the Supersport setup. We just want to see how he is with the team first." The other two main riders trying to get on board the bike, Jurgen van den Goorbergh and Gianluca Nannelli, are being ruled out at present. Van den Goorbergh does not have the full support of Honda Europe, while Nannelli is not on the wish list of the sponsor, and is an uncertain prospect from The Mind Games Begin pint-sized frame. Featherweight Pedrosa weighs in at a miserly IOB pounds, and Valentino Rossi can forget trying to unset- one of his major problems in his first seri- tle MotoGP newcomer Dani Pedrosa with a psychological battle in 2006. bike how he likes it, he will be ready. When a guy is used to winning, he does- ous test at the recent Sepang was the physical stress on his tiny frame. That's the view of Pedrosa's mentor, n't want to accept that he can't win. Dani is used to winning. and when he is Alberto Puig, who believes that the 20year-old Spaniard's biggest weapon in try- ready, he will know. And whoever is at ing program after a short break in the top. whether it is Valentino or ing to conquer MotoGP is his mental somebody else, he will try and be there. December to try to bulk up, with many believing he needs to gain over 20 pounds in body weight before the start of next season. "He gets really tired with this bike at this moment," Puig added. "It is very different from a 2S0. I still believe this is a bike, with two wheels, an engine and brakes. But it's much more difficult because the power is unbelievable. The key point is that he must adjust his body to the power. It's as simple as that. The best thing would be if we can make a strong and tough guy from a small guy." Matthew Birt strength. Rossi is the master when it comes to mind games off the track, and he has psychologically dismantled fierce rivals Max Biaggi and Sete Gibernau in the past. But Puig believes Pedrosa will be able to combat any potential Rossi mind games when the two clash for the first time in MotoGP next season. "We know it will not be easy because of the level of the competition, but we will stick to our plan like we always have," Puig said. "When Dani's got the Dani is a champion, and maybe other riders will still beat him, but he will try. Let me tell you, his head will not drop no matter what. We know this class is not easy, but he is so mentally strong and he is really determined. People think he has had it easy, but it has been very difficult. It is the will he has to succeed that drives him. Even in the bad moments, he will fight. But Rossi has the same style." Puig believes Pedrosa's biggest hurdle in trying to master the 260-hp RCV is his Barros Needs Backing Road racer Alex Barros' search for a sponsor from his native Brazil continues, as the would-be World Superbike rider attempts to secure a spol on the 2006 grid. With the road to a "full factory" ride in the Winston Ten Kate setup banred by the already-signed pairing of Karl Muggeridge and )ames Toseland, a thind lim Kate machine is the current preferred option from Honda Europe, to include Barros on the best equipment available. That is not as straightforward as it sounds, as Ten Kate is already operating on a high level of commitment in terms of personnel numbers and expertise for Toseland and Muggeridge (plus two Supersport riders as well), and according to team boss Ronald Ten Kate, the existing pairing is all-important to its 2006 plans. "Some people have reported that we are very close to signing Alex, but at present we are still talking to him in the early stages, trying to put a deal together," Ten Kate said. "But how we do it is important, because we need to keep the existing effort we have as strong as possible; we do not want to compromise it." It would seem that not only would Barros have to bring sponsorship money, almost a whole team structure would have to be put in place as well. Gordon Ritchie Pedrosa will get into an intensive train- McGrath For Six! Seven-time AMA Supercross Champion Jeremy McGrath announced last week that he will race in the first six stops of the AMA Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross Series that kicks off on Saturday, January 7, at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Southern California. McGrath's schedule will then see him competing in the other two Anaheim events. as well as Phoenix, San Francisco and San Diego. "This year just flew by, and it seems that even with a part-time race schedule, I have been busier than ever," McGrath said. "I'm training and riding as often as I can, 50 I'm definitely looking forward to the start of the season. It's great to be continuing to work the team's point of view. Honda Europe personnel, who seem keen to keep Nannelli, may attempt to place him in any new tearn Alex Barros may create. boosting Honda Superbike numbers on the grid. Australian Josh Brookes, winner of the 2004 Phillip Island World Supersport race, has lined up a ride for the Caracchi Supersport team in 2006, but the state of play in any possible World Superbike squad in 2006 is as yet unclear. The team is trying to sign Ruben Xaus, but two problems exist as of now: One is that the machines will basically be 999F04s, and the other is that the budget has not yet been acquired to allow the match to be made. Elsewhere in Italy, a solution to Lucio Pedercini's back problems may allow him to continue on in 2006, with Ivan Clementi as his riding partner. In the Bertocchi Kawasaki camp. Giovanni BU5sei is still most likely to run in Kawasaki green once more. A return to Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant highlights the 2006 Parts Canada Superbike Championship schedule, which was recently released. After a one-year absence, the classic Quebec venue will play host to the second round of the series, June 2-4. The track previously hosted rounds of the national tour in 2003 and 2004. The 2006 season will play out over seven rounds on six weekends. The series will have its traditional kickoff at Shannonville Motorsport Park near Belleville, Ontario, on the long Victoria Day Weekend, May IB-21. It will conclude back at Shannonville on Labor Day Weekend, September 1-3. "Bringing the Parts Canada Superbike Championship back to the fans of Quebec was always a priority for us," said Colin Fraser of Professional Motorsports Productions, which organizes the Canadian series. "We are thrilled to be heading back to Le Circuit Mom-Trem- with Honda - always great to be back at Anaheim and nice to finish out in San Diego." Continued on poge 13 CYCLE NEWS • DECEMBER 14, 2005 11

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