Hannspree Ten Kate Honda’s Fabien Foret heads to Assen this weekend (15-17 April) for round three of the 2011 World Supersport championship hoping for an injury-free weekend and finally to get his season started.
The French rider crashed out of morning warm-up in the opening round at Phillip Island in Australia, badly damaging his right hand before tyre woes eventually ruled him out of contention in the race.
In round two at Donington Park in the UK just over two weeks ago, the 38-year-old Frenchman crashed during practice sustaining further damage to his right hand which forced him to miss the race.
Foret’s compatriot and Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate, Florian Marino, has enjoyed a sold start to his debut World Supersport season. The 18-year-old has enjoyed two top-ten finishes in the opening two rounds and is looking forward to the team’s home race at the 4.542km Assen circuit.
Both riders enjoyed their first Ten Kate Pit Stop Day last weekend, when the Ten Kate Motoren dealership and race workshop throws open their doors to the general public, traditionally a week before the team’s home race just 50km up the road at Assen.
Some 7500 fans visited Ten Kate’s Nieuwleusen HQ on Saturday to meet Foret and Marino, who were joined by Castrol Honda World Superbike riders Jonathan Rea and Ruben Xaus.
Fabien ForetIt’s been a very tough start to the season with the injuries at Phillip Island and then Donington. The lower part of my back is still quite painful and I still have the pins in the end of my finger, so we will see how everything feels when I get on the bike on Friday. Of course, it’s the home race for the team, so we all want to do well, but also I like Assen very much, so I want to feel as fit as possible to ride the circuit well. I also need to get some points to finally get the season st arted. I may not be 100% yet – probably not until Monza – but at least I will be better than even before the crash at Donington, so I look forward to seeing what we can do this weekend.
Florian MarinoThe Pit Stop Day last Saturday was amazing and it was good to meet so many people! I have been training hard during the time since Donington, especially in these last days with Fabien and Jonathan Rea. I really want to do well at Assen, which is one of my favourite tracks and, of course, it is the home race for my team. I have really enjoyed racing at Assen before so I cannot wait for Friday to get out again on the Supersport CBR. I don’t want to make any predictions for the weekend but a top five finish, or even a podium would be fantastic. I will try my hardest for sure.
Ronald ten Kate – team managerThe race at Assen is always quite special for us and only half an hour’s drive from the workshop, so a lot of friends and family have the opportunity to see what we do when we are at work – it’s always a great atmosphere. I’m quite happy that Fabien is feeling much better and is on his way to recovery, so let’s hope he can find his Phillip Island form again this weekend. For young Florian, Assen is one of his favourite circuits so we hope to see both riders battling at the front. We have some new chassis parts and electronics to test over the weekend which should give us a step forward.
Assen World Supersport – schedule (local times):
Friday 15 April09.45 Free practice (45 min)13.45 Qualifying practice (45 min)Saturday 16 April09.45 Free practice (45 min)16.05 Qualifying practice (45 min)Sunday 17 April09.45 Warm-up (15 min)13.30&nbs p; Race (21 laps – 95.382km)
