2005 World Superbike & Supersport Championships - Round 1

Fastest Lap 4 Sebastien Gimbert 2'01.8 158.9 kmh

Riders Championship Standings: 1 KAGAYAMA 45, 2 CORSER 41, 3 LACONI 36, 4 VERMEULEN 21, 5 PITT 20, 6 TOSELAND 20, 7 HAGA 16, 8 ABE 15, 9 CHILI 11, 10 SILVA 9, 11 NEUKIRCHNER 8, 12 MUGGERIDGE 7, 13 BUSSEI 7, 14 GIMBERT 6, 15 NIETO 6.

Manufacturers Standings: 1 SUZUKI 50, 2 DUCATI 36, 3 YAMAHA 22, 4 HONDA 21, 5 KAWASAKI 7.

HONDA RIDERS MONOPOLISE SUPERSPORT PODIUM IN QATAR

As it did last year, the Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR looks set to provide the winner of most races and the World SuperSport title in 2005. The two new riders to the team dominated just about everything on the weekend, with Katsuaki Fujiwara bogging down on the line and entering the first corner almost last.

While Fujiwara set about carving his way through the field, his team mate Sebastien Charpentier streeted the field and it was only the scorching pace of Fujiwara on an identical CBR600RR that was able to run down the Frenchman and catch him on the 16th lap.

From that point Fujiwara ran away to record a five second victory and Honda riders filled both remaining podium places, with Michel Fabrizio (Team Italia Megabike Honda CBR600RR) third, proving the prowess of the latest version of the all-conquering CBR series. Such is the dominance of the Honda that bookmakers already have the machine a 1.2 favourite to win the manufacturers title (that is, 5/1 ON, or bet $1 now and get $1.20 back if it wins). Yamaha's YZF-R6 is second favourite at 5.00 (that's 4/1 against) with Kawasaki's ZX-6R and Suzuki GSX-R 600 given little chance (both at 15.00) and Ducati's 749-R at 25.00

After a peerless qualifying performance from Charpentier gave him pole position in his first race for the Winston Ten Kate team, his early lead hinted at invincibility, but a worn front tyre dropped his pace and allowed Fujiwara to catch him. Sebastien nonetheless set the new fastest lap at this new WSS venue, with a time of 2:04.686.

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