World Supersport Championship - Magny-Cours test
Wednesday 8th - Thursday 9th June 2005

CHARPENTIER AT HOME IN FRENCH TEST

Current World Supersport championship leader, Sebastien Charpentier, says he and
his team have improved even further his Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR after a
two-day test at his 'home' circuit of Magny-Cours in France.

Alongside his Japanese team-mate, Katsuaki Fujiwara, the French rider spent
yesterday and today testing new ignition and fuel-injection mapping components,
as well as several new Supersport tyres from Pirelli.

Ronald ten Kate - team manager:

"I'm very satisfied with the results of this test where both riders and team
have worked very hard. We've been testing a new ignition system and fuel
injection mapping and have found more control for the riders and a little
improvement in acceleration. We came here with a good basic set-up so we've been
trying different extremes and getting the riders used to other settings to see
if there is anywhere we can improve. Quite early, Sebastien was improving the
lap times from last year's Supersport race and went half a second faster than
the pole position time. On day two, we've been confirming yesterday's findings,
doing longer stints on the new Pirellis and concentrating on a good setting for
the race here in October. I'm very happy with our progress and now we go home to
prepare for Misano."

Sebastien Charpentier - best time, 1m43.2s

"It's fantastic for me to be testing in France and the good weather here has
allowed us to get through a lot of work. I am very happy with the way the season
has started and I feel very comfortable with the team and the CBR. But there are
always areas to improve and we have worked hard with Pirelli here at Magny-Cours
to test the new tyres they have brought. There were several new fronts to try
because this has been an area of problem for me, especially at the first round
in Qatar. The test has gone well and I think a 43.2s lap here is a good time. I
am confident that the season can continue well for me when we get to Misano in
two weeks."

Katsuaki Fujiwara - best time, 1m43.9s

"This has been very valuable for me as the tests in Spain at the beginning of
the season were affected by bad weather. I am with a new team this season and on
the Honda CBR for the first time so these two days have been good experience for
me. During race meetings there is not so much time to test different settings on
the bike so we have used the test to try perhaps more than fifty combinations
which has helped me to understand the CBR a lot better. My mechanics must be
very tired from making all the changes but it has been a worthwhile exercise
because we go to Misano with a really good feeling."

Magny-Cours, France (4.41km)

2004 pole position time: Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Honda)  1m43.825s
2004 fastest race lap: Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Honda)    1m44.457s