round 12
Magny-Cours, France

CHAMPION CHARPENTIER TO MISS FINAL ROUND

Winston Ten Kate Honda's 2005 World Supersport champion, Sébastien Charpentier,
has been forced out of the final round of the series. The 32-year-old French
rider sustained injuries to his left clavicle in a practice crash last Saturday
during the eleventh round at Imola in Italy.

Charpentier visited a specialist in Paris earlier this week and was advised not
to ride this weekend at the final round in Magny-Cours. After consultation with
team-manager, Ronald ten Kate, Charpentier has reluctantly agreed with his
decision.

For the Magny-Cours event, the team has been able to call up a last minute
replacement from Holland - Arie Vos. The 29-year-old from Oss, near Eindhoven,
finished second in this season's Dutch Supersport championship and has raced in
four World Supersport races this year, finishing seventh in last Sunday's
eleventh round race at Imola.

Ronald ten Kate - team-manager:

"Sébastien's motivation to ride this weekend was almost overwhelming. He's been
looking forward to racing at Magny-Cours all season and was expecting enormous
support here from friends, family and well-wishers - all wanting to celebrate
his fantastic World Supersport championship win. He has the title and, for now,
we must focus on our testing programme for the 2006 season, which kicks off in
about five weeks. I feel very sorry for him because I know how much this weekend
means to him and, after his amazing season of nine pole positions, six wins and
three second places, it was a difficult decision to make."

Sébastien Charpentier - 2005 World Supersport Champion

"Anyone who knows me knows how disappointed I am and Ronald has said everything,
really. I love this track, I love racing in my home country of France and there
is a lot of support for me here at Magny-Cours this weekend. But the injury is
worse than we thought last Sunday and it's just not worth the risk of ruining
the tests for the beginning of next season. When we came to test here earlier in
the year I was able to do a lap time of 1m43.2s so I was feeling very confident
of finishing the season with a very good result. But it has already been a
fantastic season and to win the championship at the team's home race in Assen
was a very special moment for me and all the team. I can only add that I'm sorry
for everyone who wanted to see me race at Magny-Cours this weekend."