[theophil]

WORLD SUPERBIKES NewsTuesday, 3rd October 2006
Two Ten Kate Honda seats still open.

Winston Ten Kate Honda team manager Ronald Ten Kate, has confirmed that James Toseland's 2007 team-mate is still to be decided - and also revealed that he could sign a third rider for the team's World Supersport line-up.

"It's still the silly season around here: James is fully signed-up, so that's good news. Kenan Sofuoglu - our Turkish World Supersport rider - is also already signed and we've shaken hands with (2005 WSS champion) Mr Charpentier," the Dutchman told Crash.net Radio. "So we're still looking for another Superbike rider and we're also planning maybe a third Supersport rider for next year."

Karl Muggeridge currently occupies the second WSBK seat, but the former World Supersport champion is yet to finish on the podium after two seasons with Ten Kate in the premier-class and looks likely to be replaced. However, Muggeridge would be a leading candidate for the third Supersport seat.

Among the names linked to the second Superbike ride are current Klaffi Honda rider Alex Barros and former world championNeil Hodgson - but many other leading riders are still to be signed, including Troy Corser.

Meanwhile, reigning World Supersport champion Charpentier heads to this weekend's season finale 18 points behind Yamaha's Kevin Curtain. The Frenchman dominated the early part of the season, winning four of the first five races, but fractured his pelvis during testing - forcing him to miss a round - then lost further valuable points when he became jammed between tyres while trying to rejoin the track at Lausitz.

Sofuoglu's debut Supersport season has gone in the other direction, with three non-scores from the first five rounds being replaced by two wins, a second and two thirds from the last five rounds. Sofuoglu now holds what looks to be a safe third in the championship, eight points ahead of the injured Broc Parkes.