WSS: Title not over, claims Charpentier.

Reigning double World Supersport champion Sebastien Charpentier may have failed to score points in one of the first four rounds, but the Frenchman isn't surrendering all hope of a third consecutive title just yet.

Charpentier's nightmare start to the season has seen him fall from the lead on the last lap in Qatar, then miss rounds three and four due to injury, leaving him 16th in the championship - a massive 82 points behind Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate Kenan Sofuoglu - with nine rounds to go.

"I am feeling a lot better and I'll be coming to Assen with a clear mind. I'm determined to be back at the front and I just want to forget the beginning of the season and concentrate on the future. The championship is long and I'm going to give it everything I've got to get back the title," insisted Sebastien.

Those words rule out any assistance for Sofuoglu at this stage of the season, but the young Turk - who was taken three wins and a second from the first four races - hardly needs any help, with his championship lead currently standing at an enormous 44 points over Fabien Foret.

"I am still feeling very happy about the results in Valencia and want to thank the team once again for all the hard work that went into achieving the win," said Kenan. "I am focusing on the future and I just want to keep getting good, consistent results for the team. This race is important because it is the home race for Ten Kate. I won here last year, so I am confident about the track, but I know that anything can happen so I'm just going to keep my head down and concentrate on bringing in the points."

"Assen is a special event for us as it is our home round. The riders know how important it is to us and so they see it as their home round also," said team manager Ronald ten Kate. "We have S?bastien back for Assen, which makes us truly happy. It has been very strange racing without him because he has been a part of the team for so long. I'm sure he will give it 100% to make a remarkable return to the championship.

"Assen is a track with good memories for Kenan as he got his first ever Supersport win there last year. I know that he will be giving it his all again this year. All in all, we are ready to race. we are ready for Assen!"

Andrew Pitt, who finished second while replacing Charpentier at Valencia, will ride a third Ten Kate Honda this weekend.