Katsuaki Fujiwara is one of the most expert Supersport riders around. He made his debut in the category in 2001 after serving two full years in Superbike and since then, over ten seasons and a total of 110 races, ‘Katsu' has been on the podium 21 times and tasted the winners' champagne six times.
Over the last few years however, the Kawasaki Motocard.com rider has had much less success so it was some surprise to find that at the most recent race in Brno Fujiwara was back up amongst the frontrunners once again, finishing the race in fifth place after a positive weekend overall.
Fujiwara's performance was all the more surprising seeing as just three weeks previously he had been in hospital for an appendix operation. "I had to push hard but after seven laps it was difficult to control the bike, and I was feeling the effects of my recent illness," said the 35 year-old from Shimonoseki, Japan. "About ten laps in the front end tucked really hard in the first corner, so I had to ease my pace and just continue where I was. I am really tired, no power, and I lost three or four kilos of weight since my operation. I got good points for the championship so it was worth it today."
After another week's recovery time Fujiwara will be trying once again to haul his Kawasaki to the front at Silverstone, the track where he last scored a podium place, behind Anthony West and Robbin Harms, on the Althea Honda CBR. It just remains to be seen if Silverstone will bring him luck again this time.
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