FIM Supersport World Championship
TT Circuit Assen
Assen, Netherlands
April 21, 2018
Qualifying Results (all on Pirelli tires):
From Superpole Two:
1. Sandro Cortese, Germany (Yam YZF-R6), 1:37.799
2. Lucas Mahias, France (Yam YZF-R6), 1:38.085
3. Raffaele De Rosa, Italy (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:38.109
4. Jules Cluzel, France (Yam YZF-R6), 1:38.192
5. Luke Stapleford, UK (Tri Daytona 675R), 1:38.249
6. Randy Krummenacher, Switzerland (Yam YZF-R6), 1:38.337
7. Federico Caricasulo, Italy (Yam YZF-R6), 1:38.569
8. Niki Tuuli, Finland (Hon CBR600RR), 1:38.594
9. Sheridan Morais, South Africa (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:38.718
10. Kyle Smith, UK (Hon CBR600RR), 1:38.851
11. Robin Hartog, Netherlands (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:38.933
12. Hikari Okubo, Japan (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:39.243
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:
WorldSSP: Cortese maintains form with Assen Superpole
German rider denies Mahias his third pole of the season as fight at the top heats up
A second consecutive Superpole for Sandro Cortese (Kallio Racing) set the stage for a thrilling Sunday race at Assen, as the top two riders in the FIM Supersport World Championship will meet at the front of row 1. Cortese controlled the second Superpole session, taking the early lead and continuing to improve on his lap times through the final minutes.
Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team), first in the championship standings, was denied his third Superpole in four races this year, and will have to fight hard to stop Cortese, only four points behind in the rankings, from taking off and becoming the new championship leader.
Completing the front row, Raffaele De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse by Vamag) put his MV Agusta in third and in a good position to challenge for a first non-Yamaha podium finish of the season. He qualified just ahead of Jules Cluzel (NRT), in search of his second consecutive podium finish this year.
Luke Stapleford (Profile Racing) proved again that he can get the best out of his Triumph Daytona with the fifth best time of the session, ahead of Randy Krummenacher (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team). The Swiss challenger dominated yesterday’s Free Practice sessions but will have to be content with a sixth-place start on Sunday.
Closing the ‘fantastic four’ group of riders who have dominated the early races this year, Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) will have to battle back to record a third consecutive podium finish, after his second-place finish at MotorLand Aragon. He leads the third row, with Niki Tuuli (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda) and Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) close behind in eighth and ninth. Closing the top ten is the only Assen race-winner currently on the grid, Kyle Smith (GEMAR Team Lorini), who just made it through the Superpole 1.
Pole position – Sandro Cortese (Kallio Racing)
“I am very happy, I am starting to feel very happy and very comfortable with the bike. I have pace but not only just for the race, and I realised now we have Superpole and give everything for the one lap, and I’m really happy with the pole position this weekend”