Motul FIM Superbike World Championship

TT Circuit Assen

Assen, Netherlands

April 21, 2018

Race One Results (all on Pirelli tires):

1. Jonathan Rea, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), 21 laps, Total Race Time 33:40.360, Best Lap Time 1:35.480

2. Michael Van Der Mark, Netherlands (Yam YZF-R1), -0.981 second, 1:35.248

3. Chaz Davies, UK (Duc Panigale R), -1.282 seconds, 1:35.337

4. Tom Sykes, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), -1.413, 1:35.645

5. Xavi Fores, Spain (Duc Panigale R), -8.625, 1:35.302

6. Marco Melandri, Italy (Duc Panigale R), -14.903, 1:35.467

7. Loris Baz, France (BMW S1000RR), -17.301, 1:35.834

8. Leandro Mercado, Argentina (Kaw ZX-10RR), -21.482, 1:36.127

9. Jordi Torres, Spain (MV Agusta F4 RC), -21.938, 1:36.054

10. Toprak Razgatlioglu, Turkey (Kaw ZX-10RR), -24.939, 1:35.873

11. Roman Ramos, Spain (Kaw ZX-10RR), -27.049, 1:36.628

12. Alex Lowes, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -33.226, 1:35.341

13. Davide Giugliano, Italy (Apr RSV4 RF), -35.630, 1:36.731

14. PJ Jacobsen, USA (Honda CBR1000RR SP2), -38.480, 1:36.308

15. Lorenzo Savadori, Italy (Apr RSV4 RF), -38.604, crash, 1:36.090

16. Yonny Hernandez, Colombia (Kaw ZX-10RR), -44.690, 1:36.550

17. Ondrej Jezek, Czech Republic (Yam YZF-R1), -51.135, 1:37.395

18. Michael Rinaldi, Italy (Duc Panigale R), -16 laps, DNF, crash, 1:36.207

19. Jake Gagne, USA (Hon CBR1000RR SP2), DNS

World Championship Point Standings (after 7 of 26 races):

1. Rea, 139 points

2. Davies, 118

3. Melandri, 106

4. TIE, Van Der Mark/Fores, 87

6. Sykes, 76

7. Lowes, 74

8. Leon Camier, 42

9. Razgatlioglu, 38

10. Baz, 36

11. Torres, 29

12. Ramos, 28

13. Mercado, 24

14. Savadori, 19

15. TIE, Rinaldi/Gagne, 17

17. Eugene Laverty, 16

18. Jacobsen, 12

19. Hernandez, 7

20. Giugliano, 6

21. Jezek, 1

More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:

Rea Equals Assen Race Wins Record

Under sunny skies KRT rider Jonathan Rea won his 12th WorldSBK race at the classic Assen circuit today, extending his championship lead and closing in on the all-time win total by taking his 57th career victory. Tom Sykes (KRT) showed fully competitive lap speed in the race but despite closing in on the leading group, he finished just off the podium in fourth place.

In uncharacteristically warm and dry conditions, which blessed both opening days of the Assen WorldSBK weekend, Jonathan Rea showed his affinity with the historic Assen circuit by leading across the line for all but two laps. He was to win the race by an eventual 0.981 seconds from local man Michael van der Mark, who led for two laps.

Jonathan’s third race victory of the year came after some good work in practice and qualifying, and being able to improve the pace in warm conditions, making a gap that he could control in the final few laps of the 4.542km long circuit.

Rea’s win was his third of the season and takes him to within two victories of the outright record of 59, held by family friend Carl Fogarty. This was Jonathan’s 75th podium for Kawasaki. He is now the second rider, in his own right, in terms of career podiums, with 117.

Just 1.413 seconds from the race one win Tom Sykes just needed a better first few laps to have joined in with the podium celebrations, after offering a consistently strong pace on his Ninja ZX-10RR.

Having started the race sixth after Superpole qualifying, then going to seventh place for eight laps, Tom was able to pass some of his main rivals to get up to fourth and score valuable points in the process.

With race one completed the KRT riders will take part in race two at Assen, on Sunday 22nd April, at 13.00 CET.

Jonathan Rea, stated: “I enjoyed that race. I had two or three small attempts to break the group but it just wasn’t happening. I preferred to be at the front of the race anyway, to manage things in the places I was strong. I knocked back a little bit in case I was not able to make a gap in the last laps. I think with four to go I started to make a couple of strong lap times and that just broke the gap to the others. I was quite lucky because on the last lap I made a little mistake at T8 but by that stage I had already made the gap. I was super-happy because we arrived here with the bike that was quite strong at the start. With consistent weather on Friday I was able to do two race simulations to understand how the tyres would be at the end today.”

Tom Sykes, stated: “Fourth in the race was a case of having to start a bit behind today, as the race set-up we had was good. The speed was pretty good. We possibly missed out a little bit on initial lap times, but our bike stayed very consistent. In the end we had race winning levels of performance but I just got stuck behind Chaz, who rides differently to some of the other guys I passed earlier. Alex, Marco and Xavi, those guys I could make passes on but Chaz was on a different line and to get him – I wasn’t able to do it today. He can stop better and the acceleration of his bike is very strong. We lost out there but in some of the flowing stuff we had a big advantage. Tomorrow we will just try and take advantage of what will be pole position on the race two grid.”

More, from a press release issued by Gulf Althea BMW:

Solid seventh for Gulf Althea BMW and Baz at Assen

Assen (The Netherlands), Saturday 21 April 2018

The Gulf Althea BMW Racing team has concluded the first race of the Superbike weekend at the historic TT circuit in Assen with a positive seventh place finish with rider Loris Baz. In the Stock1000 category, Italian rider Alessandro Delbianco has qualified eleventh for tomorrow’s race.

Superpole 1: Baz’s first lap was already quick enough to put him into first place, a position he held for almost the entire session. Having returned to the track mid-session with a fresh tyre, the Frenchman scored a best of 1’35.653 which was enough to secure him second place, and access to the subsequent Superpole2.

Superpole2: in this phase, a fastest time of 1’35.541, recorded in the final minutes with the qualifying tyre, meant Baz finished tenth overall, so a fourth row start for today’s first race of the weekend.

SBK – Race 1: from tenth on the grid, Loris earned one position in the early stages, going on to battle with both Savadori and Razgatlioglu. Able to pass both riders during the central part of the race, the Frenchman placed seventh on lap twelve, a position that – thanks also to a fast and consistent pace – he was able to retain all the way to the line. This result is Baz’s best of the season so far.

STK1000 Qualifying: eighth in the morning’s final free practice, Delbianco was back on track this afternoon for the all-important qualifying session. Working well with his team, the Italian made continuous progress throughout the 30-minute session. His best lap, set in a time of 1’38.425, came in the final minutes, thanks to which he closed in eleventh place. Alessandro will therefore start from the fourth row of the grid in tomorrow’s race.

Loris Baz:

“We had a great race today. I didn’t make the best start, but I was able to do well through the first turns. I struggled a little to pass Savadori and then Toprak but once past them, I was able to maintain good pace all the way to the line. I’m happy, the bike is still not perfect, but we’ve made a good step and I enjoyed myself. The gap to the front was also reduced today and by the end I was closing in on Melandri, immediately ahead of me. I’m looking forward to starting P4 tomorrow, thanks to the new race 2 grid regulation. Big thanks to the team for coming here with some great ideas and a great attitude.”

More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:

#DutchWorldSBK – Day 2: Rea roars to eighth consecutive TT Assen win

Home hero van der Mark puts up a good fight for the win as Rea continues to make history

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was able to hold off the chasing pack

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) stormed to his third win of the season with a quintessential Assen performance, nailing his eighth consecutive Dutch win and twelfth in total, equalling Carl Fogarty’s historic dozen Assen triumphs along the way. It didn’t come easy for the Northern Irishman, however, forced to fend off strong attacks from Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) and Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), second and third respectively.

The grid hinted towards a fascinating start, with five teams holding the first five positions. Rea made the move over poleman Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) at the first corner, although it was Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team) who took the early lead with a flying start at the lights. However, by the end of Sector 1 it was Rea back on top. Behind him, van der Mark began his climb right of the bat, jumping from seventh to fourth.

The crowd were ecstatic by the end of lap 8, as local boy van der Mark, astonishingly quick throughout the race, picked off Rea at the chicane and made his way into first. However, the championship leader took over two laps later, same spot, same move.

By then Chaz Davies had quietly made his way to the top, once again making up for a poor Superpole with a scintillating race. A three-way battle ensued, with Davies merely centimetres off of Rea but unable to just quite make it past. With van der Mark and Davies then battling for second behind, Rea put some space between him and his pursuers for the final laps, although never more than a second.

Behind the front three, Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) showed the Kawasaki’s pace here after a poor weekend at MotorLand Aragon, coming in fourth and a mere two tenths off a first podium finish since Phillip Park Race 1.

Xavi Fores, again the first independent rider, made it through the checkered flag in fifth, drifting off the front pace through the final laps. Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) made it to the line in sixth, untroubled but also unable to stay close to the lead.

Loriz Baz (GULF Althea BMW Racing Team) followed in seventh place, with Leandro Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) in eighth, season-best finishes for both riders. Top ten was closed by Jordi Torres (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) in ninth and Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in tenth.

Lowes, scoring his maiden WorldSBK pole just two hours earlier, had a nightmare race, falling quickly down the field after the early laps and just scraping in in twelfth, 33 seconds off the lead. Ditto for Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia), heading row 2 at the start but just making it to the line in fifteenth.

P1 – Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)

“It was a really fun race, when Mikey came through I could see he had the pace where I didn’t and I tried to keep smooth out on track. There was a point in the race when I wasn’t sure how to manage the pace. But then with a couple of laps to go squeezed back into low 36.s and I took the win. But it was difficult, this morning we looked good on paper but the rest stepped up, so we need to work tomorrow, but thanks to the team for giving me a great bike.”

P2 – Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team)

“It was an amazing race, I had a good start and managed to stay calm in the beginning and made my way to the front. When I saw Jonny, he was not pushing as hard as I thought he would, and then I got to the fight for the front. I tried to stay as close as I could, in the end I was able to catch Chaz, but wasn’t able to get Jonny, but I’m really happy with second place.”

P3 – Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)

“It was a good battle all race long, Mikey was breathing down my neck all race long and he eventually got past me. I thought about having a go straight back at him but then I thought he might have a better pace than me, so I’ll let him chase Jonny but in the end. I’m really happy, yesterday was really tough, in qualifying we were better and in the race I think we did a really good job so pretty happy. We’ll take that and make some improvements for tomorrow.”

More, from a press release issued by Barni Racing Team:

 Forés betrayed by the front tyre, fifth in race 1 at Assen

Assen, 21th April 2018. A big drop of the rear tyre prevent Xavi Forés to fight for the podium in race 1 at TT Circuit Assen, fourth round of MOTUL FIM World SBK. The Barni Racing Team rider was fifht under the checkered flag, only seven second far from the podium.

Forés had his best qualifying seasonal result in the Superpole 2 conquering the first row. By his 1’34.387 he was third on the starting grid and he started very well in race 1 leading the group after the first turn. Before finishing the first lap he was overtaken by Lowes and than also Rea drop the Ducati Panigale R. At lap 3 even the second Yamaha of Van Der Mark passed Forés and at lap 7 Davies took the fourth. A pack of five riders was at the front but Lowes lose ground and Xavi back to fourth position waiting the last few laps to fight for the podium. Unfortunately seven laps to go, the front tyre got exhaust and Xavi lose contact from Rea Davies and Van der Mark. It was the turning point of the race because till the end Forés was forced to slow his pace in order to manage the tyre. At lap 15 also Sykes caught the Barni Racing Team rider overtaking him. At that point from the box came a clear message: manage the advantage on Melandri and ride safe till the checkered flag.

With this placement Forés get 11 more points in the overall championship standing, but Van Der Mark catch him at fourth place with 87 points.

Marco Barnabò, Principal Manager

“After the qualifying result something more was expected but till the mistake of the tyre Forés showed a very good pace. When the tyre went down the rider was wise to ride safe till the end because in this way, we conquered good points for championship. It was a pity but tomorrow we can start once again from the first row and we can improve our result”.

Xavi Forés, #12

“I had a big drop on the front tyre especially the right part. I was very close to slide out two or three times and I had no more to push and to fight for the podium. It was a shame because my feeling was good till the half race and I was expecting something more. I was calm and relaxed behind the three first just waiting for the final laps, but the drop at the front was unexpected and so big. That was the key. Without this problem for sure I could fight for the podium because I’m in shape and I managed to ride well”.

More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:

The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team on the podium in Race 1 at Assen with Davies (3rd), 6th place for Melandri

After a positive start in free-practice, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team took it back to the track today at Assen (Netherlands) and clinched yet another podium with Chaz Davies, third in Race 1. The Welshman got off to a strong start from third row, passing several riders to get within the top three half-way through the race and cross the finish line in third position, just one second behind the winner.

Marco Melandri showed resilience despite some stability issues that, after a strong start, forced him to lose contact with the front group. The Italian finished in sixth position, scoring important points for the championship.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi, with the Aruba.it Racing – Junior Team, was forced to abandon the race after crashing out at turn 7 in the early laps, when he was within reach of the top ten despite starting from 15th position on the grid.

The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team and the Aruba.it Racing – Junior Team will resume action tomorrow at 09:35 local time (CET) for a warm-up session ahead of Race 2, which is scheduled to start at 13:00.

Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #7) – 3rd

“Race 1 was a tough fight, from the first until the last lap. I’m really happy with this result, considering that we struggled a bit both during free-practice and Superpole. Once I managed to come back through the field, I was just following Rea and stayed with him when he picked up the pace. Then, VdMark passed me and in the final laps we were struggling with grip so nobody was in a position to attack and we all basically kept our positions. It’s been a learning process during the race, and I want to put it all into good use for tomorrow in Race 2.”

Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #33) – 6th

“Despite a good performance yesterday and during Superpole, unfortunately I faced another difficult race. On Friday our stability issues are never so apparent, but they often get worse as the weekend progresses, and we still need to find a way to eliminate them. In these conditions I have to ride more physically and I waste energies, and also I need to ease off the throttle here and there. Today we couldn’t do more. We’re all working really hard but we need a big change to fight for top positions again.”

Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Junior Team #21) – DNF

“I was trying to save the tires for the second half of the race but, as I was picking up the pace, I hit a bump on the brakes at turn 7 and lost the front. It was a big crash but physically I’m OK. This is also a learning experience, and luckily we can bounce back in Race 2.”

Marco Zambenedetti, Technical Coordinator on track for Ducati Corse

“It was a tough race, in which we barely missed the win with Chaz, who was really strong despite some issues during practice. Marco also gave his all out there, as usual, but we’re still working to put him in the best conditions to express his full potential. Surely we won’t give up, and we want to do better in Race 2.”