Editorial Note: The previous Supersport All-Time Lap Record was 1:37.470, which was set by Steven Odendaal in FP1.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WorldSBK Press Office:
Perfect homecoming: Aegerter puts Ten Kate Racing on top after day 1 at Assen
The Swiss rider went under lap record pace in both practice sessions at the iconic Dutch venue as the Dutch Ten Kate Racing outfit look for victory on home soil
The FIM Supersport World Championship returned to action at the TT Circuit Assen for the Prosecco DOC Dutch Round with Swiss rider Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) topping the combined classification as he took to the track adorned in iconic yellow colours on both his leathers and Yamaha YZF-R6 as his Ten Kate Race outfit celebrated their home race.
ODENDAAL VS AEGERTER
The morning Free Practice 1 session was a battle between Aegerter and Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) as the South African rider looked to get back to winning ways and close the gap to Aegerter in the Championship. Both riders went under the lap record throughout the day, with Aegerter posting a 1’37.274s to top the times at the end of Friday by just 0.041s; the duo separated by just over a tenth but half-a-second clear of their nearest rivals.
Spanish rider Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo Team) put in a strong last lap at the end of the disrupted Free Practice 2 session to slot into third place as he goes in search for his first WorldSSP podium at the venue he made his Moto2™ debut at a few weeks ago. Philipp Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) claimed fourth place on his Kawasaki ZX-6R, the only rider to not improve in the afternoon Free Practice 2 session.
ROUNDING OUT THE TOP TEN
2019 WorldSSP Champion Randy Krummenacher (EAB Racing Team) had a strong Friday showing as he continues to build up speed on his return to the Championship with fifth place, ahead of Frenchman Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) in sixth. Turkish star Can Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti) claimed seventh place, just three tenths behind his teammate, as he looks to kickstart his campaign and fight for podiums and victories.
Estonian rider Hannes Soomer (Kallio Racing) claimed a top-ten finish on Friday with eighth place in the combined classification, finishing less than a tenth ahead of Niki Tuuli (MV Agusta Corse Clienti). Tuuli had a disrupted day on Friday after he suffered a highside crash on his MV Agusta F3 675 machine in Free Practice 1, although he was able to take to the track afterwards. Kevin Manfredi (Altogo Racing Team) claimed a top ten finish and was also the highest place WorldSSP Challenge rider in the standings after Friday.
LOOKING TO BREAK INTO THE TOP TEN
It’s a close field in WorldSSP after Friday running at Assen with Italian rider Federico Caricasulo (GMT94 Yamaha) missing out on a spot in the top ten by just 0.029s; eventually finishing in 11th place. Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) claimed 12th place, with Mattia Casadei (VFT Racing), a substitute rider for Davide Pizzoli, in 13th place.
A strong opening to the season for Luca Bernardi (CM Racing) wasn’t enough to put the Sammarinese rider into the top ten as he finished in 14th place, over a second behind Aegerter’s time, with Michel Fabrizio (G.A.P. MOTOZOO Racing by Puccetti) rounding out the top 15.
Sheridan Morais (Wojcik Racing Team), standing in for the injured Christoffer Bergman, claimed 16th on his return to the Championship for the first time in three years, finishing ahead of the also-returning Peter Sebestyen (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team); Sebestyen making his return to the Championship with the Evan Bros. outfit. Daniel Webb (WRP Wepol Racing) claimed 18th spot on his return from injury with Vertti Takala (Kallio Racing) and Leonardo Taccini (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) completing the top 20.
TO NOTE…
Suzuki made a return to the WorldSSP paddock with Finnish rider Eemeli Lahti (HRP Suzuki) in 23rd place. The afternoon Free Practice 2 session was interrupted by a Red Flag when Shogo Kawasaki (G.A.P. MOTOZOO Racing by Puccetti) crashed with around five minutes of the 45-minute; Kawasaki able to walk away from the crash and the session resuming after a short delay. Kawasaki was declared unfit following the crash with a right wrist contusion and concussion.
