FIM Supersport World Championship
TT Circuit Assen
Assen, Netherlands
April 28, 2017
Free Practice Two Results (All on Pirelli tires):
1. Kenan SOFUOGLU, Turkey (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:38.950
2. Federico CARICASULO, Italy (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:39.349
3. PJ JACOBSEN, USA (MV Agusta F3 675), 1:39.368
4. Lucas MAHIAS, France (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:39.377
5. Kyle SMITH, UK (Honda CBR600RR), 1:39.647
6. Gino REA, UK (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:39.842
7. Jules CLUZEL, France (Honda CBR600RR), 1:39.856
8. Kyle RYDE, UK (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:39.906
9. Sheridan MORAIS, South Africa (Yamaha YZF-R6), 1:39.913
10. Michael CANDUCCI, Italy (Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1:39.928
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WSBK Press Office:
WorldSSP: Sofuoglu shows strength to lead on day one
World Champion tops Friday in cool conditions narrowly ahead of his rivals
After his difficult start to 2017 a determined Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) stated his intentions on Friday at Assen by topping the free practice timesheets on the first day of the Acerbis Dutch Round. The Turkish rider’s 1’38.950 in FP2 put him at the head of the combined timesheet, in front of PJ Jacobsen (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team).
Sofuoglu missed the first two rounds of the season due to injury and then finished out of the points on his return at Aragon last time out, so he will be pleased to be on the right track at Assen. Just behind Sofuoglu (+0.172s) was American rider Jacobsen whose best Friday time came in FP1, as he was one of the only riders not to improve in the afternoon session.
Following third placed Caricasulo was standings leader Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) and in fifth place was Kyle Smith (GEMAR Team Lorini) – who won the race at Assen last year.
Meanwhile, Gino Rea (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven), Jules Cluzel (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda), Kyle Ryde (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), Sheridan Morais (Kallio Racing) and Michael Canducci (Puccetti Racing Junior Team FMI) were all in the top ten, despite a crash at turn 15 for Canducci in FP2. Those aforementioned top ten riders all go straight into SP2 on Saturday.
Kazuki Watanabe (Team Kawasaki Go Eleven) crashed at turn 7, whilst Christian Gamarino (BARDAHL EVAN BROS. Honda Racing) had laps cancelled in both Friday sessions for exceeding the track limits and crashed at turn 8 in FP1.
Earlier in the day in FP1 Jacobsen the way with a 1’39.122 best effort, with Sofuoglu just behind him (+0.013s) in second and Mahias in third (+0.743s). The session ended in a red flag due to oil on track after a crash involving Hikari Okubo (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda), Stefan Hill (Profile Racing) and Lachlan Epis (Response RE Racing).
On Saturday at the Acerbis Dutch Round the WorldSSP riders have FP3 at 9.20am local time, with SP1 at 2pm and SP2 at 2.25pm.
More, from a press release issued by MV Agusta:
LEON CAMIER ENTERS THE TISSOT-SUPERPOLE2 AFTER OPENING DAY AT ASSEN
Leon Camier set the 6th fastest overall time in today’s FP1-FP2 and entered the Tissot-Superpole2 at Assen, during the 4th round of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship; in WorldSSP PJ Jacobsen took his MV Agusta F3 675 in 2nd place, while Alessandro Zaccone ended up 16th, getting the 2nd place in the ESS class.
WorldSBK – FP1, FP2
With a 1’36,095 lap time, obtained in the afternoon’s FP2 session on track, today Leon Camier took the 6th position in WorldSBK timesheet, entering the Tissot-Superpole2. After working on his F4 RC setting during the first qualifying round, the British rider from Team MV Agusta Reparto Corse showed a solid race pace along the 4.542 km of the Dutch demanding track. Tomorrow, Leon will be back on track fighting for the top 12 positions in the Tissot-Superpole2 (10.55 local time), then he will face Race1 (13.00 local time) of this 4th round of the WorldSBK World Championship.
WorldSSP – FP1, FP2
After having scored the best time in the morning FP1, thanks also to the excellent feeling with his MV Agusta F3 675, Patrick PJ Jacobsen went in search of the provisional pole in the second and last heat of the day. Despite the missed goal, the 23-years-old American rider ended up with a great 2nd time (1’39.122), less than 0.2s far from the top rider and World Champion Kenan Sofuoglu.
PJ’s teammate Alessandro Zaccone closed in 16th position, setting the 2nd time in the ESS category.
Leon Camier #2 WorldSBK – I can honestly say it was a positive session all in all. We suffered a few problems in the middle of the second session but we fixed it and we found a good pace on race tyres as well. I think there is still room for improvement and the plan for tomorrow is to try another setting to make the bike easier to ride when pushing for the lap time.
Patrick PJ Jacobsen #99 WorldSSP – Today we achieved a very good result. I got the first position in FP1 and I ended up 2nd in FP2 this afternoon, after trying several setting on the bike. In the afternoon we had to take a different direction with the bike setting and it seemed working really well, so let’s stay focused for the Tissot-Superpole2 tomorrow afternoon.
Alessandro Zaccone #61 ESS – Considering this is the first time I rode MV Agusta on this challenging track, I can only feel satisfied with the second position in ESS chart. Of course, we still have a lot of things to set and improve before being competitive in WorldSSP, but I’m sure tomorrow we will be able to further improve our pace.
More, from a press release issued by CIA Landlord Insurance Honda:
Cluzel confident for Superpole 2
CIA Landlord Insurance Honda rider Jules Cluzel ended the first day of Free Practice at Assen in 7th position and the Frenchman is confident there is more to come for qualifying in tomorrow’s Superpole 2. Jules said: “So it was a difficult day. This morning we had some rain and we had stress because we were expecting more for the afternoon. The target this morning was to stay in the top ten and we did that. This afternoon was more relaxed and we worked better and found some solutions. P7 is not the best we can do so I am confident for tomorrow.”
Hikari Okubo’s opening day at Assen was frustrated when he was brought down by oil dumped on the racing line from another rider’s blown engine at the end of the morning’s Free Practice 1 session, resulting in him spraining his ankle. After treatment the Japanese rider was able to go out in Free Practice 2 and despite his injury, improved his lap time for 19th position.
Robin Mulhauser finished the day in 18th position and faces the difficult challenge to be one of the top two in Superpole 1 for entry to Superpole 2 tomorrow.
Hiromichi Kunikawa’s debut at TT Circuit Assen saw him 32nd on the time sheet and he remains positive ahead of qualifying tomorrow.
CIA Landlord Insurance Honda Team Manager, Simon Buckmaster said: “I am happy with the improvements we made to be in Superpole 2 and I am confident Jules is in a good position for qualifying. Come the race we will have a good race pace and be able to challenge for the podium. Robin will be a bit disappointed with 18th but he has the opportunity to improve in SP1. Fortunately it was the left ankle that Hikari sprained and he will have more therapy in the Clinica Mobile so that he can work for a better position tomorrow. It was a brave ride by Hikari this afternoon. Hiromichi is still learning the circuit and he has lots of work to do to improve.”