World Superbike

The opening Dutch WorldSBK race at the TT circuit was won in emphatic style by Jonathan Rea, who set a new lap record in 1’35.889s on the penultimate lap to record his sixth win at Assen, the fifth of his 2015 championship campaign. After a 21-lap fight involving for a number of laps up to six riders, Rea eased away from eventual second place finisher Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team) with two laps to go to secure another win for the Kawasaki Racing Team, the twentieth of his career. On the other hand the Welsh rider gave Ducati its 500th WorldSBK podium.

Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) became the first Dutchman in the history of WorldSBK to stand on the podium – as well as the first non British rider to do so this year – in third after displacing Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) with an impressive move through the fast left hander of Ramshoek on the penultimate lap, which had the packed grandstands on their feet.

Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) ran strongly in the opening laps before fading to fifth. The former champion looked to suffer pace-wise in the latter stages.

Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) recovered from an average start to overhaul compatriot Xavi Fores (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team) for sixth in the final five laps leaving Fores to claim seventh at the flag after he had been as high as fifth in the early stages.

Reigning champion Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) had a lonely ride to eighth, coming home five seconds ahead of Nico Terol (Althea Racing) and Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who crossed the line almost side by side to finish ninth and tenth respectively.

The Voltcom Crescent Suzuki pairing of Alex Lowes and Randy de Puniet went down together at Turn 1 on lap eight, the Frenchman crashing alone and collecting his team mate who appeared to have run straight on. Both riders were unhurt.

The second WorldSBK race of the day at the iconic TT circuit of Assen in the Netherlands served up another nail-biting climax that once again had the crowd on their feet as the leading riders stayed locked together until the final lap. As he had in race one, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) took the win ahead of Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team).

Rea’s victory in race two is the second double that he has achieved at Assen making him the second most successful rider in the history of the Dutch Round (behind Carl Fogarty). It also gave him a career best run of nine consecutive podium finishes. Rea has now a significant 50-point lead in the standings.

Another brave move at the penultimate turn saw local rider Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike) grab a double podium with another third place after nudging aside Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils), the Briton claiming 13 points with a fourth-place finish.

Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) again led in the early laps before fading to fifth ahead of Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) who fought hard to recover from another average start to finish sixth.

Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) finished one place higher than he managed in race 1, bringing his CBR1000RR SP home in seventh ahead of Xavi Fores (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team), while Alex Lowes had a much better race on his Voltcom Crescent Suzuki finishing ninth. Tenth place went to Leon Camier, who brought his MV Agusta Reparto Corse machine home in another solid top-ten position.

Nico Terol (Althea Racing) crashed out of contention on lap 4 and, after being taken first to the Medical Centre and then to the hospital, he was diagnosed with a right wrist fracture. Randy de Puniet retired once again on his Voltcom Crescent Suzuki.

 

World Supersport

 

A last corner decider went in the favour of Kenan Sofuoglu (Kasawaki Puccetti Racing) as the Turkish rider claimed back to back wins in the World Supersport championship to extend his lead in this year’s series.

After the disappointment of Thailand and Aragon, Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) returned to the podium in second after narrowly missing out on the victory as both he and Sofuoglu touched coming through the final chicane. The incident was reviewed by Race Direction who decided no further action was necessary. Cluzel had the consolation of a new lap record as he secured twenty points to keep alive his championship chances.

The final podium place was decided after another dual, this time between Kyle Smith (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) and PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres).

Smith, who led the opening two laps after making a great start, eventually finishing third to claim his third podium finish of the year ahead of the American who once again showed that he is in contention for the championship.

Roberto Rolfo (Team Lorini) in his twenty-first year of racing achieved fifth coming home ahead of Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who was sixth.

Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) had a lonely race to seventh at the flag with Marco Faccani (San Carlo Puccetti Racing), Alex Baldolini (Race Department ATK#25) and Riccardo Russo (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda) completing the top ten at the end of an exciting lap race.

Thai round winner Ratthapark Wilairot (CORE” Motorsport Thailand) suffered his second consecutive non-score, retiring on lap 5.

 

Superstock 1000

 

Lorenzo Savadori (Nuova M2 Racing Aprilia) has won a shortened, 9-lap STK1000 race at the TT Circuit Assen to become the new series leader as the second round of the year draws to a close. The 22-year-old Italian crossed the line with a 2.4s margin over fellow Italian Raffaele de Rosa (Althea Racing Ducati), courtesy of a great start from Pole Position and perfect race craft.

The race was restarted after the crash on the main straight involving Aragon race winner Roberto Tamburini (MotoxRacing BMW). Despite the efforts to line up on the grid for the restart, the Italian was forced to sit out the new encounter.

The Dutch podium was completed by Czech rider Ondrej Jezek (Triple-M by Barni Ducati) ahead of Fabio Massei (EAB Racing Ducati), while Kevin Calia (Nuova M2 Racing Aprilia) edged out the MRS Yamaha duo of Kev Coghlan and Florian Marino for fifth.

Bryan Staring (Team Pedercini Kawasaki), Jeremy Guarnoni (Team Trasimeno Yamaha) and Marc Moser (Triple-M by Barni Ducati) rounded out the top-10. A collision between last year’s race winner Kevin Valk (MTM – HS Kawasaki) and two-time STK1000 winner Sylvain Barrier (G.M. Racing Yamaha) led to an early retirement for both riders.

 

Source: WorldSBK