Assen (the Netherlands), Friday 25 April 2014 – With the earlier overcast conditions burned away, the sun was shining for today’s second free practice at Assen ahead of the 3rd round races on Sunday.
With almost everyone improving courtesy of the warmer temperatures it was Italian Davide Giugliano (Ducati Superbike Team) who goes into tomorrow with the accolade of holding the overnight fastest time despite a late surge from reigning Champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), and fellow Brits Chaz Davies (Ducati Superbike Team) and Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike).
Giugliano would eventually end the day in the gravel after losing the front into the final chicane in the last minute of the session. Unhurt, he will be ready to fight for the Tissot-Superpole tomorrow.
Behind Giugliano, Rea was classified 2nd ahead of Sykes and Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) who also fell in the final few minutes.
Davies was eventually classified 5th ahead of Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) and the Aprilia Racing Team pairing of Sylvain Guintoli and Marco Melandri who put in several long runs during the afternoon session. Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike) grabbed the final spot in the top ten.
Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing Ducati) was once again the fastest rider within the EVO category ahead of Leon Camier (BMW Motorrad Italia) and Ayrton Badovini (Team Bimota Alstare) who continues to impress this weekend on only his second ride for the returning Italian manufacturer.
If it rains, as expected tomorrow, the final place in the Tissot-Superpole will be Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Kawasaki), although all riders will be hoping for a repeat of today’s weather to allow them a fighting chance to make it through.
Times: 1. Giugliano (Ducati) 1’35.396 average 171.403 kph; 2. Rea (Honda) 1’35.880; 3. Sykes (Kawasaki) 1’36.146; 4. Lowes (Suzuki) 1’36.219; 5. Davies (Ducati) 1’36.417; 6. Baz (Kawasaki) 1’36.449; 7. Laverty (Suzuki) 1’36.467; 8. Guintoli (Aprilia) 1’36.670; 9. Melandri (Aprilia) 1’36.697; 10. Haslam (Honda) 1’36.709; 11. Canepa (Ducati) 1’37.042; 12. Camier (BMW) 1’37.139; 13. Elias (Aprilia) 1’37.240; 14. Badovini (Bimota) 1’37.436; 15. Morais (Kawasaki) 1’37.638; 16. Iddon (Bimota) 1’37.876; 17. Foret (Kawasaki) 1’38.113; 18. Corti (MV Agusta) 1’38.122; 19. Salom (Kawasaki) 1’38.128;20. Guarnoni (Kawasaki) 1’38.264; 21. Scassa (Kawasaki) 1’38.296; 22. Fabrizio (Kawasaki) 1’38.550; 23. Bos (Honda) 1’39.367; 24. Andreozzi(Kawasaki) 1’39.594; 25. Toth (BMW) 1’40.189; 26. Yates (EBR) 1’41.209; NC. May (EBR) 1’42.180; NC. Sebestyen (BMW) 1’42.863.
Free Practice 1
Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) powered to the top spot in the opening free practice of the weekend at a cold but dry Assen circuit in the Netherlands after a last lap stole what had been looking like a number one position for Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team). In the early minutes of the session it was Phillip Island race two winner Sylvain Guintoli… (read more)
World Supersport
Florian Marino (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) was quickest on the opening day of the 3rd round of the Supersport World Championship at Assen. The threat of rain thankfully subsided for both of today’s 45 minute free practice sessions with Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport) giving the home crowd something to smile about in the… (read more)
Times: 1. Marino (Kawasaki) 1’38.903 average 165.326 kph; 2. Vd Mark (Honda) 1’38.989; 3. Cluzel (MV Agusta) 1’38.992; 4. Sofuoglu (Kawasaki) 1’39.419; 5. Coghlan (Yamaha) 1’39.514; 6. Jacobsen (Kawasaki) 1’39.644; 7. Tamburini (Kawasaki) 1’39.811; 8. Wilairot (Honda) 1’39.844; 9. Kennedy(Honda) 1’39.845; 10. Bussolotti (Honda) 1’39.854; 11. Russo (Honda) 1’39.911; 12. Zanetti (Honda) 1’40.057; 13. Leonov (MV Agusta) 1’40.165; 14. Wahr (Yamaha) 1’40.224; 15. De Rosa (Honda) 1’40.601; 16. Gamarino (Kawasaki) 1’40.702; 17. Rolfo (Kawasaki) 1’41.027; 18. Nocco (Kawasaki) 1’41.262; 19. Menghi (Yamaha) 1’41.446; 20. Calero (Honda) 1’41.574; 21. Covena (Kawasaki) 1’41.704; 22. Bijsterbosch (Yamaha) 1’43.438; 23. Ivanov(Yamaha) 1’43.635; 24. Rogers (Honda) 1’44.869.
