WSBK - Round 3 - Assen

[wull]

Well it’s finally race week again in WSBK, it’s been a long 6 weeks but it’s finally back.

Not sure what to expect, probably the usual from Bautista but hopefully Toprak and JR can stick it to him.

[Skub]

I wish they'd make the WSBK season a bit more joined up. We all kick off and get hyped up,then it's 6 weeks before the next. It's a bit of a limp dick start. I forget shit from 6 hours ago ffs.

[wull]

That should be it now going forward.

[wull]

Bautista pips Rea in WorldSBK Assen FP1, Gardner surprises as top Yamaha






World Superbike action is back in the Netherlands and it was an intriguing opening session at Assen

The 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is back in action at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands, with FP1 in the bag already at the Pirelli Dutch Round. Assen has always been a place where memories are made and classics are signed into the history books and after FP1, it looks like a big battle will await.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) improved his time with two minutes to go to cement his top time.

Bautista was competitive right the way through the session with the Spaniard inside the top three before going top with just ten minutes to go. He improved his time right at the end, getting the advantage over Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), who looked back to his old self after a tricky start to 2023 in second. Top Independent honours went to the rider in third place, Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), with the Australian rookie in mighty form from the off as he is back on a circuit he knows well.

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) was top factory Yamaha with fourth place, ahead of Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in fifth, making it four manufacturers inside the top five.

Sixth place went to Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), with the Turkish rider aiming to reduce his near-seven tenth deficit to the top.

Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) was shining in P7 ahead of Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). Completing the top ten was four-time WorldSSP winner at Assen Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), with the Swiss rider making it four Yamahas inside the top ten.

It was a tricky session for the returning Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW), with a technical problem halting his progress in his comeback round. Top Honda went to Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) in P12, one place behind home-hero Michael van der Mark ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team). Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was only 14th, whilst Bradley Ray’s (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) full-time debut saw him conclude in 18th. Wildcard Gabriele Ruiu (Bmax Racing) was 23rd.

[wull]

WorldSBK FP2 REPORT: Bautista remains fastest at Assen, Razgatlioglu only P10






As Bautista stayed out front, Lowes was leading the Kawasaki charge behind whilst Aegerter shone with 15 riders covered by a second

The 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is well underway and back in action at the Pirelli Ditch Round and the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands. It’s shaping up to be a belting weekend and with a myriad of protagonists, there remains one rider to be beaten.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was on top by nearly a quarter of a second going into Saturday, but don’t discount his rivals just yet.

Like in FP1, it was Alvaro Bautista who topped the running in the afternoon and his pace was quite simply relentless. 22 laps with multiple in the low-to-mid 1’34s, the reigning World Champion was in fine form as he placed Ducati on the top step.

Teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi’s day was marred with front-end set-up not quite being refined to his liking in FP1 and he finished down in 14th, before a technical issue halted progress in FP2’s opening stages with steam radiating from the Ducati Panigale V4 R. A burst pipe to the radiator was the cause, with coolant leaking out. The bike returned to the garage with 30 minutes to go and with 22 minutes left, he was back out on track. However, he returned, clearly uncomfortable with his right wrist.


First Kawasaki on the timesheets was Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), with the #22 getting to grips with the Assen track like in many years previous with a front row last year and his only career pole coming back in 2018. Teammate Jonathan Rea was the last rider to improve his overall time and took third in the session and overall. The most successful rider at the circuit, with 17 wins to his name, will hope to make further steps and also cross his fingers that temperatures don’t rise come the first of two race days tomorrow. Two Kawasakis inside the top three is a positive start to the weekend for the team in green.

Once again, the Independent riders were in mighty form and it was the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team who were fourth and fifth and therefore best Yamahas.

Double WorldSSP Champion Dominique Aegerter was fourth and set the second-highest amount of laps throughout the session, whilst it was teammate Remy Gardner in fifth place, having been third in the morning session. Both riders were looking comfortable aboard their R1s and with plenty of experience at the Dutch venue, they’ll be keen to strike on Saturday in both the Superpole and the opening race of the weekend.

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) always goes well at Assen and 2023 looks like no exception, having been inside the top five in the morning and continuing to look strong in the afternoon. The Italian concluded in eighth place in the end, not the most representative of his race pace potential.

After a minor electronic problem for Toprak Razgatlioglu in FP1, as well as the Turkish rider getting back used to WorldSBK machinery after his MotoGP™ test, the 26-year-old was out on track in FP2 and setting solid lap times. Assen hasn’t bared the best of luck in recent years for Razgatlioglu but he was looking good in FP2, finishing in… He did have an encounter with a crocodile however – don’t worry, not a real one – as an inflatable made its way onto the circuit, bringing out a brief red flag.

For BMW, it was very much a day of two halves as Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was up in fifth in FP1 but outside the top ten in FP2, down in… Teammate Michael van der Mark was P11 in the morning and was fastest BMW in the afternoon too, up inside the top five with less than ten minutes to go and then ended up in sixth overall.

Redding did improve up to 12th in the closing stages, although he’ll be hoping for more. Both used different swingarms during the morning session too, with that being one of the major topics coming to Assen after four different swingarms were seen at the recent Barcelona test.

After a strong round in 2022, it was somewhat surprising to see Honda barely trouble the top ten on day one, with Iker Lecuona being the best Honda in only 13th. Teammate Xavi Vierge didn’t feature either, with him a place further back in 14th. Certainly work to do for both of the Hondas, with Lecuona a podium finisher last year at Assen and Vierge on the rostrum last time out. Both riders also had successful tests at Aragon and Barcelona during the break.

Elsewhere in the order, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) took P11, whilst Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) was 15th and Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team), on his full-time debut, was 17th.

Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) returned to action but a mechanical issue in the morning kept his track time limited, but he was back out in FP2 in full attack mode; he concluded the day in 18th, ahead of Eric Granado (PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Team), Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha), Hafizh Syahrin (PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Team), Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), Gabriele Ruiu (Bmax Racing), Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) and Isaac Vinales (TPR by Vinales Racing), with the latter in action for the first time this year.

[KungFooBob]

I just watched the video of Toprak being attacked by the crocodile on FriendFace

[wull]

I just watched the video of Toprak being attacked by the crocodile on FriendFace

Just seen it

[KungFooBob]

For FB users...

[weeksy]

The most successful rider at the circuit, with 17 wins to his name

I find that amazing... most riders won't win 17 in their lifetime.. he's won 17 at Assen !

[wull]

For FB users...

[wull]

Razgatlioglu:" Today was not a good start or a good end… we don’t just have one problem; we have many problems"

The 2021 Champion finished Friday in tenth place at Assen, finishing as the fourth-fastest Yamaha rider
With the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returning to racing again after a six week gap for the Pirelli Dutch Round at the iconic TT Circuit Assen, eyes were on Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometon WorldSBK) to see whether he would be able to start a fightback in the Championship standings against Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) with the Spaniard leading by 37 points. However, Friday proved to be difficult for Razgatlioglu as he finished in tenth place in the combined classification while Bautista led the field.


Razgatlioglu was sixth in Free Practice 1 as he completed 14 laps with a best time of 1’35.273s, almost seven tenths slower than Bautista, while he was tenth in Free Practice 2 after setting a 1’35.103s. He racked up another 20 laps in FP2, but his time was not enough to move him up the order and he finished tenth in the combined classification. The pace on Friday was set by Bautista when he set a 1’34.316s.
Reflecting on his Friday, Razgatlioglu said: “In these two sessions, I was just trying to find a setup but I’m not really happy. Last year, I was feeling much better than now and I hope tomorrow morning we improve, find the setup and I’m coming stronger.

Today, for me, was not a good start or a good end. I hope tomorrow we start well. I need a good feeling with the bike first. After this, I think I will improve everywhere. Last year, in my first session, I did a 34.6s directly and this year I’m feeling like the bike is a little bit different. I’m just trying to find the setup and I hope we start tomorrow strongly.”

Elaborating on this in his media debrief, he said: “In general, I’m feeling a little bit bad because I don’t find a good setup for this track. In the second session, I’m waiting for a good lap time and it doesn’t change. I did a 35’1 but also I’m feeling the limit. On some corner entries and exits, I’m feeling bad because the bike isn’t turning as much. I hope tomorrow we are finding grip and we come back strong. Now it looks very bad because last year, in the first session, I did a 34.6s. Normally I am very strong and this year I am waiting to be faster than last year but we started very slowly. It looks like we haven’t improved the bike. I hope we improve the bike because we don’t just have one problem, we have many problems.”


Free Practice 2 was briefly red flagged when an inflatable crocodile blew onto the track in front of Razgatlioglu. He was able to keep riding and did not crash following the incident which brought out the red flags so the crocodile could be cleared. Discussing this, Razgatlioglu said: “I’m scared! I saw just the green and I just tried to brake. I don’t know what this is, I don’t understand. At 270, 280km/h, it’s not easy to understand what this is. Anyway, we didn’t crash, just I’m scared. I continue riding and I saw after the red flag.”

[wull]

Assen World Superbike FP3 Results: Remy Gardner fastest in the wet from Alvaro Bautista




Results from Free Practice 3, round 3 of the 2023 World Superbike championship at Assen, Netherlands.

Remy Gardner tops his first World Superbike session after a dominant display in the wet at Assen.

Following two dry sessions on Friday, Saturday’s FP3 got underway in damp conditions which was bad news for Razgatlioglu, who would have been hoping for more dry track time after struggling on day-one.

Conditions he made his own at times in MotoGP, Danilo Petrucci found immediate pace on the damp circuit and led the way from Alvaro Bautista.

With all five Ducatis circulating, most of the other big hitters decided to remain in pit lane at the beginning of the session.

Axel Bassani, who threatened to take top spot away from Petrucci on a couple of occasions, then did so before returning to the pits.

Continuing his stunning weekend thus far, Remy Gardner momentarily went quickest before Loris Baz, who was tailing the Yamaha rider nipped ahead by just 0.021s.

Gardner didn’t have to wait long to get P1 back as he improved on his next lap by over three tenths.

With just under half the session remaining, Razgatlioglu finally ventured out onto the Assen track, which was not the case for Rea.

As both riders got more comfortable with the conditions, Pata Yamaha duo Andrea Locatelli and Razgatlioglu challenged the top times. Locatelli was first to sneak under Bautista’s top time, before Razgatlioglu took top spot with a time of 1:45.647s.

However, Razgatlioglu’s time was shattered by Gardner with just a few minutes remaining as Gardner went a second clear.


2023 WORLD SUPERBIKE ASSEN, NETHERLANDS - FREE PRACTICE (3) RESULTS
POS RIDER NAT TEAM TIME
1 Remy Gardner AUS GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team 1:44.648s
2 Alvaro Bautista SPA Aruba.It Racing Ducati +0.711s
3 Toprak Razgatlioglu TUR Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK +0.999s
4 Axel Bassani ITA Motocorsa Ducati +1.095s
5 Andrea Locatelli ITA Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK +1.153s
6 Loris Baz FRA Bonovo Action BMW +1.432s
7 Xavi Vierge SPA Team HRC WorldSBK +1.593s
8 Michael Ruben Rinaldi ITA Aruba.It Racing Ducati +1.640s
9 Bradley Ray GRB Motoxracing Yamaha WorldSBK Team +1.855s
10 Dominique Aegerter SWI GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team +1.972s
11 Danilo Petrucci ITA Barni Spark Racing Team +2.484s
12 Gabriele Ruiu ITA Bmax Racing +2.759s
13 Iker Lecuona SPA Team HRC WorldSBK +2.824s
14 Hafizh Syahrin MAL PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Racing +2.888s
15 Oliver Konig CZE Orelac Racing Kawasaki +2.933s
16 Philipp Oettl GER GoEleven Ducati +3.314s
17 Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA GMT94 Yamaha +3.676s
18 Isaac Vinales SPA TPR by Vinales Racing +3.784s
19 Michael Van Der Mark NED ROKIT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team +4.521s
20 Alex Lowes GBR Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK +5.017s
21 Tom Sykes GBR Puccetti Kawasaki No Time Set
22 Garrett Gerloff USA Bonovo Action BMW No Time Set
23 Eric Granado BRA PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Racing No Time Set
24 Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK No Time Set
25 Scott Redding GBR ROKIT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team No Time Set

[wull]

Toselands just mentioned that the upgrades Taz was promised in WSS haven’t arrived, been fitted or are just not available yet. So he’s still 14 kph down to the others.

I’m sure he did mention that the points he accrued during the first two rounds will stand.

[wull]

Assen World Superbike Superpole Results: Alvaro Bautista gets the better of Jonathan Rea





Results from Superpole, round 3 of the 2023 World Superbike championship at Assen, Netherlands.

Alvaro Bautista has regained the advantage at the Dutch World Superbike round after beating Jonathan Rea to pole position.

On just his first flying lap Rea set the fastest time of the weekend before teammate Alex Lowes bettered the six-time world champion by over a tenth.

Rea then pitted immediately while championship leader Alvaro Bautista closed to within two tenths of provisional pole.

Andrea Locatelli was another who found pace on his second flying lap as he jumped ahead of Dominique Aegerter for P4.


With every other rider back in pit lane, Rea chose to go very early for his second run although it proved to be a good decision as he went back into top spot.

The most in-form rider in World Superbike then responded as Bautista went onto provisional pole before nearly improving again on his next effort.

Rea challenged Bautista after setting three red sectors, however, the Kawasaki rider narrowly missed out in sector four as he regained P2 from Razgatlioglu.

2023 WORLD SUPERBIKE ASSEN, NETHERLANDS - SUPERPOLE RESULTS
POS RIDER NAT TEAM TIME
1 Alvaro Bautista SPA Aruba.It Racing Ducati 1:33.542s
2 Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK +0.027s
3 Toprak Razgatlioglu TUR Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK +0.119s
4 Alex Lowes GBR Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK +0.199s
5 Scott Redding GBR ROKIT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team +0.212s
6 Andrea Locatelli ITA Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK +0.257s
7 Dominique Aegerter SWI GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team +0.414s
8 Axel Bassani ITA Motocorsa Ducati +0.443s
9 Danilo Petrucci ITA Barni Spark Racing Team +0.597s
10 Iker Lecuona SPA Team HRC WorldSBK +0.657s
11 Remy Gardner AUS GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team +0.661s
12 Xavi Vierge SPA Team HRC WorldSBK +0.718s
13 Loris Baz FRA Bonovo Action BMW +0.768s
14 Philipp Oettl GER GoEleven Ducati +0.849s
15 Michael Van Der Mark NED ROKIT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team +0.860s
16 Michael Ruben Rinaldi ITA Aruba.It Racing Ducati +0.946s
17 Garrett Gerloff USA Bonovo Action BMW +1.148s
18 Bradley Ray GRB Motoxracing Yamaha WorldSBK Team +1.253s
19 Lorenzo Baldassarri ITA GMT94 Yamaha +1.377s
20 Tom Sykes GBR Puccetti Kawasaki +1.610s
21 Eric Granado BRA PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Racing +2.056s
22 Isaac Vinales SPA TPR by Vinales Racing +2.435s
23 Gabriele Ruiu ITA Bmax Racing +2.501s
24 Hafizh Syahrin MAL PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Racing +2.536s
25 Oliver Konig CZE Orelac Racing Kawasaki

[wull]

Bautista demoted! JR and TR promoted to 1st and 2nd respectively.


https://www.worldsbk.com/en/news/2023/T ... sen%20pole

[Skub]

Well,here we are at the first European round,traditionally a better indicator of how the season may shape up.

The Alvaro/Ducati package is making the rest look a bit silly. None of the other have any answers,regardless of machine.

Not the most interesting of races,after the first few laps were done,then things didn't change much. Maybe the sprint race will deliver some closer action,race 2 will probably be a repeat of race 1.

All that aside,what kind of a shit team has Tom Sykes found himself in? After a 6 week break,they can't even get the bike to finishing an out lap. WT actual...

[wull]

Well,here we are at the first European round,traditionally a better indicator of how the season may shape up.

The Alvaro/Ducati package is making the rest look a bit silly. None of the other have any answers,regardless of machine.

Not the most interesting of races,after the first few laps were done,then things didn't change much. Maybe the sprint race will deliver some closer action,race 2 will probably be a repeat of race 1.

All that aside,what kind of a shit team has Tom Sykes found himself in? After a 6 week break,they can't even get the bike to finishing an out lap. WT actual...

Was funny when Toseland was asked “what should Tom do”……..”find himself new engineers”

The first few laps had me thinking this might shape up for a good race but that was pretty much it, once Alvaro had made his moves there was nothing. He’s just the perfect match for that Ducati, his riding style etc etc, he came on strong the last 1/3 as usual when the fuel level drops and he can utilise the tyre which he manages to save.

I must admit I’m glad to see Rea back doing what he does because at the end of the day the more riders that can take it to Alvaro the better.

[Skub]

The 300 SS was bedlam from flag to flag!

[wull]

Rea pips Bautista in WorldSBK Warm Up, less than a tenth between them at Assen




The top two from Saturday’s Race 1 switched positions on Sunday for the Warm Up session as Jonathan Rea topped the times

A dry track with damp patches greeted the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship for Sunday’s 15-minute Warm Up session at the TT Circuit Assen during the Pirelli Dutch Round. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) topped the times by less than a tenth of a second ahead of Championship leader Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), while all five manufacturers were inside the top six after Warm Up.


Rea posted a best time of 1’34.747s as times improved throughout the 15-minute session to top the times ahead of Sunday’s two races, ahead of Bautista in second. Bautista posted a 1’34.839s to take second spot ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) in third as the ‘Titanic Trio’ took the first three spots in Warm Up. All three took turns leading the session at various points but it was Rea who came out on top.


Dutch rider Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was the BMW representative inside the top six as he took fourth place on home soil, 0.373s down on Rea’s time. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) continued his strong Assen form with fifth place ahead of Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) was sixth; ensuring all five manufacturers were inside the top six on Sunday morning.


It was another strong showing from Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) as the Swiss rider took seventh place in Warm Up, finishing ahead of Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in eighth place. Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) was ninth ahead of Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) as the British rider rounded out the top ten. Lowes was around seven tenths down on his teammate’s time.

[wull]

Bautista resists Rea pressure for WorldSBK Superpole Race victory at Assen







The pair battled for the majority of the race at Assen with Bautista coming out on top after a thrilling fight
The shortened Tissot Superpole Race in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship was a fierce fight between Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) for victory at the TT Circuit Assen during the Pirelli Dutch Round. The pair could barely be separated throughout the eight-lap race as they secured a front row start for this afternoon’s Race 2 following their battle.

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) got the holeshot as the lights went out and jumped into the lead of the race but Bautista was able to respond on the opening lap to re-claim first place before looking to build a gap. Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) both kept the pressure on Bautista while Rea’s teammate, Alex Lowes, was also in the four-rider group for victory.

As the race approached the final few laps, Bautista started to pull out a gap over Rea to claim victory in the Superpole Race and claim first on the grid for Race 2, ahead of Rea in second and Razgatlioglu in third. Victory for Bautista moved Ducati onto 399 wins in WorldSBK history and 699 races on the podium, while Rea’s second place set a new record for podiums at one track with 25. Razgatlioglu claimed his 89th podium in WorldSBK with third place.

Lowes finished in fourth place after losing time to Razgatlioglu, Rea and Bautista but he also had a margin of more than two seconds over Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) in fifth place after he had a fight with Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) and Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team). Locatelli got through on Lap 6 while Bassani and Aegerter were fighting and separated by just 0.273s at the end of the line.

Aegerter took seventh and he will lead the third row in Race 2 as he withstood a charging Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in eighth place. Aegerter held on by just 0.071s to take seventh spot in the eight-lap Superpole Race to secure a third-row start for Race 2. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) will start from ninth in Race 2 after taking the same position in the Superpole Race as he looks to emulate his podium from Mandalika.

The race was shortened to eight laps following a technical issue for Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) with possible fluid on the track, with the start delayed for this to be checked. Baz did not take part in the shortened Superpole Race following the issue.