Kawasaki men dominate Assen WorldSBK
In the fourth round of the eni FIM World Superbike Championship season, Jonathan Rea, the Kawasaki Racing Team rider, showed that he is the man to beat and the favourite to take the championship this year. His consistency from the beginning of the year has been extraordinary: out of a total of eight races held thus far, the Northern Irish rider has taken six wins with two doubles and two second place finishes. At Assen the rider from the Akashi-based manufacturer took his second double win after the one he earned in Thailand, which catapults him to 190 points in the championship with a 50 point lead over the nearest contender, Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) and 67 points ahead of Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing-Ducati SBK Team).
The other riders could do nothing to contain the display of strength demonstrated by Jonathan Rea. Chaz Davies finished second in both races and hometown hero Michael VD Mark (PATA Honda World Superbike Team) took home a double third place.
Sunday in Race 1 Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) won his fifth race of the season, showing that he is the rider in the best shape this year and that he is a favourite for the Championship.
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), who started from the pole position earned on Saturday, was unable to take advantage of the position and let team mate Jonathan Rea slip by him.
In the seventh lap Michael VD Mark (PATA Honda World Superbike Team) overtook Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing-Ducati SBK Team) to move temporarily into the third place that the Ducati rider would take back a lap later.
In the ninth lap the race ended for both of the team VOLTCOM Crescent Suzuki riders, Alex Lowes due to a technical problem and Randy de Puniet due to a crash.
In the tenth lap Chaz Davies, the only one of the riders up front to use the standard SC0 rear tyre, moved into second place after overtaking Tom Sykes, who went on to fall back two more positions in the fourteenth lap, yielding ground to Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) and Michael VD Mark.
During the sixteenth lap the rider from the Noale-based manufacturer overtook the hometown hero to move into third place, but the Dutchman was having none of it and in the penultimate lap he took back the position he had lost, finishing on the bottom step of the podium. On the home stretch Jonathan Rea was first on his Kawasaki with Chaz Davies putting in an excellent performance behind him on his Ducati and third place going to Michael VD Mark who also took his first Superbike podium in front of his home crowd. Fourth place for Leon Haslam and fifth for Tom Sykes.
Between the two Superbike races the FIM Supersport World Championship race was held with a heated duel on the track and some controversy after the race between Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing).
Kyle Smith (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) got off to an excellent start from the fourth spot on the grid, immediately moving into the lead with Kenan Sofuoglu and Jules Cluzel close behind, the latter starting from pole position.
In the third lap Cluzel overtook the Turkish Kawasaki rider to move into second place and then in the fourth lap he also overtook Smith to take the lead. Sofuoglu gave chase, also overtaking the team Honda rider.
In the fifth lap Patrick Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto PonyExpres) also overtook Smith to move into third place behind Cluzel and Sofuoglu but things really got exciting in the tenth lap when Sofuoglu overtook Cluzel to move into the lead.
In the meantime, on the thirteenth lap Smith moved back into the third place that had been snatched from him a few laps earlier by Jacobsen.
In the finale it was a battle for the top step of the podium between Jules Cluzel on his MV Agusta and Kenan Sofuoglu on his Kawasaki. The two riders fought it out down to the end and after a fierce battle under the wire it was Kenan Sofuoglu who won the race with the MV Agusta Frenchman finishing second and Kyle Smith third on his Honda.
Australia’s Glenn Scott retired with clutch problems.
This places Kenan Sofuoglu firmly in the lead of the Championship with 80 points and a 25 lead over Patrick Jacobsen and 35 points over Jules Cluzel.
Superbike Race 2 provided excitement on the track but the end result did not change with respect to Race 1. It was Jonathan Rea who triumphed once again on his Kawasaki, followed by Chaz Davies on his Ducati and Michael VD Mark on his Honda. Behind them, just like Race 1, were Leon Haslam and Tom Sykes.
Rea got off the line well and took the race lead but Sykes was having none of it and by the end of the first lap he had taken it back. Behind them was Leon Haslam who was overtaken in the second lap by Chaz Davies.
In the eleventh lap the Ducati rider managed to get by Jonathan Rea to move into second place, where he would finish the race. But the Northern Irishman wouldn’t have it and by the twelfth lap he overtook Davies and then a lap later he passed his team mate as well, moving back into the lead.
Tom Sykes, now running second, was overtaken during the fourteenth by Chaz Davies as well, and in the following lap Dutchman Michael VD Mark and Leon Haslam also got past, relegating him to fifth place.
A fast pack was created at the front made up of Rea, Haslam, Davies and VD Mark. Just metres from the home stretch, like in Race 1, the Dutchman managed to defy the standard bearer from the Noale-based manufacturer to take the bottom step of the podium the second time in one day.
It was then time for the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup. Because of a crash on the straight stretch by Roberto Tamburini the race was red-flagged in the 2nd lap. At the restart Lorenzo Savadori (Nuova M2 Racing) won the race with Raffaele De Rosa (Althea Racing) behind him and coming in third Ondrej Jezek (Triple-M by Barni).
On Saturday the third race of the Superstock 600 FIM European Championship was also held. Like at Aragòn it was Turkish rider Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) who took the top step of the podium, making this his third win out of the three races held thus far. Behind him were Michael Ruben Rinaldi (San Carlo Team Italia) and Niki Tuuli (Kallio Racing) who finished third.
Race 1 Results
1 Jonathan Rea 33m48.898s GBR KAWASAKI Kawasaki Racing Team
2 Chaz Davies +1.098s GBR DUCATI Aruba.it Racing-Ducati Superbike Team
3 Michael van der Mark +4.140s NED HONDA Pata Honda World Superbike Team
4 Leon Haslam +4.517s GBR APRILIA Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils
5 Tom Sykes +6.140s GBR KAWASAKI Kawasaki Racing Team
6 Jordi Torres +11.007s ESP APRILIA Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils
7 Xavi Fores +15.029s ESP DUCATI Aruba.it Racing-Ducati Superbike Team
8 Sylvain Guintoli +17.718s FRA HONDA Pata Honda World Superbike Team
9 Nicolas Terol +22.706s ESP DUCATI Althea Racing
10 Leon Camier +22.867s GBR MV MV Agusta Reparto Corse
Race 2 Results
1 Jonathan Rea 33m51.013s GBR KAWASAKI Kawasaki Racing Team
2 Chaz Davies +0.439s GBR DUCATI Aruba.it Racing-Ducati Superbike Team
3 Michael van der Mark +2.831s NED HONDA Pata Honda World Superbike Team
4 Leon Haslam +2.992s GBR APRILIA Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils
5 Tom Sykes +6.508s GBR KAWASAKI Kawasaki Racing Team
6 Jordi Torres +7.092s ESP APRILIA Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils
7 Sylvain Guintoli +11.190s FRA HONDA Pata Honda World Superbike Team
8 Xavi Fores +15.636s ESP DUCATI Aruba.it Racing-Ducati Superbike Team
9 Alex Lowes +16.402s GBR SUZUKI Voltcom Crescent Suzuki
10 Leon Camier +18.505s GBR MV MV Agusta Reparto Corse
Championship Standings
1 Jonathan Rea 190 pts GBR KAWASAKI Kawasaki Racing Team
2 Leon Haslam 140 pts GBR APRILIA Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils
3 Chaz Davies 123 pts GBR DUCATI Aruba.it Racing-Ducati Superbike Team
4 Tom Sykes 88 pts GBR KAWASAKI Kawasaki Racing Team
5 Jordi Torres 83 pts ESP APRILIA Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils
6 Sylvain Guintoli 65 pts FRA HONDA Pata Honda World Superbike Team
7 Michael van der Mark 60 pts NED HONDA Pata Honda World Superbike Team
8 Nicolas Terol 48 pts ESP DUCATI Althea Racing
9 Matteo Baiocco 48 pts ITA DUCATI Althea Racing
10 Leandro Mercado 45 pts ARG DUCATI BARNI Racing Team
Jonathan Rea #65 – Kawasaki Racing Team – Race 1 – 1st / Race 2 – 1st – “Today has been amazing and like in Thailand I need to sit down and savour this moment. There was a lot of pressure on me coming here, everyone talking about how Assen was my circuit, so I am just happy to deliver. We chose a different rear tyre in race two and it worked out well. Race two was slightly different because I knew Tom would be fast in the beginning. When Chaz put a pass on me and I saw Tom slowing I knew that it could end up to be a messy fight. This one is for all my mechanics who have been working tirelessly and all the people at KHI.”
Chaz Davies #7 – Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team – Race 1 – 2nd / Race 2 – 2nd – “I’m very happy with today, also because it’s the first time I’ve stepped up to the Assen podium in Superbike. I’m pleased because I know we did all we could today, Rea was just a little stronger. In race 1, we were fairly confident with our rear tyre choice, having tested it over the weekend, but the problem was at the other end. In race 2 the bike and tyre were better, we definitely made a step forward but there was no catching Rea. Now I can’t wait to head to Imola, Ducati’s home circuit and a track where we were able to do well last year.”
Michael van der Mark #60 – Pata Honda – “Race one was amazing and I’m glad we were able to be fast. To be able to take my first podium here at my home round with a Dutch team and all the sponsors was amazing. In race two, Leon and I had a nice fight but I knew I had to get by him. I passed him in the Ramshoek on the last lap and then into the chicane he came around the outside.It’s way better than I could have expected this weekend. I must thank the team for that. It was great to see so many fans on the track waving the Dutch flags. I’m really proud that so many people came.”
Leon Haslam: “The two races were quite similar. I had good pace and was able to keep up with the leaders, but in the final laps I lost that feeling with the front tyre that was wearing quite a bit on the right side. Even using the harder solution the situation didn’t change, maybe also because I had to push quite hard. We’ll have to analyse the data to figure out where we can improve in this area. I’m a bit cross because I felt like I could have battled at least for the podium, but instead I lost it on the last turn.”
Jordi Torres: “We raced two cloned races. Unfortunately I am still lacking that feeling to be able to push in the first 6-7 laps with a new tyre and a full tank. Actually in the middle phases of the race I had a good pace, at the same level as the leading riders, but it’s hard to make up the time lost at the start. My RSV4 was great on this track; I just need to be more aggressive from the start. If I take better advantage of Superpole and start farther up front on the grid I could make a play for the podium, or at least battle with the riders up front.”
Sylvain Guintoli – 8th and 7th – “It’s been a struggle this weekend but we have actually come away from both races with some positives. My feeling with the CBR is definitely getting better – it’s just taking more time than we thought. In race two I was able to keep the pace better for much longer and I was actually quite close to the leading group. We’ll take that with us to Imola and keep trying to improve that feeling. We’re basically working on little details and the way I’m riding the bike. It’s taking time to change the way I’m doing things and then dialling in and starting to use the bike properly. But I really feel we’re not far away now so this is the really good news!”
Javier Forés (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team #112) – 7th, 8th – “In race 1 I was riding well and was able to stick with the group in front. Unfortunately from about lap fourteen onwards a drop in front tyre performance meant that I lost confidence and so I slowed a little in order to be able to finish the race. In race two I thought I’d found a solution, having changed both the tyre and the setting but the situation was worse. I didn’t have the same feeling with the bike as in race 1. But anyway, overall I’m very pleased with these last two race weekends. I’ve been able to score good points in all four races without making mistakes. It’s been a useful experience ahead of the IDM championship that I’m about to start, and I thank the team for having given me this opportunity.”
Alex Lowes – “Today was always going to be difficult but I gave it my best right to the end. It’s our first top-10 with the new system which is positive, especially as no one else crashed so it’s a genuine result. We ran strongly for the first few laps of race two, until I got caught-out entering turn one, so obviously still need to improve, but we’ve all done our best so we can be happy with that. Thanks to all the team for working so hard, we’ve got some good information to go on now, so we will continue to push forward together and see what we can achieve at Imola.”
Randy de Puniet – “I don’t know what to say, we have struggled in every session for the whole weekend. During race one I was running quite well and close to Alex after his mistake. My lap-time was good but I was at the limit because I was unable to stop the bike how I need to. I crashed at turn one and hit Alex as I hit the gravel. Luckily we are not injured but the frame of my bike was completely destroyed and we needed to use the spare bike for the second race. As I had never used this bike before we still had problems with engine brake, connection and front suspension, I was running 16th/ 17th and was not confident, so I decided to stop instead of risking crashing again.”
Sofuoglu wins Dutch WSS race after intense final lap fight
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.
WSS Assen – Race
1 – Kenan Sofuoglu Kawasaki Puccetti Racing
2 – Jules Cluzel MV Agusta Reparto Corse +0.879
3 – Kyle Smith Pata Honda World Supersport +0.908
Standings (4 of 12 rounds completed)
1 – Kenan Sofuoglu Kawasaki Puccetti Racing – 80
2 – PJ Jacobsen Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki – 55
3 – Jules Cluzel MV Agusta Reparto Corse – 45
Savadori wins shortened STK1000 race at Assen
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.
FIM Superstock 1000 Cup Assen – Race
1 – Lorenzo Savadori Nuova M2 Racing Aprilia
2 – Raffaele De Rosa Althea Racing Ducati +2.410
3 – Ondrej Jezek Triple-M by Barni Ducati +4.734
Standings (2 of 8 rounds)
1 – Lorenzo Savadori Nuova M2 Racing Aprilia – 45
2 – Raffaele De Rosa Althea Racing Ducati – 33
3 – Ondrej Jezek Triple-M by Barni Ducati – 27
European Junior Cup serves up more Dutch delight
Round two of the 2015 Pata European Junior Cup, powered by Honda, took place at the famous Assen circuit in the Netherlands today with Javier Orellana taking his second win of the season in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd.
Supporting round four of the World Superbike championship, the EJC protagonists produced another thrilling spectacle with 28 identical Honda CBR650F machines doing battle for 10 laps of the iconic 4.542km circuit.
Orellana led home a three-rider breakaway but, once again, by a narrow margin, beating pole sitter Hannes Soomer by 0.2s with Emanuele Pusceddu scoring third as he did in the opening race at Aragon in Spain one week ago.
With back-to-back wins, Spaniard Orellana now heads the points standings with a margin of 18 points over Pusceddu with Soomer just one point behind in third.
In the FIM Europe Women’s European Championship, last weekend’s winner Avalon Biddle crashed out of the race early but was able to rejoin and finish in 24th place overall. It was left to Viktoria Kis to take the women’s victory today.
Javier Orellana – race winner – “I love it here and like it more every time I come to Assen! It was a really good race with only three of us able to get away. Finally, we fought all the way through and I knew that before the long straight I needed to be in second place. I braked really hard for the chicane and it was really difficult to get through there but I was on a good line and I was able to get the second win in a row.”
Gerry Bryce – series director – “It was fantastic racing as usual here at Assen with all today’s encounters very closely fought, many of which were decided at the final chicane. The EJC race was no exception with three riders nailed together for the duration. Javier played it clever and took the win although Emanuele was unlucky to run wide. With these two and Hannes Soomer, I think we have the three fastest riders who will be racing together throughout the championship. It’s a great experience for them to be part of the World Superbike championship on this superb new CBR650F from Honda.”
2015 Pata European Junior Cup, powered by Honda – Round two, Assen, Netherlands – 19 April Results:
1 J Orellana (ESP)
2 H Soomer (EST)
3 E Pusceddu (ITA)
4 G Raymond (FRA)
5 D Laville (FRA)
WorldSBK Assen 2015 Race Results and Championship Standings
