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<\/a>WorldSBK Race Two Start<\/p>\nThe decisive sequence came on lap three: Lecuona first got ahead at Turn 1, Bulega followed him through at Turn 4, then the championship leader made the winning move under brakes at Turn 16 before the lap was done. From there, Bulega took control, set the fastest lap of the race with a 1m33.162s on lap four, and steadily edged clear to win by 2.724s. It was his ninth win from the opening nine races of the season, his 13th in succession to draw level with Toprak Razgatlioglu, and another podium in a run that now stands at 22 straight.<\/p>\n
Lecuona secured a sixth consecutive second place, while Lowes completed the rostrum in third for his third P3 finish of the Assen weekend, a result that also delivered Great Britain\u2019s 900th WorldSBK podium.<\/p>\n Behind the leading trio, Ducati\u2019s dominance only became more emphatic. \u00c1lvaro Bautista made the key move for fourth on Alex Lowes at Turn 16 on lap four and never relinquished the position, capping a weekend in which he finished fourth in all three races. Team-mate Yari Montella came through strongly from eighth on the grid and used his pace advantage to move into fifth around mid-distance, while Lorenzo Baldassarri climbed from 10th on the grid to sixth after picking off riders ahead with a series of aggressive passes. That gave Ducati a clean sweep of the top six in the 21-lap finale, repeating the feat they managed in Race 2 at Phillip Island last year.<\/p>\n Xavi Vierge was best of the rest in seventh, just ahead of Pata Maxus Yamaha team-mate Andrea Locatelli, who made a late move on Danilo Petrucci for eighth, while the BMW rider had to settle for ninth. Tarran Mackenzie completed the top 10.<\/p>\n Further back, Alex Lowes\u2019 race unravelled after running fourth in the early laps, the bimota rider fading to 11th by the flag, while Miguel Oliveira could not convert his speed into another top-10 result and finished 12th. Axel Bassani was 13th, with Remy Gardner and Stefano Manzi taking 14th and 15th respectively for GYTR GRT Yamaha, separated by just 0.003s at the line.<\/p>\n Tommy Bridewell missed a point by 1.585s in 16th, ahead of Alberto Surra, Garrett Gerloff and Jonathan Rea, while Bahattin Sofuoglu rounded out the top 20. As of Saturday, every rider who started the race reached the finish, with Mattia Rato and wildcard Twan Smits completing the order.<\/p>\n Pos<\/p>\n Rider<\/p>\n Bike<\/p>\n Time\/Gap<\/p>\n Speed<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n N. Bulega<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n 32m58.347<\/p>\n 298.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n I. Lecuona<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +2.724<\/p>\n 298.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n S. Lowes<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +5.257<\/p>\n 294.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n A. Bautista<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +8.941<\/p>\n 300.8Km\/h<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Y. Montella<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +9.845<\/p>\n 300.0Km\/h<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n L. Baldassarri<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +12.872<\/p>\n 296.7Km\/h<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n X. Vierge<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +17.363<\/p>\n 296.7Km\/h<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n A. Locatelli<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +18.294<\/p>\n 295.9Km\/h<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n D. Petrucci<\/p>\n BMW<\/p>\n +19.054<\/p>\n 297.5Km\/h<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n T. Mackenzie<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +21.924<\/p>\n 299.2Km\/h<\/p>\n 11<\/p>\n A. Lowes<\/p>\n Bim<\/p>\n +22.304<\/p>\n 295.1Km\/h<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n M. Oliveira<\/p>\n BMW<\/p>\n +24.570<\/p>\n 304.2Km\/h<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n A. Bassani<\/p>\n Bim<\/p>\n +25.291<\/p>\n 297.5Km\/h<\/p>\n 14<\/p>\n R. Gardner<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +25.391<\/p>\n 295.9Km\/h<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n S. Manzi<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +25.394<\/p>\n 295.1Km\/h<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n T. Bridewell<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +26.979<\/p>\n 296.7Km\/h<\/p>\n 17<\/p>\n A. Surra<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +30.923<\/p>\n 299.2Km\/h<\/p>\n 18<\/p>\n G. Gerloff<\/p>\n Kaw<\/p>\n +31.060<\/p>\n 300.0Km\/h<\/p>\n 19<\/p>\n J. Rea<\/p>\n Hon<\/p>\n +36.230<\/p>\n 293.5Km\/h<\/p>\n 20<\/p>\n B. Sofuoglu<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +38.452<\/p>\n 292.7Km\/h<\/p>\n 21<\/p>\n M. Rato<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +49.397<\/p>\n 292.7Km\/h<\/p>\n 22<\/p>\n T. Smits<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +56.266<\/p>\n 286.5Km\/h<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n WorldSBK Superpole Race<\/p>\n Earlier on Sunday, before the full-distance Race 2 delivered Ducati\u2019s top-six lockout, the 10-lap Superpole Race had already reinforced who controlled the Dutch round. Nicol\u00f2 Bulega converted pole into another win, but the sprint was not entirely straightforward. Iker Lecuona stayed close enough to keep the pressure on in the opening laps, Sam Lowes again put an independent Ducati on the podium in third, and behind them, the fight for the crucial top-nine grid spots for Race 2 remained tight all the way to the flag.<\/p>\n Bulega ultimately won by 1.742s from Lecuona, with Lowes another 0.890s back in third. His 1m32.357s was not only the fastest lap of the race but also a new Superpole Race lap record at Assen.<\/p>\n Behind the leading trio, \u00c1lvaro Bautista turned seventh on the grid into fourth, completing the decisive move on Alex Lowes in the closing stages after the pair spent much of the race locked together. Alex Lowes still came away with a solid fifth for bimota, just 0.154s behind Bautista at the flag, while Xavi Vierge backed up his strong qualifying pace with sixth for Yamaha.<\/p>\n Danilo Petrucci edged Yari Montella by the finest possible margin for seventh, the BMW rider beating the Barni Ducati by just 0.001s, while Andrea Locatelli claimed ninth and the final spot that mattered for the Race 2 grid. That top-nine result was especially important because it kept him in the first three rows for the afternoon\u2019s long race.<\/p>\n Just outside that cut-off, Remy Gardner was only 0.243s short of Locatelli in 10th, which left the Australian narrowly missing the grid gain he needed for Race 2. Miguel Oliveira finished 11th.<\/p>\n WorldSBK Superpole Race Results<\/p>\n Pos<\/p>\n Rider<\/p>\n Bike<\/p>\n Time\/Gap<\/p>\n Speed<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n N. Bulega<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n 15m35.366<\/p>\n 291.9Km\/h<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n I. Lecuona<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +1.742<\/p>\n 297.5Km\/h<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n S. Lowes<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +2.632<\/p>\n 295.1Km\/h<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n A. Bautista<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +6.219<\/p>\n 298.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n A. Lowes<\/p>\n Bim<\/p>\n +6.373<\/p>\n 295.1Km\/h<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n X. Vierge<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +9.318<\/p>\n 296.7Km\/h<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n D. Petrucci<\/p>\n BMW<\/p>\n +9.432<\/p>\n 296.7Km\/h<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n Y. Montella<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +9.433<\/p>\n 300.8Km\/h<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n A. Locatelli<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +11.347<\/p>\n 294.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n R. Gardner<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +11.590<\/p>\n 294.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 11<\/p>\n M. Oliveira<\/p>\n BMW<\/p>\n +12.170<\/p>\n 304.2Km\/h<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n A. Surra<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +14.379<\/p>\n 300.0Km\/h<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n L. Baldassarri<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +15.384<\/p>\n 298.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 14<\/p>\n G. Gerloff<\/p>\n Kaw<\/p>\n +15.429<\/p>\n 300.8Km\/h<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n T. Bridewell<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +16.749<\/p>\n 295.9Km\/h<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n S. Manzi<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +16.856<\/p>\n 292.7Km\/h<\/p>\n 17<\/p>\n J. Rea<\/p>\n Hon<\/p>\n +18.759<\/p>\n 294.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 18<\/p>\n A. Bassani<\/p>\n Bim<\/p>\n +21.090<\/p>\n 296.7Km\/h<\/p>\n 19<\/p>\n M. Rato<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +25.517<\/p>\n 290.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 20<\/p>\n B. Sofuoglu<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +25.532<\/p>\n 291.1Km\/h<\/p>\n 21<\/p>\n T. Smits<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +27.932<\/p>\n 286.5Km\/h<\/p>\n Not Classified<\/p>\n RET<\/p>\n T. Mackenzie<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n 6 Laps<\/p>\n 297.5Km\/h<\/p>\n WorldSBK Championship<\/p>\n Bulega\u2019s Assen haul means he now has 186 points to Lecuona\u2019s 117, a 69-point championship lead after only three rounds. Sam Lowes moves into third on 82 and continues to head the independent riders, while Ducati\u2019s perfect nine wins from nine races have opened a 91-point manufacturers\u2019 lead over bimota, 186 to 95. For the first time in WorldSBK history, one manufacturer locked out the podium in all three races of a single round.<\/p>\n From the Australian angle, Gardner added points in both Sunday races but never quite escaped the same midfield gravity that shaped his Saturday. He was 10th in the sprint and 14th in Race 2, while Honda\u2019s weekend remained grim. Rea was 17th in the Superpole Race, 17th in Saturday\u2019s Race 1 and 19th in Race 2, while Chantra never returned after his FP3 crash. The end result was stark: despite Rea\u2019s second weekend of development work with the CBR1000RR-R, no Honda rider scored a point at Assen.<\/p>\n WorldSBK Championship Points<\/p>\n Pos<\/p>\n Rider<\/p>\n Points<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n N. Bulega<\/p>\n 186<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n I. Lecuona<\/p>\n 117<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n S. Lowes<\/p>\n 82<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n M. Oliveira<\/p>\n 69<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n A. Lowes<\/p>\n 69<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n A. Bassani<\/p>\n 67<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n A. Bautista<\/p>\n 59<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n L. Baldassarri<\/p>\n 58<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n Y. Montella<\/p>\n 48<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n A. Locatelli<\/p>\n 44<\/p>\n 11<\/p>\n D. Petrucci<\/p>\n 41<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n X. Vierge<\/p>\n 34<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n T. Mackenzie<\/p>\n 32<\/p>\n 14<\/p>\n G. Gerloff<\/p>\n 24<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n R. Gardner<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n A. Surra<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n 17<\/p>\n S. Manzi<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n 18<\/p>\n T. Nagashima<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n 19<\/p>\n T. Bridewell<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n 20<\/p>\n J. Rea<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n 21<\/p>\n S. Chantra<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n 22<\/p>\n B. Sofuoglu<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n 23<\/p>\n R. Vickers<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n WorldSBK Quotes<\/p>\n Nicolo Bulega \u2013 P1 Championship \u2013 186-points<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t make the perfect start and Sam and Iker overtook me on the first lap. After that I stayed calm and studied where I could pass them. It was a fantastic race and I made some good overtakes. I didn\u2019t make any big mistakes and my race pace was very strong, so we improved the feeling from yesterday and I\u2019m happy about that. I\u2019m in a good place mentally. I know I can be fast in all conditions, and that\u2019s very important. Winning 13 races in a row gives you a lot of confidence and motivation for the next races.\u201d<\/p>\n Iker Lecuona \u2013 P2 Championship \u2013 117-points<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really happy. We did a strong job throughout the weekend. At times I struggled, other times I felt more comfortable. After the Superpole Race we decided to try something new with the bike, which we hadn\u2019t tested before, and in the end it worked well. I had two big moments at Turn 12 where I almost crashed, losing a bit of time, but overall I\u2019m satisfied. Nicolo is still a bit faster, but I know this is one of his best tracks. Let\u2019s see if we can fight for first position in the next races.\u201d<\/p>\n Sam Lowes \u2013 P3 Championship \u2013 82-points<\/p>\n \u201cI think Nicolo had a bit of an advantage, and Iker slightly less, but I\u2019m happy to be fighting close to them. At the moment they are the reference, both rider and team, so it\u2019s positive for us to be in that group. This track suits us well and the Ducatis were strong all weekend, but I was able to stay close and battle with them, and also to qualify ahead of one of them. I tried to be smart and consistent, especially after two good races, to finish the weekend in a strong way. It\u2019s been a very positive Sunday and I\u2019m proud of the job we\u2019ve done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a tough weekend for us. We know Assen is always a bit of a challenge, but we fought hard. The team gave absolutely everything to put the best possible bike out there on track, but it was still challenging. Without a good qualifying, we were left mid-pack and we didn\u2019t optimise the result. Yesterday was kind of okay, but today it was even more difficult to move forward through the field. Still, we\u2019re heading to a new track where we know the bike can work well, so we\u2019re looking forward to that, and as always, we\u2019ll be ready to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex Lowes \u2013 P5 Championship \u2013 69-points<\/p>\n \u201cThe Superpole Race was good. I slowed down a little bit when it started to rain a little, but I had a good start. I was happy with the pace and set the best lap I have done here at Assen. The bike was working well. I was nearly in the mix with the leading bikes and trying to hold Alvaro Bautista off. He was a bit stronger and passed me near the end of the race. Then I was trying to stay with him to try to come back. I was happy with the race and happy with the speed. In Race Two, I had a good start again, put myself in a strong position, and had a few good laps trying to go with the Ducatis. After about five laps, I had a big problem with vibration and sliding from the rear. From there on, I was just trying to finish the race. We have to check why we had this problem. Other than that, over the whole weekend, I felt like I maximised our package well. Apart from the last 14 laps of the second race, I think we did a good job. I am trying to take the positive points and move forward for Balaton Park.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn general, it has been a difficult weekend \u2013 and also being ill was not the best solution! We finished the Superpole race with things being quite difficult. My feeling with the set-up was not really good, and then we had a long lap penalty. When you have that, then the race is completely finished. In Race Two, honestly, I was feeling quite good with the bike and I felt like I also had more pace than the riders in front of me. But it was really difficult to overtake. I tried it sometimes, but every time I was going long. I had to adapt to the pace that the riders were setting in front. In the end, I took some points. Now we have to work for Balaton and come back a little bit more strongly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00c1lvaro Bautista \u2013 P7 Championship \u2013 59-points<\/p>\n \u201cVery positive day. Beyond the result, where we achieved the maximum possible, the most important thing is that the changes we made to the bike allowed me to feel more comfortable in the opening laps, both in the Superpole Race and Race 2. We improved the feeling compared to yesterday and, step by step, we are closing the gap to the front. It\u2019s been a very positive weekend in terms of work done and we collected good results. A great Sunday for the whole team, with both riders in the top 5, congratulations to everyone. Hopefully this is just the beginning to reach our maximum performance. I want to thank all the team members for their great work and focus throughout the weekend. Let\u2019s keep going like this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis afternoon in race 2 I really enjoyed myself. I managed to make a lot of overtakes despite some contact on the first lap. Expectations were a bit higher here on Friday, but in the end we confirmed our speed and achieved our goal. The pace this Sunday was excellent, I felt good on the bike, and I\u2019m satisfied with the result. I think I\u2019ve almost completely resolved the forearm problem; I didn\u2019t suffer here. Now I\u2019m going to rest a bit, but not too much because we\u2019ll be back on track soon at Balaton. For me, it\u2019s best to get back on the bike straight away, so I can\u2019t wait. I have to thank the whole team and the people who work with me; I think our level is rising race after race!\u201d<\/p>\n Yari Montella \u2013 P9 Championship \u2013 48-points<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very happy with today. Overall, it\u2019s been a positive weekend, we improved from Friday to today and that was important. I\u2019m satisfied with how I managed three completely different races. Yesterday\u2019s Race 1 was a group race, in the Superpole Race I recovered and fought, while in Race 2 I kept a good pace behind \u00c1lvaro. It was crucial to complete a full weekend without mistakes, continuing to work on both the setup and confidence with the bike. Considering how things were yesterday after qualifying, today we turned it around well and I\u2019m very happy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRace 2 was a bit unlucky, I\u2019m disappointed because at the beginning one rider put me out of the track at the last chicane \u2013 so I lost a lot of positions and a lot of time. I tried to recover but it was not easy in the first laps because the pace was fast, then step-by-step and lap-by-lap I was improving. I found my rhythm and I was able to recover and finish in a good position \u2013 still not where I want to be, but in any case, we know that we are working hard and compared to the previous weekends in Portimao and Phillip Island, we did a much better job. I don\u2019t want to say that we have are back, but for sure we have made a step, I enjoyed the races and it looks like we understand where we were struggling before. Let\u2019s see what can happen in Hungary, it was a good track for me last year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis weekend was crazy. I immediately felt good on the bike, and I\u2019m starting to really enjoy it. Superpole qualifying was really good: I enjoyed the bike and put in a good lap time. Then yesterday there was the penalty for the jump start. I\u2019m not sure I actually did a jump start, but the rules are the rules. I think the penalty was too long and not really fair, especially since I didn\u2019t gain any position. But anyway, today we were able to score some points. We fought, and we can look at the positive side. I think our bike will work really well in the next two rounds. I enjoy those tracks, so we have to focus on the positives. For sure, we\u2019re still working on the bike, so there\u2019s still potential. I can\u2019t wait to ride the bike again as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAfter the race of yesterday, we learnt a lot! It was a hard night for me, I did a lot of thinking \u2013 I thought about 2,000 better starts and 2,000 better races overnight! In the Superpole Race, I had a good start in the front group and this helped to take the maximum of my riding style. We tried to fight until the end for a good position and in the last corner I was able to overtake Petrucci for sixth. Then again, in the long race I made a good start and I was trying to go with the front six, until the last four laps when my front tyre was destroyed. Even like this, it was a solid weekend and it\u2019s only the third round together with Yamaha. Of course, we were expecting more but we need to take the positives. I think the team and myself are doing a good job, we are understanding our way and improving. Race 1 yesterday was not the best for the tyres, but we always can learn and improve \u2013 we need to discover where the limit is in all the aspects. I\u2019m happy, thank you so much to the team for all their hard work and now, we will move forward together to Balaton.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis wasn\u2019t the weekend we were aiming for, but today we pushed hard and tried a few changes. The Superpole Race was decent, and it\u2019s a shame to have missed out on the top nine at the final corner. In Race 2, our early pace was quite strong, but I struggled more in the latter stages and lost a couple of positions. Now we focus on what\u2019s ahead \u2014 the potential is there, and we\u2019re determined to show it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t a bad way to end the weekend. Of course, we\u2019re aiming for more, but we have to take the positives from each round, and the progress we made here is encouraging. We took a step forward in the Superpole Race and improved further in Race 2, finishing on a positive note. We\u2019ll build from here and head into the next round with confidence, knowing there\u2019s still plenty of room to improve.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI actually enjoyed Race 2, or at least the first half of it, because even though I got a bad start, I was able to make some passes and find a good rhythm. It was the fastest I\u2019ve been all weekend, lapping in the mid-1\u201934s. The pace was good and I felt comfortable. But around lap 11 or 12, I started to struggle with the front tyre. I had a few moments and then found it difficult to turn because I wasn\u2019t loading the tyre in the same way. To be honest, I was kind of in survival mode at the end, which was frustrating because physically I felt good. The guys made some good setup changes right from Free Practice 1 and we worked well to explore some options with the bike. If we had to come back tomorrow, of course we already have more ideas to try in order to be faster at the end of the race. I know the result doesn\u2019t really reflect it, but we made some progress this weekend. Now the weekend is done, I want to wish Somkiat all the best in his recovery, and Jake as well. Hopefully they can be back on board at Balaton.\u201d<\/p>\n Somkiat Chantra \u2013 P21 Championship \u2013 1-point<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so sorry for the team that I couldn\u2019t race this weekend. In FP3 I had a crash and the bike hit my right leg. It hurts a lot, and so I couldn\u2019t ride in this condition. But I want to thank everyone for their support. I will try to recover fast and be back for Balaton.\u201d<\/p>\n WorldSSP Race Two Philipp Oettl\u2019s first WorldSSP win had been coming often enough to feel overdue, and Assen finally gave it to him. The German took the lead on lap 10 and was still there when Race 2 was stopped after 12 laps, the red flag ending proceedings following a Turn 5 crash involving Roberto Garcia and Jack Kennedy. With more than two-thirds of the distance completed, the result was declared, leaving Oettl a maiden winner in his 66th class start. Albert Arenas finished second, only 0.403s adrift at the stoppage, and Can \u00d6nc\u00fc was third after leading seven laps in the middle part of the race.<\/p>\n \u201cThis win feels great. I had a difficult race yesterday because of a long lap penalty and some issues with the tyre. Today we made a different choice and it worked well. I tried to be smart and pushed when I was in front and then I tried to manage the race. The red flag came at a good moment for me but I felt I had the pace to pull away and that I was in control if the race had continued. The bike was very fast and I felt comfortable. I\u2019m really happy to finish the weekend in a positive way, and I\u2019m looking forward to the next round to keep building on this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a tricky race today. The track conditions in the first lap were not great as it was quite wet, and then there was some more rain during the race but not a lot. Despite this I was quite calm and steady and felt I managed the first laps well. I was in a good position, and I was happy to be in second behind Philip in the middle of the race. As the fuel tank got emptier, my bike was starting tow ork even better so it is a shame we could not have the final fight because of the red flag as I believe I could have won today \u2013 however I am super happy for Philip because I have known him for a long time. It\u2019s also good for Yamaha with two bikes on the podium, so we will work hard for the next race and try to continue how we have started the year.\u201d<\/p>\n Rain before the start changes the opening phase<\/p>\n WorldSSP\u2019s final race of the weekend began under the sort of conditions that promised uncertainty. The official session log shows drops of rain reported in sectors 2 to 4 before the start and a white flag before lights out, which helps explain how tightly packed the early laps were. Arenas led lap one, \u00d6nc\u00fc then took over and controlled the race from laps two to five, Zaccone briefly led lap six, and \u00d6nc\u00fc resumed at the front from laps seven to nine. Oettl only took command on lap 10, but once he did, he held it to the flag.<\/p>\n Booth-Amos quick again, Bayliss crashes out<\/p>\n Tom Booth-Amos backed up Saturday\u2019s podium with fourth on Sunday and also set the fastest lap of the race, a 1m37.145s on lap eight.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m happy to be fast again this weekend which boosts my confidence going into the next few rounds. The feeling with the bike was good and what I needed to be fighting back at the front. The podium yesterday was great but, of course, a little bit disappointed that today\u2019s race was cut short \u2013 but that\u2019s racing and I hope everyone is okay. Now we look ahead to Balaton in a few weeks and continue this momentum.\u201d<\/p>\n Zaccone was fifth, while Masi\u00e1 came through for sixth after again looking capable of more in the second half of the race.<\/p>\n Debise wound up seventh, Alcoba eighth and Mahias 10th after starting the race among the front few.<\/p>\n Oli Bayliss\u2019 Sunday ended almost immediately with a crash at Turn 18 on lap two, putting the PTR Triumph rider out after what had already been a difficult weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a difficult weekend in Assen. We were chasing a feeling on Friday and then had a back of the grid penalty on Saturday for race one which made things difficult. The race today was better, the feeling with the bike was good but a small crash finished our Sunday race too early. I\u2019m looking forward to one of my favourite rounds at Balaton in a few weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n Title race tightens again<\/p>\n The championship now looks properly compressed. Masi\u00e1 leaves Assen still leading on 106 points, but Arenas is only one point behind on 105, while Oettl\u2019s win lifts him to third on 79. Debise sits fourth on 72, Mahias fifth on 54 and \u00d6nc\u00fc sixth on 52. Ducati still leads Yamaha in the manufacturers\u2019 standings, but only by 21 points. So although Oettl took the headline and the breakthrough win, the bigger long-game story out of Assen may be how little margin remains between Masi\u00e1 and Arenas<\/p>\n WorldSSP Race Two Results<\/p>\n Pos<\/p>\n Rider<\/p>\n Bike<\/p>\n Time\/Gap<\/p>\n Speed<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n P. Oettl<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n \u00a020m47.548<\/p>\n 260.9Km\/h<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n A. Arenas<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +0.403<\/p>\n 255.9Km\/h<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n C. Oncu<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +1.166<\/p>\n 255.9Km\/h<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n T. Booth-Amos<\/p>\n Tri<\/p>\n +1.359<\/p>\n 267.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n A. Zaccone<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +1.460<\/p>\n 259.0Km\/h<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n J. Masia<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +1.919<\/p>\n 260.9Km\/h<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n V. Debise<\/p>\n Zxm<\/p>\n +2.132<\/p>\n 259.6Km\/h<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n J. Alcoba<\/p>\n Kaw<\/p>\n +2.207<\/p>\n 264.1Km\/h<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n M. Casadei<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +2.521<\/p>\n 261.5Km\/h<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n L. Mahias<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +2.856<\/p>\n 257.8Km\/h<\/p>\n 11<\/p>\n S. Jespersen<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +2.993<\/p>\n 261.5Km\/h<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n F. Farioli<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +4.616<\/p>\n 257.8Km\/h<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n M. Ferrari<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +5.733<\/p>\n 263.4Km\/h<\/p>\n 14<\/p>\n A. Mahendra<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +1 Sector<\/p>\n 259.6Km\/h<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n D. Aegerter<\/p>\n Kaw<\/p>\n +0.004<\/p>\n 260.2Km\/h<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n F. Caricasulo<\/p>\n Zxm<\/p>\n +2.593<\/p>\n 257.1Km\/h<\/p>\n 17<\/p>\n R. De Rosa<\/p>\n Qjm<\/p>\n +0.714<\/p>\n 256.5Km\/h<\/p>\n 18<\/p>\n O. Vostatek<\/p>\n Tri<\/p>\n +5.433<\/p>\n 251.7Km\/h<\/p>\n 19<\/p>\n D. Geiger<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +0.542<\/p>\n 264.1Km\/h<\/p>\n 20<\/p>\n M. Ramirez<\/p>\n Qjm<\/p>\n +1 Sector<\/p>\n 256.5Km\/h<\/p>\n 21<\/p>\n J. Kennedy<\/p>\n Hon<\/p>\n +1 Sector<\/p>\n 251.2Km\/h<\/p>\n 22<\/p>\n A. Kofler<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +6.589<\/p>\n 250.6Km\/h<\/p>\n 23<\/p>\n J. Whatley<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +0.270<\/p>\n 254.1Km\/h<\/p>\n 24<\/p>\n L. Taccini<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +3.294<\/p>\n 257.1Km\/h<\/p>\n 25<\/p>\n O. Konig<\/p>\n Tri<\/p>\n +0.506<\/p>\n 252.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 26<\/p>\n X. Cardelus<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +0.201<\/p>\n 253.5Km\/h<\/p>\n 27<\/p>\n Y. Okamoto<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +5.338<\/p>\n 251.7Km\/h<\/p>\n 28<\/p>\n R. Rossi<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +1 Sector<\/p>\n 253.5Km\/h<\/p>\n 29<\/p>\n B. Jimenez<\/p>\n Duc<\/p>\n +0.188<\/p>\n 254.1Km\/h<\/p>\n 30<\/p>\n A. Giombini<\/p>\n Mva<\/p>\n +2.097<\/p>\n 252.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 31<\/p>\n A. Carrasco<\/p>\n Hon<\/p>\n +8.330<\/p>\n 248.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 32<\/p>\n J. Cretaro<\/p>\n Mva<\/p>\n +0.379<\/p>\n 250.6Km\/h<\/p>\n Not Classified<\/p>\n NC<\/p>\n R. Garcia<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n \u2013<\/p>\n 257.1Km\/h<\/p>\n RET<\/p>\n O. Bayliss<\/p>\n Tri<\/p>\n DNF<\/p>\n 257.8Km\/h<\/p>\n WorldSSP Championship Points<\/p>\n Pos<\/p>\n Rider<\/p>\n Points<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n J. Masia<\/p>\n 106<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n A. Arenas<\/p>\n 105<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n P. Oettl<\/p>\n 79<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n V. Debise<\/p>\n 72<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n L. Mahias<\/p>\n 54<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n C. Oncu<\/p>\n 52<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n A. Zaccone<\/p>\n 50<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n J. Alcoba<\/p>\n 43<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n R. Garcia<\/p>\n 41<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n T. Booth-Amos<\/p>\n 38<\/p>\n 11<\/p>\n M. Ferrari<\/p>\n 32<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n A. Mahendra<\/p>\n 26<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n O. Bayliss<\/p>\n 20<\/p>\n 14<\/p>\n S. Jespersen<\/p>\n 19<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n D. Aegerter<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n C. Perolari<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n 17<\/p>\n M. Casadei<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n 18<\/p>\n F. Farioli<\/p>\n 14<\/p>\n 19<\/p>\n A. Giombini<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n 20<\/p>\n O. Vostatek<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n 21<\/p>\n F. Caricasulo<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n 22<\/p>\n J. Whatley<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n 23<\/p>\n X. Cardelus<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n WorldSPB Race Two World Sportbike again delivered the closest finish of the day. Ferre Fleerackers took his first class victory by 0.097s from Matteo Vannucci, with Jeffrey Buis only another 0.113s back in third. David Salvador finished fourth, Kas Beekmans fifth and Xavi Artigas sixth, with just 1.078s covering the top six after 12 laps. For Fleerackers and Track & Trades Wixx Racing it completed a particularly strong Assen, the Belgian following Saturday\u2019s fastest lap and Sunday pole-equivalent grid slot with the first win of his WorldSPB campaign.<\/p>\n \u201cI made a really strong start from pole position and stayed at the front early on. When Jeffrey passed me a few riders followed him so I focused on getting back to the front as quickly as possible. I learned from yesterday that it\u2019s not ideal to be leading in the final corners, so I tried to position myself as best as possible for the last lap. It worked perfectly in the end and it\u2019s amazing to take my first win in only the second round of the Championship. It\u2019s also special because this is the closest race to home for me and I have a lot of friends and family here. To be on the podium together with Jeffrey here in Assen is something really special.\u201d<\/p>\n The lap-leader chart tells the story of how unsettled the race remained. Buis led the opening lap, Fleerackers then controlled laps two and three, Buis resumed on laps four and five, Fleerackers led again on lap six, Buis took lap seven, Fleerackers was back ahead for laps eight and nine, Vannucci led lap 10, Buis led lap 11, and Fleerackers took the only lap that truly mattered \u2014 the last one. That matched the series summary, which described Fleerackers moving from third to first on the final lap, making his decisive move at Turn 14 before holding firm to the flag.<\/p>\n Aprilia gets a first podium, Kove keeps moving<\/p>\n Vannucci\u2019s second place gave Aprilia its first podium in the class, another useful sign of how broad the category remains in terms of competitive machinery. Salvador\u2019s fourth kept Kawasaki at the front of the championship, Beekmans kept Suzuki strongly represented in fifth, and Artigas made it three Kawasakis in the top six. Benat Fernandez missed the top 10 in 11th, but his 1m42.190s on lap four stood as a new race fastest lap record and showed again that Kove\u2019s pace ceiling is rising even if the results are still catching up.<\/p>\n Thompson far closer to the win than the result sheet might first suggest<\/p>\n Carter Thompson finished ninth, but only 2.031s from the win and 0.095s behind Loris Veneman in eighth. That again underlined how tight the class remains and how firmly the Australian is now operating well inside the front group rather than on its edge, but appears to be held back a little as the Yamaha looks a little down on grunt compared to the opposition. It will be interesting to see how the balancing measures by organisers are amended as the season progresses.<\/p>\n Championship chase<\/p>\n Salvador leaves Assen still leading the standings on 69 points, with Buis second on 64 and Fleerackers up to third on 59. Kawasaki heads Suzuki by seven in the manufacturers\u2019 standings.<\/p>\n WorldSPB Race Two Results<\/p>\n Pos<\/p>\n Rider<\/p>\n Bike<\/p>\n Time\/Gap<\/p>\n Speed<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n F. Fleerackers<\/p>\n Suz<\/p>\n \u00a020m44.185<\/p>\n 229.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n M. Vannucci<\/p>\n Apr<\/p>\n +0.097<\/p>\n 226.4Km\/h<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n J. Buis<\/p>\n Suz<\/p>\n +0.210<\/p>\n 233.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n D. Salvador<\/p>\n Kaw<\/p>\n +0.398<\/p>\n 224.5Km\/h<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n K. Beekmans<\/p>\n Suz<\/p>\n +0.555<\/p>\n 228.8Km\/h<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n X. Artigas<\/p>\n Kaw<\/p>\n +1.078<\/p>\n 226.9Km\/h<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n B. Ieraci<\/p>\n Tri<\/p>\n +1.891<\/p>\n 225.9Km\/h<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n L. Veneman<\/p>\n Kaw<\/p>\n +1.936<\/p>\n 228.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n C. Thompson<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +2.031<\/p>\n 229.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n A. Torres<\/p>\n Kaw<\/p>\n +2.136<\/p>\n 230.8Km\/h<\/p>\n 11<\/p>\n B. Fernandez<\/p>\n Kov<\/p>\n +2.225<\/p>\n 228.8Km\/h<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n M. Gaggi<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +2.591<\/p>\n 229.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n H. Dessoy<\/p>\n Tri<\/p>\n +11.745<\/p>\n 232.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 14<\/p>\n E. Bartolini<\/p>\n Tri<\/p>\n +15.414<\/p>\n 228.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n M. Gennai<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +15.456<\/p>\n 227.4Km\/h<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n J. Correa<\/p>\n Kaw<\/p>\n +15.491<\/p>\n 227.4Km\/h<\/p>\n 17<\/p>\n J. Osuna<\/p>\n Kaw<\/p>\n +15.731<\/p>\n 224.5Km\/h<\/p>\n 18<\/p>\n H. Maier<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +18.842<\/p>\n 224.1Km\/h<\/p>\n 19<\/p>\n G. Sanchez<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +19.057<\/p>\n 229.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 20<\/p>\n P. Tonn<\/p>\n Kov<\/p>\n +19.100<\/p>\n 231.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 21<\/p>\n T. Aksu<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +19.532<\/p>\n 227.8Km\/h<\/p>\n 22<\/p>\n J. Risueno<\/p>\n Kaw<\/p>\n +19.767<\/p>\n 228.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 23<\/p>\n A. Fuertes<\/p>\n Kaw<\/p>\n +21.948<\/p>\n 225.9Km\/h<\/p>\n 24<\/p>\n I. Peristeras<\/p>\n Apr<\/p>\n +22.117<\/p>\n 227.8Km\/h<\/p>\n 25<\/p>\n F. Seabright<\/p>\n Tri<\/p>\n +23.282<\/p>\n 229.8Km\/h<\/p>\n 26<\/p>\n A. Di Persio<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +24.674<\/p>\n 228.3Km\/h<\/p>\n 27<\/p>\n A. Agaska<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +25.555<\/p>\n 227.8Km\/h<\/p>\n 28<\/p>\n T. Benetti<\/p>\n Apr<\/p>\n +28.781<\/p>\n 222.7Km\/h<\/p>\n 29<\/p>\n I. Schunselaar<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +37.824<\/p>\n 227.8Km\/h<\/p>\n 30<\/p>\n T. Sovicka<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n +47.469<\/p>\n 225.9Km\/h<\/p>\n Not Classified<\/p>\n RET<\/p>\n M. Sorrenti<\/p>\n Apr<\/p>\n 7 Laps<\/p>\n 222.7Km\/h<\/p>\n RET<\/p>\n T. Alonso<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n 9 Laps<\/p>\n 222.2Km\/h<\/p>\n RET<\/p>\n G. Cazard<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n DNF<\/p>\n 226.9Km\/h<\/p>\n NS<\/p>\n F. Mulya<\/p>\n Yam<\/p>\n DNS<\/p>\n 225.0Km\/h<\/p>\n WorldSPB Championship Points<\/p>\n Pos<\/p>\n Rider<\/p>\n Points<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n D. Salvador<\/p>\n 69<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n J. Buis<\/p>\n 64<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n F. Fleerackers<\/p>\n 59<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n X. Artigas<\/p>\n 54<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n A. Torres<\/p>\n 53<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n M. Vannucci<\/p>\n 41<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n L. Veneman<\/p>\n 40<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n B. Ieraci<\/p>\n 35<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n E. Bartolini<\/p>\n 22<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n K. Beekmans<\/p>\n 19<\/p>\n 11<\/p>\n D. Poncet<\/p>\n 18<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n C. Thompson<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n M. Gaggi<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n 14<\/p>\n A. Fuertes<\/p>\n 13<\/p>\n 15<\/p>\n B. Fernandez<\/p>\n 12<\/p>\n 16<\/p>\n H. Dessoy<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n 17<\/p>\n M. Gennai<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n 18<\/p>\n A. Di Persio<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n 19<\/p>\n J. Osuna<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n 20<\/p>\n T. Benetti<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n 21<\/p>\n M. Sorrenti<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n 22<\/p>\n G. Sanchez<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n 23<\/p>\n J. Risueno<\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n WorldWCR Race Two WorldWCR again revolved around Maria Herrera and Beatriz Neila, but this time Neila came away with the win. Starting from pole for Race 2, she finally broke through for her first victory of the season by passing Herrera in the last chicane and taking the flag by 0.170s. The official lap chart shows just how late it was decided: Herrera led laps one to four, Neila briefly got through on lap five, Herrera resumed control from lap six through lap 11, and Neila only reclaimed the lead on the final lap. Her 1m47.132s on lap 11 also set a new race fastest-lap record.<\/p>\n<\/a>WorldSBK Race Two Start<\/p>\n<\/a>\u00c1lvaro Bautista<\/p>\n<\/a>Sam Lowes<\/p>\n<\/a>Miguel Oliveira<\/p>\n<\/a>Jonathan Rea<\/p>\n<\/a>WorldSBK Race Two Podium
\nWorldSBK Race Two Results<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a>Nicol\u00f2 Bulega<\/p>\n<\/a>Sam Lowes<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a>Nicol\u00f2 Bulega<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a>Miguel Oliveira
\nMiguel Oliveira \u2013 P4 Championship \u2013 69-points<\/p>\n<\/a>Axel Bassani
\nAxel Bassani \u2013 P6 Championship \u2013 67-points<\/p>\n<\/a>Lorenzo Baldassarri
\nLorenzo Baldassarri \u2013 P8 Championship \u2013 58-points<\/p>\n<\/a>Andrea Locatelli
\nAndrea Locatelli \u2013 P10 Championship \u2013 44-points<\/p>\n<\/a>Danilo Petrucci
\nDanilo Petrucci \u2013 P11 Championship \u2013 41-points<\/p>\n<\/a>Xavi Vierge
\nXavi Vierge \u2013 P12 Championship \u2013 34-points<\/p>\n<\/a>Remy Gardner
\nRemy Gardner \u2013 P15 Championship \u2013 16-points<\/p>\n<\/a>Stefano Manzi
\nStefano Manzi \u2013 P17 Championship \u2013 8-points<\/p>\n<\/a>Jonathan Rea
\nJonathan Rea \u2013 P20 Championship \u2013 4-points<\/p>\n
\nOettl gets his first win as red flag cuts Race 2 short<\/p>\n<\/a>Philipp Oettl
\nPhilipp Oettl \u2013 P1<\/p>\n<\/a>Philipp Oettl
\nAlbert Arenas \u2013 P2<\/p>\n<\/a>Tom Booth-Amos
\nTom Booth-Amos \u2013 P4<\/p>\n<\/a>Tom Booth-Amos<\/p>\n<\/a>Oli Bayliss
\nOli Bayliss \u2013 DNF<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nFleerackers wins the last-lap brawl
Thompson finishes in the lead group<\/p>\n<\/a>WorldSPB Finish
\nFerre Fleerackers \u2013 P1<\/p>\n<\/a>WorldSPB Podium
\nLead keeps changing all race<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nNeila beats Herrera in the last chicane<\/p>\n