ASSEN, The Netherlands – With the earlier overcast conditions burned away, the sun was shining for Friday’s second free practice at Assen ahead of the third round of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship on Sunday.
With almost everyone improving courtesy of the warmer temperatures it was Italian Davide Giugliano (Ducati Superbike Team) who goes into Saturday 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 on Saturday.
Behind Giugliano, Rea was classified second ahead of Sykes and Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), who also fell in the final few minutes.
Davies was eventually classified fifth 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 10.
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 on Saturday, the final place in the Tissot-Superpole will be Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Kawasaki), although all riders will be hoping for a repeat of Friday’s weather to allow them a fighting chance to make it through.
Florian Marino (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) was quickest on the opening day of the third round of the Supersport World Championship at Assen. The threat of rain thankfully subsided for both of Friday’s 45-minute free practice sessions with Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport) giving the home crowd something to smile about in second place.
World Superbike Practice Times
1.Davide Giugliano (Ducati) 1:35.396 (171.403kméh)
2. Jonathan Rea (Honda) 1:35.880
3. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) 1:36.146
4. Alex Lowes (Suzuki) 1:36.219
5. Chaz Davies (Ducati) 1:36.417
6. Loris Baz (Kawasaki) 1:36.449
7. Eugene Laverty (Suzuki) 1:36.467
8. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia) 1:36.670
9. Marco Melandri (Aprilia) 1:36.697
10. Leon Haslam (Honda) 1:36.709
11. Niccolo Canepa (Ducati) 1:37.042
12. Leon Camier (BMW) 1:37.139
13. Toni Elias (Aprilia) 1:37.240
14. Ayrton Badovini (Bimota) 1:37.436
15. Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki) 1:37.638
16. Christian Iddon (Bimota) 1:37.876
17. Fabien Foret (Kawasaki) 1:38.113
18. Claudio Corti (MV Agusta) 1:38.122
19. David Salom (Kawasaki) 1:38.128
20. Jeremy Guarnoni (Kawasaki) 1:38.264
21. Luca Scassa (Kawasaki) 1:38.296
22. Michel Fabrizio (Kawasaki) 1:38.550
23. Kervin Bos (Honda) 1:39.367
24. Alessandro Andreozzi(Kawasaki) 1:39.594
25. Imre Toth (BMW) 1:40.189
26. Aaron Yates (EBR) 1:41.209
NC. Geoff May (EBR) 1:42.180
NC. Peter Sebestyen (BMW) 1:42.863
–From WSBK Press Office
{fcomment}
<
