Superbikes | Round Assen, Tissot Superpole Race: Rea dominates

Jonathan Rea precedes Michael Ruben Rinaldi and wins the Tissot Superpole Race of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the TT Circuit Assen: the Northern Irishman thus celebrates another important success in this Dutch Prosecco DOC Round.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) got off to a great start and took the lead in the initial stages of the race before being overtaken by Rea who then managed to pull ahead of the five pursuers. Rinaldi took home a second place, ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) and the Turkish teammate Andrea Locatelli, both relegated one position for exceeding track limits on the last lap at turn 18.

This is Locatelli's best result in WorldSBK: in Race 2 he will start ahead of Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK).
As in Race 1, this morning Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) started from the back of the grid and once again entered the points thanks to seventh and eighth places. In Race 2 they will start ahead of Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven), ninth at the checkered flag.

Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) completes the top ten and puts Tito Rabat (Barni Racing Team) behind him. The Superpole Race ends early for Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) who after a highside loses control of his BMW during the first lap at turn 12 while Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) ends up on the ground at the last chicane: the Spaniard returns to the race and finishes 18th.

Below are the top nine at the finish line of the Tissot Superpole Race:

1. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)
2. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +3.542
3. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) +3.600
4. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) +4.343
5. Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +4.501
6. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +5.215
7. Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +8.010
8. Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +9.126
9. Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven) +11.891
Fast lap: Jonathan Rea: 1'34.634