WSBK Assen *spoiler* thread

[Dave]

results from early practice:

Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike) powered to the provisional pole at the end of the first day of action at Assen. The Texan, a total newcomer to the Dutch track, set an impressive time of 1 minute 38.747 seconds, four-tenths of a second away from last year's record time of Bayliss in qualifying, but which was obtained on qualifying tyres. Spies was the only rider to dip under the 1'39 mark, but the session was a hard-fought affair as behind the Yamaha there were 15 riders in the space of 1 second.



Second time of the day went to Jakub Smrz (Ducati Guandalini), a fraction ahead of the four-cylinder machines of Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki Alstare) and Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda). Fifth place went to Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), the first Italian in the standings, while a convincing Regis Laconi (Ducati DFX) and the other Suzuki Alstare machine of Max Neukirchner, together with Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) make up the provisional front row.



Troy Corser put in another positive performance on his BMW S1000 RR to take the eleventh quickest slot, one position in front of the championship leader Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox), who lapped in a good race pace. Tom Sykes (Yamaha World Superbike) crashed out towards the end of the session, while Assen proved to be an unfortunate circuit once again for John Hopkins (Stiggy Racing Honda), who crashed heavily in the morning's free practice session. The American dislocated his left hip in the crash and will miss the race. Tomorrow a decision will be taken on any eventual further measures and how long he needs for recovery.

Results: 1. Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'38.747; 2. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'39.055; 3. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'39.128; 4. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'39.141; 5. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'39.238; 6. Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'39.246; 7. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'39.265; 8. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'39.359; 9. Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1'39.506; 10. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'39.585; 11. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'39.597; 12. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'39.621; 13. Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'39.784; 14. Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'39.897; 15. Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'39.899; 16. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'39.934

superpole is tomorrow followed by the race sunday.

broc parkes is out recovering from a crash in testing, he will return for monza.

and its rumored greg lavilla will have a wildcard seat with Guandalini Racing

more to follow, superpole and race results + impressions will be spoilertagerized

[Dave]

superpole results! looks like spies takes the first spot again followed by smrz and haslam.

Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike) notched up his fourth successive Superpole crown in a row at the Assen TT Circuit today, a record for a start of the season run, and just two poles away from Doug Polen's all-time record of six during the 1991 season. The Texan once again made the session his own, powering to a time of 1 minute 37.626 seconds and pulverizing the previous record held by Bayliss in 1'38.355. The Yamaha man was pushed hard all the way however as he strove to improve on the 1'38.765 time of Jakub Smrz (Guandalini Ducati), who will start alongside. The front row also sees Britain's Leon Haslam (Stiggy Racing) in third place, once again the top Honda runner, and championship leader Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox) in fourth.


Ben Spies: "It went good. Row 1 is good for us but I wish they gave points for this, it's a couple more feet ahead on the starting line and you have an advantage. I'm really happy with the bike on race tyres, obviously the times are a little slower but the balance for me is better. The bike's working good, the team's making headway and it's getting better every session so I think it's going to be a good battle tomorrow. Assen is a great track and has got a lot of history, so I'm having fun."


Jakub Smrz: "We did a really good Superpole and the team did a great job. My bike is perfect, now we have to concentrate on the races tomorrow, because the last two weekends were not really lucky for me. We worked well on the race set-up, which seems to be OK. Now I just have to make a good start and follow the leaders or stay up at the front."


Leon Haslam: "It's fantastic and a big credit to the team. The circuit for me has got a lot of history so to get a front row start I'm over the moon! Hopefully we can convert it into two podiums. John unfortunately will miss everything this weekend but the team has worked hard and I feel we've got a really good race set-up for tomorrow, hopefully we can give the British fans something to look at!"


Fifth position on row 2 went to Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), ahead of Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Alstare), the German looking quick on race pace, with Carlos Checa (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) seventh, while Tom Sykes (Yamaha World Superbike) had a positive run for eighth after his two crashes today. Disappointment for Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing), who will start from the third row, together with Regis Laconi (Ducati), who expected a better position after lapping on top form in qualifying, while Troy Corser lines his BMW Motorrad machine up on the fourth row.


Times: 1. Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1'37.626; 2. Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1'37.765; 3. Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'38.072; 4. Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1'38.202; 5. Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1'38.215; 6. Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'38.353; 7. Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1'38.640; 8. Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 1'38.790; 9. Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'38.288; 10. Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1'38.441; 11. Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1'38.510; 12. Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1'38.521; 13. Muggeridge K. (AUS) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1'38.802; 14. Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1'38.811; 15. Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1'38.906; 16. Kiyonari R. (JPN)Honda CBR1000RR 1'39.079

[JK]

Last lap, race 1 gave me chills- WOW!

[tommymac]

Originally Posted by JK

Last lap, race 1 gave me chills- WOW!

That was some exciting stuff, esp how Spies muscled his way into second good stuff. Hope race 2 is jsut as good.

Tom

[Dave]

spolier tags folks!

[Mr Lefty]

FUCKING OUTSTANDING!! wow...

Spoiler:

I though spies was done with about 5 laps to go... but god damn that was some kick ass racing last 3 laps.... nice that speed went to comercial on the 2nd to last lap too...

[Amber Lamps]

Yea well, how'd you like race two?

[Mr Lefty]

Spoiler:

was it just me or did it look like spies and haga touched? all I saw was spies sliding but it looked like haga's bike was all out of sorts as he rode off...

[Dave]

Spoiler:

spies has got to have balls so big he needs a dumptruck to carry them to pull those passes. haslam is def the shit for pushing a privateer bike that far and im def hoping to see him on the podium more often. im def digging the possiblity of a three way battle for the title more than two. im dissapointed that the aprilia broke and im happy to see rea getting some decent finishes for once

btw, was it just me or did haslam's fiancee have epic boobs? motorboat city right there

[Mr Lefty]

hell yes she did...