Nicolò Bulega led FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Friday afternoon at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands. Riding his Aruba.It Racing – Ducati Panigale V4R on spec Pirelli tires, the Italian rider covered the 2.82-mile (4.54 km) track in 1:33.687 to lead the field of 23 riders.
Lorenzo Baldassarri was second-best with a 1:33.963 on his Team Goeleven Ducati Panigale V4R.
Bulega’s teammate, Iker Lecuona was third with a 1:34.017.
Danilo Petrucci was fourth on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR with a lap time of 1:34.092.
American Garrett Gerloff was 17th with a time of 1:35.098 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
More from a press release issued by WorldSBK:
Fastest on Friday: Bulega heads WorldSBK running ahead of Baldassarri, Petrucci and Vierge in the top five. The #11 topped both Friday sessions in WorldSBK at Assen to lead the way heading into Saturday’s action.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) topped both MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship sessions on Friday at the TT Circuit Assen as he looks to extend his winning run. The #11 was one of only two riders in the 1’39s bracket on the opening day of the Pirelli Dutch Round, as he topped the order ahead of Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) and Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati).
BULEGA LEADS THE WAY: Ducati lock out the top three positions
As he was in Free Practice 1, Bulega was also quickest in Free Practice 2 ahead of teammate Lecuona. The #11 set a 1’33.687s to tighten his grip on the top spot, as he fended off a late challenge from Baldassarri. ‘Balda’ set a 1’33.963s to join ‘Bulegas’ in the 1’39s club as he leapfrogged Lecuona into P2. Lecuona was able to finish in P3 with a 1’34.017s as Ducati locked out the top three positions. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), with an extra few weeks of recovery on his left wrist and is now feeling considerably better, finished in sixth. A trio of Ducati riders rounded out the top ten with Barni Spark Racing Team duo Alvaro Bautista leading Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team), with Alerto Surra in tenth. Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates) finished in 14th ahead of Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Express Racing) in 15th; the pair were just over a second away from Bulega’s time. Following the latest concession checkpoint, Ducati have been hit with a 0.5kg/h fuel flow restriction.
MIXED DAY AT BMW: Two FP1 crashes, Petrucci finishes fourth
After claiming P4 in FP1, Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) finished in the same position in FP2 and the combined classification thanks to his afternoon time. In the morning session, the #9 crashed at Turn 16 in the final few minutes but responded in the afternoon to post a 1’34.092s to finish in second, just four tenths away from Bulega. Teammate Miguel Oliveira was further down the order, in 11th, after posting a 1’34.551s; he also crashed in FP1, at Turn 10.
ALEX LOWES LEADS BIMOTA: P7 for the #22, Bassani outside the top ten
Like Ducati, Bimota have also been hit by a 0.5kg/h fuel flow rate limitation following the concession checkpoint. Both KB998 Rimini riders were in the top ten for the majority of the session, with Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) in P6 after posting a 1’34.189s, 0.563s off Bulega’s time. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) dropped down the order in the closing stages as other riders improved, finishing in 12th place.
VIERGE LEAVES IT LATE: Fifth place for the Spanish star
Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) continued to be the fastest Yamaha rider as he took P5 on Friday at Assen, posting a 1’34.097s in the final 10 minutes of FP2 to improve his lap time and secure a top-five finish. Teammate Andrea Locatelli finished in 13th with a 1’34.676s, with Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in 16th and teammate Stefano Manzi in 20th. Wildcard Twan Smits (Team Apreco) had a strong day on his WorldSBK debut, finishing in 18th, with a slight blot on his copybook when he had a Turn 8 crash in FP2 in the final 10 minutes of FP2. His best time was a 1’35.121s. Elsewhere, Bahattin Sofuoglu (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) and teammate Mattia Rato rounded out the WorldSBK field; Sofuoglu was the only rider on the grid to not improve his lap time in the afternoon compared to FP1.
GERLOFF AIMING FOR MORE: Difficult start for Kawasaki
Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) endured a more difficult day than he would have liked at Assen, finishing in 17thplace with a 1’35.098s. However, the #31 has shown good race pace in the first two rounds of the season and will aim to display that again on Saturday.
REA 19TH, CHANTRA 21ST: Tricky day for Honda
Jonathan Rea (Honda HRC) finished as the lead Honda rider as he continued to stand in for the still-recovering Jake Dixon. The six-time Champion finished in 19th place with a 1’35.124s to lead Honda’s charge, with Somkiat Chantra (Honda HRC) two places behind the #65. The Thai rider set a 1’35.253s as he finished in 21st place.
The top six from Friday’s WorldSBK action, full results here:
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’33.687s
2. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) +0.276s
3. Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.330s
4. Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.405s
5. Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +0.410s
6. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.456s
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