COVID-19 Forces Cancellation Of ASBK Round 5 – Morgan Park
ASBK Management Team is disappointed to announce today that Round 5 of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, to be held at Morgan Park Raceway on 20-22 August has been cancelled due to the ongoing state border restrictions and COVID-19 affecting many parts of Australia.
Whilst hopes were held that any improvements in the coming weeks may mean that the event would be possible, yesterday’s decision by Queensland Government to close their border and continued lockdowns in many parts of Australia, now cements this decision.
The primary concern for ASBK Management is the health and safety of all in the ASBK Paddock and ensuring that the ASBK Championship can be conduct in a safe & fair manner.
ASBK Management recognize this is a difficult time for many in the ASBK Paddock who are effected by lockdowns and growing restrictions to business and everyday life. As a result, we believe it is best to announce this decision today to allow the ASBK Paddock the maximum time to adjust plans and to minimize inconvenience.
ASBK Management confirm that the ASBK Championship will not attend Morgan Park Raceway in 2021, as the circuit have been unable to offer ASBK any alternative dates suitable to either organization due to the circuits currently full calendar.
ASBK is disappointed for our host club, – Motorcycle Sportsmen of Qld and for Queensland fans of ASBK who will now need to wait until next year to see ASBK return to Queensland. We thank Southern Downs Regional Council for their planned support of ASBK in 2021.
The focus of ASBK will now turns towards Round 6 of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul to be held at The Bend Motorsport Park in September. Further announcements on this next ASBK round at The Bend will be provided next week.
It is very frustrating to again be faced with these tough decision and changes to the ASBK calendar for another year, but ASBK Management remains focused on making the best decisions available and are committed to creating the very best 2021 ASBK Championship possible.
ASBK Management thanks its riders, teams, partners, officials and fans for their support and understanding at this very complicated and difficult time.
ASBK Management Team wishes all effected by the current COVID-19 outbreaks continued safety and we look forward to seeing you trackside at The Bend.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WorldSBK Press Office:
Perfect homecoming: Aegerter puts Ten Kate Racing on top after day 1 at Assen The Swiss rider went under lap record pace in both practice sessions at the iconic Dutch venue as the Dutch Ten Kate Racing outfit look for victory on home soil
The FIM Supersport World Championship returned to action at the TT Circuit Assen for the Prosecco DOC Dutch Round with Swiss rider Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) topping the combined classification as he took to the track adorned in iconic yellow colours on both his leathers and Yamaha YZF-R6 as his Ten Kate Race outfit celebrated their home race.
ODENDAAL VS AEGERTER
The morning Free Practice 1 session was a battle between Aegerter and Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) as the South African rider looked to get back to winning ways and close the gap to Aegerter in the Championship. Both riders went under the lap record throughout the day, with Aegerter posting a 1’37.274s to top the times at the end of Friday by just 0.041s; the duo separated by just over a tenth but half-a-second clear of their nearest rivals.
Spanish rider Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo Team) put in a strong last lap at the end of the disrupted Free Practice 2 session to slot into third place as he goes in search for his first WorldSSP podium at the venue he made his Moto2™ debut at a few weeks ago. Philipp Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) claimed fourth place on his Kawasaki ZX-6R, the only rider to not improve in the afternoon Free Practice 2 session.
ROUNDING OUT THE TOP TEN
2019 WorldSSP Champion Randy Krummenacher (EAB Racing Team) had a strong Friday showing as he continues to build up speed on his return to the Championship with fifth place, ahead of Frenchman Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) in sixth. Turkish star Can Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti) claimed seventh place, just three tenths behind his teammate, as he looks to kickstart his campaign and fight for podiums and victories.
Estonian rider Hannes Soomer (Kallio Racing) claimed a top-ten finish on Friday with eighth place in the combined classification, finishing less than a tenth ahead of Niki Tuuli (MV Agusta Corse Clienti). Tuuli had a disrupted day on Friday after he suffered a highside crash on his MV Agusta F3 675 machine in Free Practice 1, although he was able to take to the track afterwards. Kevin Manfredi (Altogo Racing Team) claimed a top ten finish and was also the highest place WorldSSP Challenge rider in the standings after Friday.
LOOKING TO BREAK INTO THE TOP TEN
It’s a close field in WorldSSP after Friday running at Assen with Italian rider Federico Caricasulo (GMT94 Yamaha) missing out on a spot in the top ten by just 0.029s; eventually finishing in 11th place. Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) claimed 12th place, with Mattia Casadei (VFT Racing), a substitute rider for Davide Pizzoli, in 13th place.
A strong opening to the season for Luca Bernardi (CM Racing) wasn’t enough to put the Sammarinese rider into the top ten as he finished in 14th place, over a second behind Aegerter’s time, with Michel Fabrizio (G.A.P. MOTOZOO Racing by Puccetti) rounding out the top 15.
Sheridan Morais (Wojcik Racing Team), standing in for the injured Christoffer Bergman, claimed 16th on his return to the Championship for the first time in three years, finishing ahead of the also-returning Peter Sebestyen (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team); Sebestyen making his return to the Championship with the Evan Bros. outfit. Daniel Webb (WRP Wepol Racing) claimed 18th spot on his return from injury with Vertti Takala (Kallio Racing) and Leonardo Taccini (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) completing the top 20.
TO NOTE…
Suzuki made a return to the WorldSSP paddock with Finnish rider Eemeli Lahti (HRP Suzuki) in 23rd place. The afternoon Free Practice 2 session was interrupted by a Red Flag when Shogo Kawasaki (G.A.P. MOTOZOO Racing by Puccetti) crashed with around five minutes of the 45-minute; Kawasaki able to walk away from the crash and the session resuming after a short delay. Kawasaki was declared unfit following the crash with a right wrist contusion and concussion.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WorldSBK Press Office:
Rea vs Gerloff: Kawasaki take top honours as Day 1 at Assen turns fierce
Jonathan Rea (1). Photo courtesy Dorna.
The Ulsterman held off the American in a titanically close first day which saw the top 13 covered by less than a second and five manufacturers inside the top five positions
The 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is well underway, and it was close in the WorldSBK class at the TT Circuit Assen for round five of the Championship during the Prosecco DOC Dutch Round. Some 13 riders were covered by less than a second, with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) leading the way on combined times ahead of Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), whilst Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was third, having led the way in FP1. It was a strong day for parity across the manufacturers, with all five brands inside the top five places come the chequered flag.
KAWASAKI VS YAMAHA: Rea pips Gerloff
It was a solid first day for Jonathan Rea, as the Ulsterman enjoyed a strong afternoon session after finishing second in the morning. Despite a major moment with around 20 minutes to go in FP2 coming into the final chicane, he finished in first in the afternoon, thus placing him top overall. Teammate Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) didn’t have the sharpest of mornings in the Netherlands as he was only 12th but was back inside the top ten in ninth overall and did a 13-lap run, gathering data for the weekend ahead.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Top Yamaha honours went to Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), as he celebrated his Yamaha contract extension with P2 on day one, trading positions with Rea for top spot. Championship leader Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) had a busy day where he was inside the top six but didn’t feature inside the top three too much, as he adapts to Assen aboard the Yamaha. In the end, Razgatlioglu ended the session in fifth and was sixth overall, whilst teammate Andrea Locatelli had a more than dignified first WorldSBK appearance at Assen and was a firm fixture inside the top ten for the majority of the session. The Italian finished the day in 13th overall, although his position perhaps is not indicative of the potential he has.
DUCATI’S TALE OF TWO HALVES: fast in the morning, catch-up in the afternoon
Bouncing back and shining bright, Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was fastest in FP1 and was in contention throughout the afternoon as he worked on race pace. Although he didn’t feature inside the top six in the afternoon and was relying on his morning time, he was third overall. Teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi had a strong showing in the morning but like Redding, didn’t feature quite as heavily in the afternoon but was nonetheless in contention in eighth. Both factory Ducatis appeared to have a tougher afternoon session in comparison to the morning.
Scott Redding (45). Photo courtesy Dorna.
HONDA AND BMW IN CONTENTION: Bautista and Sykes showcase potential
It was a turnaround in comparison to the morning session for Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC), after having languished outside the top ten in FP1, bounced back to enjoy his best Friday of the season with fourth overall and just 0.350s off the top. Bautista was visibly more confident aboard the Honda and will hope that a solid opening day can be good foundations to build on ahead of the two upcoming race days. Leon Haslam (Team HRC) couldn’t match the heights of Donington Park just yet and was 12th after day one, with plenty more yet to come.
Michael van der Mark (60). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was flying the BMW flag in fifth place overall and was fastest at varying points of the session. Come the close of the session, it was apparent that the BMW M 1000 RR had made strides, with Sykes fastest in sector two and four – high speed areas of the Assen track. Teammate and home-hero Michael van der Mark was 11th overall and on the fringes of the top ten, albeit less than six tenths off top slot occupied by Rea.
INDEPENDENT RULE: stories further down
Besides Gerloff in second, there were two other Independent riders inside the top ten, with Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) overcoming a crash in the opening moments to finish seventh overall. Next Independent was Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven), who had a solid morning session in third before slipping down the order to tenth on combined times, nearly six tenths slower than his morning time. Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing) was 14th on his first WorldSBK experience at Assen, marginally ahead of Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) and Tito Rabat (Barni Racing Team). Isaac Viñales (ORELAC Racing VerdNatura), Leandro Mercado (MIE Racing Honda Team), Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), wildcard Andrea Mantovani (Vince64) and Loris Cresson (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing) rounded out the standings.
Yamaha Motor Europe is pleased to announce that Garrett Gerloff will continue with Yamaha in WorldSBK until at least the end of the 2022 season, after agreeing a one-year contract extension with the only American rider in the series.
Off the back of his best-ever WorldSBK championship result at Donington Park, where he finished second in the final race of the British round, Gerloff’s chances of taking that extra step towards his first series victory will be further bolstered by this new one-year extension.
The 25-year-old has been a revelation since arriving in the WorldSBK paddock from MotoAmerica at the beginning of 2020. Despite having never raced at any of the European venues, Gerloff quickly adapted and by the second half of his debut season was a regular podium challenger, taking top three finishes with the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team at Barcelona and Estoril.
Benefiting from the 2021-spec Yamaha R1 this year, Gerloff has continued to show race winning potential, with two podium finishes at Aragón and Donington Park seeing him lie sixth in the riders’ standings, while the Texan also impressed on his MotoGP race debut with the PETRONAS Yamaha SRT team at Assen.
Garrett Gerloff
I’m really excited to have signed this contract with Yamaha to continue with them next year. I’ve had a great time in Europe the past year and a half, and I’ve been really happy with the progress I’ve seen within myself, the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team and the Yamaha R1. We’ve made serious steps forward already this season, allowing us to consistently challenge for the podium, but I know there is more to come. We have been so close to that first win, within touching distance at Donington Park, and with the support of Yamaha and the team I’m confident we can do it before the season is out.
Andrea Dosoli
Road Racing Manager, Yamaha Motor Europe
I still remember Magny-Cours in 2019, when Garrett came to visit us and where our journey together started. Since then, he has impressed everyone inside the Yamaha family with his motivation and commitment. He has been delivering fantastic results, has shown great speed and is able to quickly adapt to new circuits, confirmed at Donington Park where he was fastest overall on his first day and claimed a very impressive podium on Sunday. We’re really happy that we can extend this collaboration for another season believing that there is more to come from both sides and Garrett can become a title contender in the close future. We have given the possibility to a young, talented rider, who we selected from a national championship and brought him onto the world stage, clearly confirming the strong Yamaha worldwide motorsport involvement.
Paolo Pavesio
Director, Marketing and Motorsport, Yamaha Motor Europe
It brings us great satisfaction to be able to confirm that Garrett will remain with Yamaha for a third season. Since joining us in 2020 Garrett has shown that he has the raw talent needed to succeed on the world championship stage, regularly fighting at the front with the most prolific riders in the series. Garrett’s move to WorldSBK has again shown the opportunities Yamaha riders have to step up from national championships, such as MotoAmerica, to the world stage. I believe that this is important for Yamaha, for WorldSBK and, in this instance, the American fans. It is our intention to make this step easier in the future, welcoming more Yamaha riders from overseas into our world championship program, as we have done already with Garrett, Kohta Nozane and Galang Hendra Pratama, to reconfirm the global role of WorldSBK.
Cathedral of Speed, Cathedral of Dreams: Assen awaits WorldSBK title scrap
Steeped in history, raced by legends, brought alive by fans: after missing out in 2020, the iconic Assen circuit is back and ready to light the fireworks as 2021 rumbles on
Summer is well and truly upon us and the 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season is in full flow as the paddock heads to round five at the TT Circuit Assen for the Prosecco DOC Dutch Round. The iconic Assen venue has been a part of WorldSBK ever since 1992 and despite missing out in 2020 after the pandemic took hold, it’s back in emphatic style for 2021. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) leads Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) by just two points in what is a huge title scrap; will the pendulum swing once again this weekend?
YAMAHA VS KAWASAKI: a matter of form
Three wins in the last four races, nine podium finishes from the opening 12 and finishing every single race inside the top six, Toprak Razgatlioglu is in the form of his life. The 24-year-old Turk has found consistency that has even seen him leap ahead in the Championship standings. Assen is a circuit where he took a first Superstock 1000 win back in 2017, whilst in WorldSBK, his record reads three ninth place finishes and a tenth – not spectacular but Toprak is a different rider in comparison to just two years ago, so can he extend his Championship lead at a track he’s not raced at with Yamaha before? It’s positive vibes on the other side of the garage too, as teammate Andrea Locatelli heads to the track he took his best ever Moto2™ finish at in 2019, with sixth.
The last time Jonathan Rea came to Assen, he was also trailing in the Championship – although that was by 39 points to Alvaro Bautista and Ducati. With 12 victories, he is level on Assen wins with the legendary Carl Fogarty with both British aces being maestros around the legendary Dutch venue. Aiming to become the first rider in WorldSBK to win 13 races at one circuit, Rea knows he has a prime opportunity to strike back. After a podium at home and a solid performance at Donington Park, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) heads to Assen, the only circuit he’s taken a pole at – will he be able to conjure something special up and be in the victory fight.
HOME-HERO AND TURNING A CORNER: van der Marks leads BMW to Assen
Heading into the round in fine form are the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team of Tom Sykes and Michael van der Mark, with the latter at home and ready to put on a show in front of the Dutch fans. Van der Mark has an impressive seven podiums at Assen and on the last visit, he beat Jonathan Rea to second in a final run to the line to give the home crowd what they wanted. After achieving a first podium with BMW at Donington Park, will he go one step further than his last Assen appearance? For Sykes, he’s aiming to make it three consecutive podiums in 2021 at a track he took his last win at three years ago; will the BMWs once again be a prominent feature at the head of the field?
DUCATI AND HONDA: can they make Assen awesome?
The dark days of Donington Park are behind Ducati as they head to Assen, with Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) some 66 points behind Razgatlioglu in the title race. No podium in seven races, this is Redding’s worst run since joining WorldSBK last year. Two Moto2™ podiums in 2012 and 2013, third place in the 2016 MotoGP™ event and two wins from the British championship in 2019, Assen may be the turning point Redding needs. On the other side of the garage is Michael Ruben Rinaldi who, after two victories at Misano, wasn’t in contention at Donington Park. Rinaldi’s best WorldSBK result at the track is 12th, although he was second to Toprak in STK1000 in 2017.
It was a mixed bag for Honda at Donington Park, with Leon Haslam (Team HRC) riding exceptionally well to get his best result of the year in fourth in the Tissot Superpole Race, whilst Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) never truly got going. Bautista won the most recent two races at Assen in WorldSBK with a dominant double in 2019, whilst Haslam himself has taken wins at the circuit in the British championship, as well as three podiums in WorldSBK at the track – two of which came on the Stiggy Honda in 2009 when he was battling for victory with Ben Spies and Noriyuki Haga. With some time to recharge and reset, expect Team HRC to be more towards the sharp end at Assen.
INDEPENDENTS: can they achieve a moment of magic?
Onto the Independent riders and it is Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) who leads the way after a fine second place in Race 2 at Donington Park – his best result in a full-distance race. Assen is also a track that he now at least knows, following his solid substitute ride in the Dutch MotoGP™. He’s sixth in the standings and 24 points from third overall. Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven) is next best Independent in ninth overall at a circuit of which he’s had podiums but never won at, whilst fellow Ducati rider Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) has been a revelation in recent events and is continuously improving. In 2016 in the WorldSSP race, Bassani started 23rd but blasted through to finish in eighth place. He’s just ten points from the top ten in the standings, held by Alvaro Bautista.
Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) is the next Independent in 14th, as he also continues to improve each round, particularly in Superpole, whilst Tito Rabat (Barni Racing Team) is 15th. Hoping to be fighting back is Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), after he was declared unfit after FP1 of Donington Park due to the finger fracture he sustained in testing at Navarra. Eugene Laverty (RC Squadra Corse) is next on the BMW M 1000 RR, a past race winner at Assen in 2013, whilst Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing) and Isaac Viñales (ORELAC Racing VerdNatura) make their WorldSBK debuts at Assen. Christophe Ponsson (Alstare Yamaha) will hope that he can find form on a circuit he knows, whereas Loris Cresson (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing) and the returning Leandro Mercado (MIE Racing Honda Team) aim to score their first points of 2021. There will also be one wildcard in the form of Andrea Mantovani (Vince64), who will be onboard the ZX-10RR Kawasaki.
Don’t forget, you can enjoy the FREE Official Programme here, and watch all of the Prosecco DOC Dutch Round with the WorldSBK VideoPass!
Team Obsolete's Dave Roper (7) leads Alex McLean (122), Walt Fulton (177X), and Jack Parker (18) early in an AHRMA Vintage Cup (350 GP) race at Barber Motorsports Park in 2019. Photo by etechphoto.com, courtesy of AHRMA.
Join Team Obsolete owner Rob Iannucci, racer Dave Roper, journalist Aaron Frank, and six vintage racebikes for “A Day At The Track.”
The 2022 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship will not be going to Tasmania in 2022. Photo by Russell Colvin, courtesy ASBK.
COVID-19 Forces Cancellation Of ASBK Round 5 – Morgan Park
ASBK Management Team is disappointed to announce today that Round 5 of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, to be held at Morgan Park Raceway on 20-22 August has been cancelled due to the ongoing state border restrictions and COVID-19 affecting many parts of Australia.
Whilst hopes were held that any improvements in the coming weeks may mean that the event would be possible, yesterday’s decision by Queensland Government to close their border and continued lockdowns in many parts of Australia, now cements this decision.
The primary concern for ASBK Management is the health and safety of all in the ASBK Paddock and ensuring that the ASBK Championship can be conduct in a safe & fair manner.
ASBK Management recognize this is a difficult time for many in the ASBK Paddock who are effected by lockdowns and growing restrictions to business and everyday life. As a result, we believe it is best to announce this decision today to allow the ASBK Paddock the maximum time to adjust plans and to minimize inconvenience.
ASBK Management confirm that the ASBK Championship will not attend Morgan Park Raceway in 2021, as the circuit have been unable to offer ASBK any alternative dates suitable to either organization due to the circuits currently full calendar.
ASBK is disappointed for our host club, – Motorcycle Sportsmen of Qld and for Queensland fans of ASBK who will now need to wait until next year to see ASBK return to Queensland. We thank Southern Downs Regional Council for their planned support of ASBK in 2021.
The focus of ASBK will now turns towards Round 6 of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul to be held at The Bend Motorsport Park in September. Further announcements on this next ASBK round at The Bend will be provided next week.
It is very frustrating to again be faced with these tough decision and changes to the ASBK calendar for another year, but ASBK Management remains focused on making the best decisions available and are committed to creating the very best 2021 ASBK Championship possible.
ASBK Management thanks its riders, teams, partners, officials and fans for their support and understanding at this very complicated and difficult time.
ASBK Management Team wishes all effected by the current COVID-19 outbreaks continued safety and we look forward to seeing you trackside at The Bend.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WorldSBK Press Office:
Perfect homecoming: Aegerter puts Ten Kate Racing on top after day 1 at Assen The Swiss rider went under lap record pace in both practice sessions at the iconic Dutch venue as the Dutch Ten Kate Racing outfit look for victory on home soil
The FIM Supersport World Championship returned to action at the TT Circuit Assen for the Prosecco DOC Dutch Round with Swiss rider Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) topping the combined classification as he took to the track adorned in iconic yellow colours on both his leathers and Yamaha YZF-R6 as his Ten Kate Race outfit celebrated their home race.
ODENDAAL VS AEGERTER
The morning Free Practice 1 session was a battle between Aegerter and Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) as the South African rider looked to get back to winning ways and close the gap to Aegerter in the Championship. Both riders went under the lap record throughout the day, with Aegerter posting a 1’37.274s to top the times at the end of Friday by just 0.041s; the duo separated by just over a tenth but half-a-second clear of their nearest rivals.
Spanish rider Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo Team) put in a strong last lap at the end of the disrupted Free Practice 2 session to slot into third place as he goes in search for his first WorldSSP podium at the venue he made his Moto2™ debut at a few weeks ago. Philipp Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) claimed fourth place on his Kawasaki ZX-6R, the only rider to not improve in the afternoon Free Practice 2 session.
ROUNDING OUT THE TOP TEN
2019 WorldSSP Champion Randy Krummenacher (EAB Racing Team) had a strong Friday showing as he continues to build up speed on his return to the Championship with fifth place, ahead of Frenchman Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) in sixth. Turkish star Can Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti) claimed seventh place, just three tenths behind his teammate, as he looks to kickstart his campaign and fight for podiums and victories.
Estonian rider Hannes Soomer (Kallio Racing) claimed a top-ten finish on Friday with eighth place in the combined classification, finishing less than a tenth ahead of Niki Tuuli (MV Agusta Corse Clienti). Tuuli had a disrupted day on Friday after he suffered a highside crash on his MV Agusta F3 675 machine in Free Practice 1, although he was able to take to the track afterwards. Kevin Manfredi (Altogo Racing Team) claimed a top ten finish and was also the highest place WorldSSP Challenge rider in the standings after Friday.
LOOKING TO BREAK INTO THE TOP TEN
It’s a close field in WorldSSP after Friday running at Assen with Italian rider Federico Caricasulo (GMT94 Yamaha) missing out on a spot in the top ten by just 0.029s; eventually finishing in 11th place. Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) claimed 12th place, with Mattia Casadei (VFT Racing), a substitute rider for Davide Pizzoli, in 13th place.
A strong opening to the season for Luca Bernardi (CM Racing) wasn’t enough to put the Sammarinese rider into the top ten as he finished in 14th place, over a second behind Aegerter’s time, with Michel Fabrizio (G.A.P. MOTOZOO Racing by Puccetti) rounding out the top 15.
Sheridan Morais (Wojcik Racing Team), standing in for the injured Christoffer Bergman, claimed 16th on his return to the Championship for the first time in three years, finishing ahead of the also-returning Peter Sebestyen (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team); Sebestyen making his return to the Championship with the Evan Bros. outfit. Daniel Webb (WRP Wepol Racing) claimed 18th spot on his return from injury with Vertti Takala (Kallio Racing) and Leonardo Taccini (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) completing the top 20.
TO NOTE…
Suzuki made a return to the WorldSSP paddock with Finnish rider Eemeli Lahti (HRP Suzuki) in 23rd place. The afternoon Free Practice 2 session was interrupted by a Red Flag when Shogo Kawasaki (G.A.P. MOTOZOO Racing by Puccetti) crashed with around five minutes of the 45-minute; Kawasaki able to walk away from the crash and the session resuming after a short delay. Kawasaki was declared unfit following the crash with a right wrist contusion and concussion.
More, from a press release issued by Dorna WorldSBK Press Office:
Rea vs Gerloff: Kawasaki take top honours as Day 1 at Assen turns fierce
Jonathan Rea (1). Photo courtesy Dorna.
The Ulsterman held off the American in a titanically close first day which saw the top 13 covered by less than a second and five manufacturers inside the top five positions
The 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is well underway, and it was close in the WorldSBK class at the TT Circuit Assen for round five of the Championship during the Prosecco DOC Dutch Round. Some 13 riders were covered by less than a second, with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) leading the way on combined times ahead of Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), whilst Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was third, having led the way in FP1. It was a strong day for parity across the manufacturers, with all five brands inside the top five places come the chequered flag.
KAWASAKI VS YAMAHA: Rea pips Gerloff
It was a solid first day for Jonathan Rea, as the Ulsterman enjoyed a strong afternoon session after finishing second in the morning. Despite a major moment with around 20 minutes to go in FP2 coming into the final chicane, he finished in first in the afternoon, thus placing him top overall. Teammate Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) didn’t have the sharpest of mornings in the Netherlands as he was only 12th but was back inside the top ten in ninth overall and did a 13-lap run, gathering data for the weekend ahead.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Top Yamaha honours went to Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), as he celebrated his Yamaha contract extension with P2 on day one, trading positions with Rea for top spot. Championship leader Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) had a busy day where he was inside the top six but didn’t feature inside the top three too much, as he adapts to Assen aboard the Yamaha. In the end, Razgatlioglu ended the session in fifth and was sixth overall, whilst teammate Andrea Locatelli had a more than dignified first WorldSBK appearance at Assen and was a firm fixture inside the top ten for the majority of the session. The Italian finished the day in 13th overall, although his position perhaps is not indicative of the potential he has.
DUCATI’S TALE OF TWO HALVES: fast in the morning, catch-up in the afternoon
Bouncing back and shining bright, Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was fastest in FP1 and was in contention throughout the afternoon as he worked on race pace. Although he didn’t feature inside the top six in the afternoon and was relying on his morning time, he was third overall. Teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi had a strong showing in the morning but like Redding, didn’t feature quite as heavily in the afternoon but was nonetheless in contention in eighth. Both factory Ducatis appeared to have a tougher afternoon session in comparison to the morning.
Scott Redding (45). Photo courtesy Dorna.
HONDA AND BMW IN CONTENTION: Bautista and Sykes showcase potential
It was a turnaround in comparison to the morning session for Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC), after having languished outside the top ten in FP1, bounced back to enjoy his best Friday of the season with fourth overall and just 0.350s off the top. Bautista was visibly more confident aboard the Honda and will hope that a solid opening day can be good foundations to build on ahead of the two upcoming race days. Leon Haslam (Team HRC) couldn’t match the heights of Donington Park just yet and was 12th after day one, with plenty more yet to come.
Michael van der Mark (60). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was flying the BMW flag in fifth place overall and was fastest at varying points of the session. Come the close of the session, it was apparent that the BMW M 1000 RR had made strides, with Sykes fastest in sector two and four – high speed areas of the Assen track. Teammate and home-hero Michael van der Mark was 11th overall and on the fringes of the top ten, albeit less than six tenths off top slot occupied by Rea.
INDEPENDENT RULE: stories further down
Besides Gerloff in second, there were two other Independent riders inside the top ten, with Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) overcoming a crash in the opening moments to finish seventh overall. Next Independent was Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven), who had a solid morning session in third before slipping down the order to tenth on combined times, nearly six tenths slower than his morning time. Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing) was 14th on his first WorldSBK experience at Assen, marginally ahead of Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) and Tito Rabat (Barni Racing Team). Isaac Viñales (ORELAC Racing VerdNatura), Leandro Mercado (MIE Racing Honda Team), Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), wildcard Andrea Mantovani (Vince64) and Loris Cresson (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing) rounded out the standings.
American Garrett Gerloff (right) with Andrea Dosoli, Road Racing Manager, Yamaha Motor Europe (left). Photo courtesy Yamaha Racing.
Yamaha Retains Garrett Gerloff for 2022 Season
Yamaha Motor Europe is pleased to announce that Garrett Gerloff will continue with Yamaha in WorldSBK until at least the end of the 2022 season, after agreeing a one-year contract extension with the only American rider in the series.
Off the back of his best-ever WorldSBK championship result at Donington Park, where he finished second in the final race of the British round, Gerloff’s chances of taking that extra step towards his first series victory will be further bolstered by this new one-year extension.
The 25-year-old has been a revelation since arriving in the WorldSBK paddock from MotoAmerica at the beginning of 2020. Despite having never raced at any of the European venues, Gerloff quickly adapted and by the second half of his debut season was a regular podium challenger, taking top three finishes with the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team at Barcelona and Estoril.
Benefiting from the 2021-spec Yamaha R1 this year, Gerloff has continued to show race winning potential, with two podium finishes at Aragón and Donington Park seeing him lie sixth in the riders’ standings, while the Texan also impressed on his MotoGP race debut with the PETRONAS Yamaha SRT team at Assen.
Garrett Gerloff
I’m really excited to have signed this contract with Yamaha to continue with them next year. I’ve had a great time in Europe the past year and a half, and I’ve been really happy with the progress I’ve seen within myself, the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team and the Yamaha R1. We’ve made serious steps forward already this season, allowing us to consistently challenge for the podium, but I know there is more to come. We have been so close to that first win, within touching distance at Donington Park, and with the support of Yamaha and the team I’m confident we can do it before the season is out.
Andrea Dosoli
Road Racing Manager, Yamaha Motor Europe
I still remember Magny-Cours in 2019, when Garrett came to visit us and where our journey together started. Since then, he has impressed everyone inside the Yamaha family with his motivation and commitment. He has been delivering fantastic results, has shown great speed and is able to quickly adapt to new circuits, confirmed at Donington Park where he was fastest overall on his first day and claimed a very impressive podium on Sunday. We’re really happy that we can extend this collaboration for another season believing that there is more to come from both sides and Garrett can become a title contender in the close future. We have given the possibility to a young, talented rider, who we selected from a national championship and brought him onto the world stage, clearly confirming the strong Yamaha worldwide motorsport involvement.
Paolo Pavesio
Director, Marketing and Motorsport, Yamaha Motor Europe
It brings us great satisfaction to be able to confirm that Garrett will remain with Yamaha for a third season. Since joining us in 2020 Garrett has shown that he has the raw talent needed to succeed on the world championship stage, regularly fighting at the front with the most prolific riders in the series. Garrett’s move to WorldSBK has again shown the opportunities Yamaha riders have to step up from national championships, such as MotoAmerica, to the world stage. I believe that this is important for Yamaha, for WorldSBK and, in this instance, the American fans. It is our intention to make this step easier in the future, welcoming more Yamaha riders from overseas into our world championship program, as we have done already with Garrett, Kohta Nozane and Galang Hendra Pratama, to reconfirm the global role of WorldSBK.
The start of a World Superbike race at Donington Park in 2021. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Cathedral of Speed, Cathedral of Dreams: Assen awaits WorldSBK title scrap
Steeped in history, raced by legends, brought alive by fans: after missing out in 2020, the iconic Assen circuit is back and ready to light the fireworks as 2021 rumbles on
Summer is well and truly upon us and the 2021 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season is in full flow as the paddock heads to round five at the TT Circuit Assen for the Prosecco DOC Dutch Round. The iconic Assen venue has been a part of WorldSBK ever since 1992 and despite missing out in 2020 after the pandemic took hold, it’s back in emphatic style for 2021. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) leads Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) by just two points in what is a huge title scrap; will the pendulum swing once again this weekend?
YAMAHA VS KAWASAKI: a matter of form
Three wins in the last four races, nine podium finishes from the opening 12 and finishing every single race inside the top six, Toprak Razgatlioglu is in the form of his life. The 24-year-old Turk has found consistency that has even seen him leap ahead in the Championship standings. Assen is a circuit where he took a first Superstock 1000 win back in 2017, whilst in WorldSBK, his record reads three ninth place finishes and a tenth – not spectacular but Toprak is a different rider in comparison to just two years ago, so can he extend his Championship lead at a track he’s not raced at with Yamaha before? It’s positive vibes on the other side of the garage too, as teammate Andrea Locatelli heads to the track he took his best ever Moto2™ finish at in 2019, with sixth.
The last time Jonathan Rea came to Assen, he was also trailing in the Championship – although that was by 39 points to Alvaro Bautista and Ducati. With 12 victories, he is level on Assen wins with the legendary Carl Fogarty with both British aces being maestros around the legendary Dutch venue. Aiming to become the first rider in WorldSBK to win 13 races at one circuit, Rea knows he has a prime opportunity to strike back. After a podium at home and a solid performance at Donington Park, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) heads to Assen, the only circuit he’s taken a pole at – will he be able to conjure something special up and be in the victory fight.
HOME-HERO AND TURNING A CORNER: van der Marks leads BMW to Assen
Heading into the round in fine form are the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team of Tom Sykes and Michael van der Mark, with the latter at home and ready to put on a show in front of the Dutch fans. Van der Mark has an impressive seven podiums at Assen and on the last visit, he beat Jonathan Rea to second in a final run to the line to give the home crowd what they wanted. After achieving a first podium with BMW at Donington Park, will he go one step further than his last Assen appearance? For Sykes, he’s aiming to make it three consecutive podiums in 2021 at a track he took his last win at three years ago; will the BMWs once again be a prominent feature at the head of the field?
DUCATI AND HONDA: can they make Assen awesome?
The dark days of Donington Park are behind Ducati as they head to Assen, with Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) some 66 points behind Razgatlioglu in the title race. No podium in seven races, this is Redding’s worst run since joining WorldSBK last year. Two Moto2™ podiums in 2012 and 2013, third place in the 2016 MotoGP™ event and two wins from the British championship in 2019, Assen may be the turning point Redding needs. On the other side of the garage is Michael Ruben Rinaldi who, after two victories at Misano, wasn’t in contention at Donington Park. Rinaldi’s best WorldSBK result at the track is 12th, although he was second to Toprak in STK1000 in 2017.
It was a mixed bag for Honda at Donington Park, with Leon Haslam (Team HRC) riding exceptionally well to get his best result of the year in fourth in the Tissot Superpole Race, whilst Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) never truly got going. Bautista won the most recent two races at Assen in WorldSBK with a dominant double in 2019, whilst Haslam himself has taken wins at the circuit in the British championship, as well as three podiums in WorldSBK at the track – two of which came on the Stiggy Honda in 2009 when he was battling for victory with Ben Spies and Noriyuki Haga. With some time to recharge and reset, expect Team HRC to be more towards the sharp end at Assen.
INDEPENDENTS: can they achieve a moment of magic?
Onto the Independent riders and it is Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) who leads the way after a fine second place in Race 2 at Donington Park – his best result in a full-distance race. Assen is also a track that he now at least knows, following his solid substitute ride in the Dutch MotoGP™. He’s sixth in the standings and 24 points from third overall. Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven) is next best Independent in ninth overall at a circuit of which he’s had podiums but never won at, whilst fellow Ducati rider Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) has been a revelation in recent events and is continuously improving. In 2016 in the WorldSSP race, Bassani started 23rd but blasted through to finish in eighth place. He’s just ten points from the top ten in the standings, held by Alvaro Bautista.
Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) is the next Independent in 14th, as he also continues to improve each round, particularly in Superpole, whilst Tito Rabat (Barni Racing Team) is 15th. Hoping to be fighting back is Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), after he was declared unfit after FP1 of Donington Park due to the finger fracture he sustained in testing at Navarra. Eugene Laverty (RC Squadra Corse) is next on the BMW M 1000 RR, a past race winner at Assen in 2013, whilst Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Racing) and Isaac Viñales (ORELAC Racing VerdNatura) make their WorldSBK debuts at Assen. Christophe Ponsson (Alstare Yamaha) will hope that he can find form on a circuit he knows, whereas Loris Cresson (OUTDO TPR Team Pedercini Racing) and the returning Leandro Mercado (MIE Racing Honda Team) aim to score their first points of 2021. There will also be one wildcard in the form of Andrea Mantovani (Vince64), who will be onboard the ZX-10RR Kawasaki.
Don’t forget, you can enjoy the FREE Official Programme here, and watch all of the Prosecco DOC Dutch Round with the WorldSBK VideoPass!
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