Lucas Mahias topped FIM Supersport World Championship Superpole qualifying Friday at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands. Riding his GMT94 Yamaha YZF-R9 on Pirelli control tires, the Frenchman lapped the 2.82-mile (4.54 km) course in 1:36.490 to top the field of 34 riders and earn pole position.

Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise was the best of the rest with a 1:36.561 on his Eastroc Evan Bros ZXMOTO 820RR, and Albert Arenas earned the third and final spot on the front row with a lap time of 1:36.572 on his AS BLU CRU Yamaha YZF-R9.

Tom Booth-Amos got fourth on his PTR Triumph Street Triple 765 RS with a lap time of 1:36.600 and Can Oncu finished the session fifth on his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate YZF-R9 with a time of 1:36.628.

More from a press release issued by WSBK:

Mahias strikes late at Assen for his tenth WorldSSP pole position, shuffling his rival Debise to P2. The ‘Cathedral of Speed’ featured no shortage of drama in WorldSSP’s Tissot Superpole session.

The FIM Supersport World Championship rolled out on the tarmac to begin their Pirelli Dutch Round on Friday afternoon. Friday afternoon featured a treat of a Tissot Superpole session at the venerated TT Assen Circuit, as Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) took pole position with the session’s fastest time. Ever so slightly behind Mahias was his countryman and rival Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) on the timesheets in P2, and Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) took the last spot on the front row in P3. Xavi Cardelus (Cerba Yamaha Racing Team) suffered a crash early in the session at the exit of the final chicane. His bike tumbled across the racing line, causing a red flag to clean up fluids on the track as well as provide him medical attention before he was taken to the medical centre for further attention.

FLYING FRENCHMEN: Mahias and Debise make it a French 1-2

After the red flag restart, 34 minutes remained, and it was Lucas Mahias who made the session his own with a late 1’36.490s to take his tenth WorldSSP pole, his first pole since Most last season. Valentin Debise set himself and his ZXMOTO manufacturer up for continued success after a dominant trip to Portimao as he landed P2 on the session thanks to a 1’36.561s time. Albert Arenas takes P3 at the end of the 45-minute session, landing a strong 1’36.572s time to propel him into the thick of the fight at the front on Saturday afternoon.

 BOOTH-AMOS P4: Rides in P1 early

Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) The Englishman led the session after the red flag; unfortunately, he saw his 1’36.600s time fall down to P4 by the chequered flag. Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) will see lights out from the middle of the second row thanks to a 1’36.600s time. His real work still remains however, as he took pole at Portimao as well, yet in the last round, he wasn’t able to convert his Race 1 pole into points. Alessandro Zaccone (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) made a late 1’36.646s run across the line, sneaking up onto the second row for P6.

CASADEI, JESPERSEN, AEGERTER BACK IN THE FIGHT: Season-best result for all three

Mattia Casadei (D34G WorldSSP Racing Team) moved up to the third row for the first time this season after a pedestrian pair of prior rounds. His time of 1’36.658s landed him P7 for his best qualification so far this season. Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) took another rock-solid result as his 1’36.667ss time sends him to the middle of the third row for P8. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) snagged a P9 finish to start on the fourth row with a time of 1’36.872s, tailed by Danish rider Simon Jespersen (EAB Racing Team), a tenth behind him in P10. Dominique Aegerter (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) landed a critical Superpole result at Assen thanks to a late 1’37.045s, his P11 arriving like rain in a drought to the Swiss rider who has had a rough start to his WorldSSP return so far.

The top six from the WorldSSP Tissot Superpole session, full results here!

1 Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) 1’36.490s

2. Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) +0.071s

3. Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) +0.082s

4. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +0.110s

5. Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +0.138s

6. Alessandro Zaccone (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) +0.156s

Supersport action continues on Saturday with their Race 1 at 16:00 local time (UTC +2) WorldSBK VideoPass!

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.

Can Oncu was quickest during FIM Supersport World Championship Free practice Friday morning at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands. Riding his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate YZF-R9 on Pirelli control tires, the Turkish rider covered the 2.82-mile (4.54 km) road course in 1:37.010, topping the field of 34 riders.

Tom Booth-Amos was the best of the rest with a 1:37.238 on his PTR Triumph Street Triple 765 RS.

Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise was third with a 1:37.356 on his Eastroc Evan Bros ZXMOTO 820RR.

Nicolo Bulega was quickest during FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at TT Circuit Assen, in The Netherlands. Riding his Pirelli-shod Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4R on the 2.82-mile (4.54 km) track, the Italian recorded a 1:33.952 to lead the field of 23 riders.

His teammate, Iker Lecuona was the best of the rest with a 1:34.208. Sam Lowes was third-fastest with a 1:34.428 on his ELF Marc VDS Racing Ducati Panigale V4R.

Danilo Pettruci got 6th on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR with a lap time of 1:34.737.

American Garrett Gerloff finished the opening session in 14th with a 1:35.301 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.

More from a press release issued by WorldSBK:

Bulega heads Lecuona and Sam Lowes in WorldSBK FP1 at Assen, both BMWs crash towards the end of the session. Championship leader Nicolo Bulega laid down a marker as he claimed top spot in the opening WorldSBK session of the weekend.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) started as he aims to go on with top spot in Free Practice 1 for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. The #11 was the only rider to lap in the 1’39s bracket as he claimed P1 ahead of teammate Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and fellow Ducati rider Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) at the TT Circuit Assen for the Pirelli Dutch Round.

Despite Ducati being hit with a 0.5kg/h fuel flow reduction by the FIM, it didn’t stop Bulega topping the times with a 1’33.952s; the only rider to lap in the 1’39s. He finished 0.256s clear of teammate Lecuona in second as the #7 looks to continue his Portimao form at Assen. Sam Lowes, now feeling considerably better with his left wrist, claimed third with a 1’34.428s as Ducati locked out the top three positions.

Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) put in a late lap to move into fourth place after setting a 1’34.527s, starting off the weekend strongly. Another rider who posted a late lap to move up the order was Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha), who followed Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) around to set a 1’34.713s and claim P5, with Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in sixth. Petrucci was the lead BMW rider in Free Practice 1 as he posted a 1’34.737s, 0.785s behind Bulega’s pacesetting time, although he crashed at Turn 16 when on course for his best time of the session.

Bautista had been running in the top five but found himself dropping down to P7 as he lapped 0.001s than Petrucci, the rider he replaced at Barni Ducati. Like Ducati, Bimota have also been hit by a 0.5kg/h fuel flow reduction, with Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) finishing in eighth place with a 0.865s margin to Bulega. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) finished in ninth with Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Express Racing) rounding out the top ten.

Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was 12^th after he crashed with around 12 minutes remaining in the session, losing the front at Turn 10. Last year’s Race 2 winner, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha), was 13^th while wildcard Twan Smits (Team Apreco) was 17^th on his WorldSBK debut.

The top six from WorldSBK FP1, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’33.952s

2. Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.256s

3. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.476s

4. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) +0.575s

5. Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +0.761s

6. Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.785s

Don’t miss any action from WorldSBK FP2 at 15:00 Local Time (UTC+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass!