2022 World Superbike Assen, Netherlands - Free Practice (1) Results

Toprak Razgatlioglu dominates the opening World Superbike practice at Assen ahead of an equally impressive Iker Lecuona.

Looking to make a statement of intent, world champion Razgatlioglu set a blistering pace to start FP1.

A time of 1:35.935s saw Razgatlioglu go three tenths clear of Jonathan Rea, a 15-time race winner at Assen, before Alex Lowes and Alvaro Bautista reduced the Yamaha rider’s lead to under a tenth. 

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Returning to pit lane after a very short first run, Razgatlioglu was then shuffled back to sixth as lap times improved. 

Keeping up their battle from Aragon, Bautista and Rea exchanged top spot on several occasions, before the latter set a 1:35.295s to go three tenths clear of the series leader. 

Bautista, who called Rea the ‘king of Assen’ heading into the weekend, then reduced the Kawasaki rider’s lead to +0.185s with half an hour remaining. 

With most of the field having returned to pit lane, Razgatlioglu headed back out to begin stint #2. 

And what a stint it was for the Pata Yamaha rider as he set a first sub 1m 35s lap of the sessions. Razgatlioglu’s time of 1:34.635s was over six tenths clear of Rea. 

FP1 saw considerable improvements for Redding and BMW compared to Aragon two weeks ago. The former BSB champion was regularly inside the top ten as he finished ninth. 

Eugene Laverty suffered a huge highside with ten minutes to go as he lost the rear on entry to turn 15. Laverty’s fall was the first for any rider. 

At the front, Bautista managed to split Razgatlioglu and Rea, however, the Ducati rider remained six tenths down on the Yamaha man. 

Based on the gaps it appears as though Razgatlioglu was on a very different program to both Bautista and Rea. 

Barni Spark Ducati rider Luca Bernardi also suffered a late fall, while Team HRC’s Lecuona continued his great start at Honda to go second fastest. 

Razgatlioglu then lowered the benchmark once again to set a 1:34.666s which was enough to finish four tenths clear of Lecuona.

Assen World Superbike Records

Fastest lap - Alvaro Bautista SPA Ducati 1:34.564s (2019)

Most wins - Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki (15)

2021 Winners 

Race One - Jonathan Rea 

Superpole Race - Jonathan Rea 

Race Two - Jonathan Rea 

FP1 took place without Belgian rider Loris Cresson as Pedercini Kawasaki announced an immediate split before the weekend due to financial reasons. Cresson, who was initially signed through to the end of 2022, was set for a second full season in Superbikes before the termination of his contract on Wednesday. 

It means BSB rider Leon Haslam, who was already scheduled to take part in four wildcard rounds with the team this season has since been drafted in. Haslam and Pedercini have already agreed to increase his participation in the 2022 championship, but exactly how many rounds Haslam will do is yet to be confirmed.

2022 Assen WorldSBK Weekend Schedule

Friday 

14:00-14:45 - WorldSBK FP2

Saturday 

08:00-08:30 - WorldSBK FP3

10:10-10:25 - WorldSBK Superpole

13:00 - WorldSBK Race One

Sunday

08:00-08:15 - WorldSBK Warm-up

10:00 - WorldSBK Superpole Race

14:00 WorldSBK Race Two