2022 World Superbike Assen, Netherlands - Superpole Race Results
Cue the celebrations... six-time World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea wins race #100 with Kawasaki after getting the better of Alvaro Bautista in a last lap shooutout at Assen.
Update: Bautista has been demoted to third after being deemed to have gained an advantage by running onto the green, promting an angry response from the Spaniard.
RIDICOULUS
— Alvaro Bautista Arce (@19Bautista) April 24, 2022
RIDICULO https://t.co/QWGSQjc426
2022 World Superbike Assen, Netherlands - Amended Superpole Race Results | ||||
Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time |
1 | Jonathan Rea | GBR | Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK | 9 Laps |
2 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | TUR | PATA Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK | +0.267s |
3 | Alvaro Bautista | SPA | Aruba.It Racing Ducati | +0.300s |
4 | Andrea Locatelli | ITA | PATA Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK | +6.959s |
5 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | Team HRC WorldSBK | +11.997s |
6 | Loris Baz | FRA | Bonovo Action BMW | +12.953s |
7 | Garrett Gerloff | USA | GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team | +13.410s |
8 | Michael Rinaldi | ITA | Aruba.It Racing Ducati | +13.512s |
9 | Axel Bassani | ITA | Motocorsa Ducati | +13.567s |
10 | Philipp Oettl | GER | GoEleven Ducati | +13.871s |
11 | Scott Redding | GBR | BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team | +14.239s |
12 | Xavi Vierge | SPA | Team HRC WorldSBK | +16.491s |
13 | Lucas Mahias | FRA | Puccetti Kawasaki | +16.800s |
14 | Kohta Nozane | JPN | GRT Yamaha | +18.989s |
15 | Michael Van Der Mark | NED | BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team | +20.625s |
16 | Roberto Tamburini | ITA | Motoxracing Yamaha WorldSBK Team | +21.463s |
17 | Leon Haslam | GBR | Pedercini Kawasaki | +23.762s |
18 | Leandro Mercado | ARG | MIE Honda Racing | +23.998s |
19 | Christophe Ponsson | FRA | Gil Motor Sport Yamaha | +24.207s |
20 | Luca Bernardi | SM | Barni Spark Ducati Team | +25.949s |
21 | Gabriele Ruiu | ITA | Bmax Racing | +33.209s |
22 | Hafizh Syahrin | MAL | MIE Honda Racing | +33.519s |
23 | Oliver Konig | CZE | Orelac Racing Kawasaki | +33.717s |
24 | Alex Lowes | GBR | Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK | DNF |
Starting from pole for the fourth time in five World Superbike races this season, Razgatlioglu made a brilliant start as did Bautista who went from fifth to second.
Hoping to make swift progress following a disastrous race one, Michael Rinaldi clipped the rear of Rea on the entry to turn five. It’s contact that did nothing to deter Rea who made his way past team-mate Alex Lowes for P3 two turns later.
Setting a very hot pace out front, Razgatlioglu was making it hard for Bautista and Rea to get close.
That all changed on lap three as Bautista used the Panigale V4 R’s lovely turning to close in on the world champion.
Andrea Locatelli, who lost fifth to Rinaldi on lap one, regained that place with seven laps to go, while Lowes began to drop back from the top three.
Tantalisingly close, Bautista and Rea were doing everything to make a move, however, Razgatlioglu was holding strong.
But with three and a bit laps to go Bautista produced a stunning move heading into turn seven to take the lead, while Rea did the same to the Yamaha man two corners later for second.
After leading the last four and a half laps, Bautista was passed by Rea into turn seven, and although a late charge was put down by the Ducati rider, Rea once again held strong into the final chicane.
Alex Lowes suffered a late issue which resulted in him missing out on a second consecutive points scoring finish.
As throttles began being twisted in anticipation for lights out, Gabriele Ruiu was seen waving his hands towards the back of the grid, leading to a delayed start.
The Superpole race was then reduced from ten to nine laps.
Assen World Superbike Records
All-time lap record - Toprak Razgatlioglu TUR Yamaha 1:32.934s (2022)
Fastest Race lap - Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki 1:34.545s (2022)
Most wins - Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki (17)
2021 Winners
Race One - Jonathan Rea
Superpole Race - Jonathan Rea
Race Two - Jonathan Rea
2022 Winners
Race One - Jonathan Rea
Superpole Race - Jonathan Rea
Round two of the 2022 World Superbike championship is taking place without Belgian rider Loris Cresson, as Pedercini Kawasaki announced an immediate split before the weekend due to a failure to fulfil financial agreements on Cresson’s side.
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 was drafted in for FP1 and thus, the remainder of the Assen event. 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.
Eugene Laverty will officially take no further part in the weekend after suffering a big highside in FP1. The Bonovo Action BMW rider attempted to ride in FP3 before missing Superpole.
Updated 2022 Assen WorldSBK Weekend Schedule
Sunday
14:00 WorldSBK Race Two
Live 2022 World Superbike Championship Standings (Top 10) | ||||||
Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Points | Diff | |
1 | Jonathan Rea | GBR | Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK | 79 | ||
2 | Alvaro Bautista | SPA | Aruba.It Racing Ducati | 77 | -2 | |
3 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | TUR | PATA Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK | 55 | -22 | |
4 | Michael Rinaldi | ITA | Aruba.It Racing Ducati | 32 | -47 | |
5 | Andrea Locatelli | ITA | PATA Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK | 29 | -50 | |
6 | Iker Lecuona | SPA | Team HRC WorldSBK | 29 | -50 | |
7 | Loris Baz | FRA | Bonovo Action BMW | 24 | -55 | |
8 | Xavi Vierge | SPA | Team HRC WorldSBK | 23 | -56 | |
9 | Garrett Gerloff | USA | GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team | 22 | -57 | |
10 | Axel Bassani | ITA | Motocorsa Ducati | 19 | -60 |