KAWASAKI Racing Team’s Jonathan Rea has taken yet another victory in the 2016 World Superbike Championship in race 1 at Assen with Chaz Davies second and American Nicky Hayden finishing third.
At the TT Circuit Assen it was Tom Sykes who lead from pole position followed by Kawasaki Racing team-mate Rea. After a mistake by Sykes, Rea passed the pole-man as the Ducati of Davies fought to catch the two.
Sykes was unfortunately the first of the leading pack to crack under the pressure as his Kawasaki lost the front into Turn 16. The Yorkshire-man crashed out of the race, but luckily had no injuries. The group of Rea, Davies, van der Mark and Hayden were left out front in the race, with the Welshman heading the group.
Van der Mark, Davies and Rea fought for the lead in a spectacular showcase before the Dutchman sadly pushed too hard and crashed out of contention. Honda team-mate Hayden, after playing a patient game in fourth, earnt his way to his first podium in World Superbikes with a ride proving he can judge the Honda and the Pirelli tyre.
MV Agusta recovered from disappointment in Aragón as Leon Camier fought his way back from being denied entry to Superpole 2 by finishing in the top 5 in an incredible fourth; a great show of points and of pace from the Italian factory and a deserved reward for the hard work put in by team and rider.
Pata Yamaha pairing Sylvain Guintoli and Alex Lowes suffered mixed fortunes in Superpole and in Race 1, with Guintoli starting from the front row and unfortunately ended up in the gravel. Team-mate Lowes fought back from a crash in Superpole 2 to run in the top 6 before ending his race in eighth.
BMW riders Markus Reiterberger and Jordi Torres both ran close together in the top ten until Reiterberger ran off track, leaving team-mate Torres to take another top 5 finish. Lorenzo Savadori recorded his best career result to date by coming home sixth as the Noale factory team continue to improve.
Race one results:
1. Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing
2. Chaz Davies GBR Aruba.it Racing Ducati +36.662
3. Nicky Hayden USA Honda Racing +37.365
4. Leon Camier GBR MV Agusta +38.542
5. Jordi Torres ESP Althea BMW +37.922
6. Lorenzo Savadori ITA IodaRacing Aprilia +37.460
7. Markus Reiterberger GER Althea BMW +37.909
8. Alex Lowes GBR PATA Crescent Yamaha +38.893
9. Roman Ramos ESP GO Eleven Kawasaki +41.910
10. Lucas Mahias FRA Pedercini Kawasaki +39.323
11. Josh Brookes AUS Milwaukee BMW +38.638
12. Alex de Angelis RSM IodaRacing Aprilia +39.322
13. Xavi Fores ESP Barni Ducati +37.741
14. Matteo Baiocco ITA VFT Ducati +39.792
15. Matthieu Lussiana FRA Team ASPI BMW +41.485
16. Josh Hook AUS Grillini Kawasaki +1 lap
17. Pawel Szkopek POL Team Toth Yamaha +1 lap
DNF. Michael van der Mark NED Honda Racing
DNF. Karel Abraham CZE Milwaukee BMW
DNF. Davide Giugliano ITA Aruba.it Racing Ducati
DNF. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing
DNF. Sylvain Guintoli FRA PATA Crescent Yamaha
