Qualifying report
World Superbike
Sykes uncatchable in Friday qualifying on rainy day in Assen
Leon Haslam crashed at Turn 7 in morning practice sustaining injuries to his left leg. In the World Supersport classification, it was Antonelli who stormed to the top on the very wet Assen TT Circuit
Edited: Apr 26, 2013, 8:04 PM
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Assen (The Netherlands), Friday 26 April 2013 - Tom Sykes is renowned for his amazing skills on the wet and in World Superbike Qualifying 1 the Kawasaki Racing Team rider has shown his whole potential with these track conditions. Sykes has topped the timesheets courtesy of a 1'57.190 lap-time, 1.634 seconds faster than current Championship leader Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team), who scored his maiden WSBK victory on the wet at Assen last year. The two riders finished same way in the morning's Free Practice 1, dominating the field on Day 1 at the TT Circuit.
Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) ended up Q1 in 3rd position, showing renewed confidence after the unfortunate race day at Aragon. The Toomebridge-born rider finished ahead of Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet), who proved to be more at ease on the wet than his team mate and double-race winner at Aragon Chaz Davies, 14th at the chequered flag.
After a small crash in the morning's Free Practice 1 at the Turn 5, Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Aprilia) was 5th followed by Ayrton Badovini (Team Alstare Ducati) - who lost control of his 1199 Panigale at Turn 16 with 3 minutes to go.
A stoic Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki), after the early week doubts on his participation to the round, was on track today - despite his left knee injury - to complete Qualifying 1 with an encouraging 10th place behind Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike Team), team mate Jules Cluzel and Carlos Checa (Team Ducati Alstare).
Bad news for Pata Honda Team following Leon Haslam's Free Practice 1 crash at Turn 7: Haslam was taken to hospital in Assen where X-rays confirmed fractures to both his tibia and fibula in his lower left leg. The 29-year-old British rider is being transferred to hospital in Groningen where a specialist will operate later today to pin Haslam's leg.
World Supersport - Antonelli storms to the top in Q1
Andrea Antonelli (Team Goeleven Kawasaki) stormed to the first place at the very end of a rain-soaked Q1, snatching the top-spot in the timesheets from Christian Iddon (ParkinGO MV Agusta Corse) - who led morning's Free Practice 1 ahead of the Italian - for just 0.085 seconds. Assen is not a new track for the English rookie, as Iddon raced last year the British Supersport round on the Dutch track with impressive results (a win and second place in the two races).
Mathew Scholtz brought his Suriano Racing Team Suzuki up to 3rd place, to precede defending champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki), Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport), who crashed at Turn 10 in the early minutes, and Alex Baldolini (Team Lorini Honda). 7th place for Roberto Rolfo (ParkinGO MV Agusta Corse), a rider well known for his skills on the wet.
Italy's Fabio Menghi (VFT Racing Yamaha) had to undergo further checks at the Medical Centre after crashing out of Turn 8 and was diagnosed with an AC joint dislocation. No major consequences for Nacho Calero Perez (Honda PTR), Matt Davies (PTR Honda), Luca Scassa (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki) and Balasz Nemeth (Com Plus SMS Racing Honda), who fell off their bikes during the session.
Championship leader Fabien Foret (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki) chose to remain in the garage due to the adverse weather conditions.
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Previous article Guintoli holds points lead as the riders prepare for Assen's TT Circuit
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