World Superbike stars head for Holland
THE THIRD round of this year’s Superbike World Championship heads for Holland this Sunday to Assen’s legendary TT Circuit, which is nicknamed the “cathedral of motorcycling” and has been hosting World Superbikes since 1992. It’s the track with the second highest number of WSBK races held so far (42), along with Monza and behind Phillip Island.
The TT Circuit of Assen is the perfect hunting ground for current championship leader Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) after he scored his maiden World Superbike win there last year. After taking a win and three second places this season, the Frenchman leads the standings on 85 points while his Irish team-mate Eugene Laverty, who has also won at Assen before, is third on 45.
The man on the move is Chaz Davies on a BMW, who is back on the track that started his charge to the World Supersport title in 2011. Together with his team-mate Marco Melandri, the Brit – who lies 2nd in the standings on 63 points thanks to his double win at the Aragon round two weeks ago – will try to give BMW their first podium on the Dutch track (the best result so far is a 5th place).
Carlos Checa and Ayrton Badovini (Team Ducati Alstare) got the best of a two-day test last week at Jerez, to better prepare for the upcoming round. The goal for both riders is to make up lost ground and to show the potential of the 1199 Panigale R on a track that suits the twin-cylinder machine.
Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes makes his return to Assen hoping for a better day’s racing than last year, where he retired from race 1 and finished sixth in the second heat. The Englishman, who finished second in last year’s championship, hasn’t had the best start to the season after showing good pace in winter testing.
In the supporting World Supersport category, South African interest will focus on Sheridan Morais (PTR Honda) and Mathew Scholtz (Suriano Suzuki). Former SA Superbike champion Morais took an unfortunate tumble in the Aragon race a fortnight ago after qualifying an impressive fourth, and will be hoping to turn his quick pace into a good result this weekend. Scholtz, after finishing 21st and a lap down at Aragon, is looking to get more performance out of his Suzuki in Assen.
There will also be two South African riders competing in the Superstock 1000 class: reigning SA superbike champion Greg Gildenhuys (BMW) and Cape Town’s David McFadden (Honda).