Friday’s action at the Acerbis Dutch Round saw Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) set a marker for his rivals with a 1’35.383 lap to top the FP2 timesheet as he rode consistently fast around the TT Circuit Assen.

He was joined by Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) in the top three on the combined Friday timesheet, with Davies trailing the World Champion by +0.112s and Sykes being +0.149s behind his teammate.

Rea has an excellent record at the Dutch venue having won nine WorldSBK races there and having taken double victories in the last two visits to the Netherlands. His Friday pace suggests he will be as strong as ever on Saturday and Sunday after his excellent start to 2017 so far.

Behind the top three in FP2 were Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team) and Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia), who both made the top five. Savadori improved significantly from FP1 having had technical problems which hampered him in the morning outing.

Behind sixth placed Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was Savadori’s teammate Eugene Laverty in seventh, as the Milwaukee Aprilia team appeared to take a step forward on Friday afternoon.

The top ten was completed by Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team), Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) and Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati). Randy Krummenacher (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) just missed out on an automatic SP2 spot in 11^th, with Xavi Fores (BARNI Racing Team) in 12^th having experience a technical issue with his Ducati.

Van der Mark could not improve his time in FP2 having made a good start to his home round in fourth in FP1. Meanwhile, it was not a great day for Lowes as the Englishman first crashed in FP1 and then had a high-speed crash on the Yamaha YZF R1 in FP2. He ended up ninth overall, having been outside the top ten in the morning session.

Bradl also crashed in FP1 and concluded the day down in 13^th, with his Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team behind him in 14^th, meaning both will ride in Tissot Superpole 1 on Saturday morning.

There was also an FP2 crash for Leandro Mercado (IODARacing), leaving the Argentine rider down in 18^thon the timesheet.

Earlier in the day Sykes set the FP1 pace with a 1’35.676 lap, placing him ahead of his teammate Rea and Welshman Davies in the top three on the morning timesheet.

A highly determined ride from Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) at the Pirelli Aragón Round on Sunday saw the Welshman get his first win of 2017, with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) also on the podium.

WorldSBK Race 2 - in sunny but windy conditions at MotorLand Aragon - went down to the last lap, with Davies making amends for his Race 1 crash as he got the better of World Champion Rea over the last two corners.

The pair dueled for the lead in the final stages, with Davies ultimately crossing the line half a second ahead of Rea, to end the Northern Irishman’s five race winning streak. Melandri continued his solid comeback season in third place, around 2.5s back on his victorious teammate. 

Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) finished in fourth place, the former World Champion suffering from sickness this weekend in Spain. Sykes finished eight down on the podium positions but got the better of Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) on the final lap.

Dutchman Van der Mark equaled his best result of the season so far in fifth. There was frustration for his Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team colleague Alex Lowes on lap 11, as a mistake saw him run off track and drop out of podium contention as he resumed way down the field, having been in fourth before his off-track excursion.

Lowes had started Race 2 at the front of the grid and he had held the lead for several laps. The Englishman eventually finished 13^th.

Xavi Fores (BARNI Racing Team) recovered from the drama of his Saturday DNF, which saw his race end with his Ducati in flames, finishing Sunday’s contest as the top Spanish rider in sixth – just under two seconds ahead of compatriot Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team).

Leandro Mercado (IODARacing), Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) and Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) completed the top ten.

Nicky Hayden (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) suffered a DNF due to a technical problem, whilst Alex De Angelis (Pedercini Racing SC-Project) crashed out at the end of lap 15.

The WorldSKB grid will be back in action at the Acerbis Dutch Round over the 28^th-30^th April weekend.

The TT Circuit Assen and Dorna WSBK Organization have signed a five-year contract, furthering a solid long-term relationship. The contract was signed in the new Legends club TT Circuit Assen, during the Pre-Event Press Conference held for the Superbike World Championship. Riders, Media and Stakeholders were all present to witness this important agreement.

Assen has been a part of the World Championship series for the last 26 years, the second longest serving circuit to have been a part of the series during its 30 year creation. 1992 saw the first WorldSBK Race and over the years the circuit has seen continuous development of its layout with today´s latest update of a brand-new Grandstand to give the Dutch Fans the pure racing experience WorldSBK has to offer.

With the WorldSBK racing action commencing from 28^th April, tickets can be found on sale here: www.worldsbk.com/tickets. For the price of €49, you can get full access to all grandstands as well as the world famous paddock and Paddock Show, across two days. You could see Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) fight it out in front of his home fans, as he hunts down podium glory. Take a look back over last year’s Dutch races with the WorldSBK VideoPass, and see if Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) can continue his dominance, ahead of soaking up all the on track action from the iconic track from 28-30^th April.
 

Arjan Bos, Chairman of the Circuit van Drenthe Foundation, President of the TT Circuit Assen, says they are satisfied and very happy with the new five-year contract. "This reflects the good relations and cooperation with Dorna. The Superbike World Championship has a great history in Assen and I am proud that we could secure this for the following years. Together with Dorna we are already working to increase the perception of the event for the fans. Something that we want to strengthen further in the coming years. For the recognition of the event in the Netherlands (and in Northern Germany) it is important that sufficient and competitive riders from this region are on the entry list. When I look around me at this press conference, I know this is good for us and the future".

Daniel Carrera, WorldSBK Executive Director: “It is a pleasure to announce this new agreement between TT Circuit Assen and Dorna WSBK Organization, which will see the historic circuit host WorldSBK in The Netherlands for the following five seasons. Heading into WorldSBKs’ 26th year competing in Assen, it goes without saying, the venue is important to both the championship and the history of the sport. This contract reflects our new way of co-operation established since Dorna Group took over the series in 2012, and we look forward to many strong seasons at TT Circuit Assen. The new agreement offers a strong path to developing WorldSBK's popularity and the required financial sustainability allowing both parties to develop the WorldSBK series in the Netherlands, a thrilling prospect for the circuit, the series and fans alike.”

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) secured his fifth victory out of five races so far in 2017 at the Pirelli Aragon Round,  following an intense battle with Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), who sensationally crashed out with two laps to go.

Struggeling in some areas around the Spanish circuit, the Northern Irishman rode a tactful race in order to stay with Davies, hoping to make a move in the closing laps. As the pair continued to swap positions, Rea’s British rival crashed out of contention which meant Rea could cruise to the victory under sunny skies.

“It’s incredible,” beams Rea. “Honestly I knew that we had a good pace to try and win, but Chaz was so strong in the race in different areas to me. I was sitting quite composed and just being as strong as I could in the areas where I was strong, to try to not minimise as much in the areas where we were suffering a little."

"I knew just to stay there, as Davies was opening up the door in a few areas which was a bit strange. But anyway a mistake happened - first and foremost I haven’t seen Chaz so I hope he’s ok - but that mistake let me get through and win the race.”

Team-mate Tom Sykes suffered with an illness ahead of the opening race of the weekend, however he was still able to put on a strong performance in front of the Spanish fans, as he secured his fourth podium of 2017

Working through rear traction issues for race two, Sykes hopes to be able to put on a more confident performance in the second race of the weekend, which will be a challenge from seventh on the grid with the new reshuffled grid.

Sykes explains: “It was a surprise podium for men; I’m the sweeper, there to pick up the pieces and sometimes that’s what happens in racing but I’m disappointed. I woke up this morning feeling under the weather, and so that’s always disappointing but the biggest problem. In the race I was struggling with performance at some points on turning, and I really struggled with rear traction on this."

"The guys in front were riding solid and we just need to change the balance for tomorrow. We also need to cope with this wind, as it meant we were over the limit. The plan for tomorrow is the rider is stronger and hopefully being stronger and consistent.”