Race 1 of the Superbike Championship at the TT Circuit Assen sees the return on the podium of Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) who thanks to today’s second place brings his career podiums on the Dutch track to 24, as many as those achieved in Aragon and Portimao.
The six-time world champion in turn 1 put his rival behind him Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) and to the leader of the world standings Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), who started from the fourth box. On the ninth lap into Turn 6, Bautista overtook Rea and went on to win, while the Northern Irishman, who managed his lead over Razgatlioglu, gained second position.
Rea wished he had a little more pace and said he put too much stress on the front tyre: “It was nice to fight for the podium but I thought I had a little more pace to leave with Alvaro but in the race it was clear that it had more in certain areas and that I had to go beyond myself and my pack to stay there. In doing so I stressed the front tire too much; I saw that the margin on Toprak was sufficient. There’s work to do, when Alvaro got on me he passed me and it seemed like it was easy. Congratulations to him, he has done a great job with his team but without a doubt it is a step forward for us ”.
