World Supersport was the first race to run on the weekend at the Assen circuit in Holland. We've had quite a start to this season. Three different winners in three races, as Randy Krummenacher is on pole for this race. He is the championship leader. The temperature is warmer than the 8 degrees Celsius. Randy Krummenacher, is only the second Swiss rider in WSSP history, to score a pole in the category. Yves Bregay was the last Swiss rider to earn a pole. But, there's no stats yours truly can find, about the 1997 season. Kenan Sofuoglu is strong here, especially in the Strubben corner. Krummenacher, Sofuoglu, and Jules Cluzel, have won. Jules Cluzel has had three wrecks this weekend including a big low side in Super Pole qualifying.
Cluzel has to start from 12th on the grid. Anthony West is injured, and he won't start the race. Kawasaki Puccetti Racing has the advantage, going into the race here at Assen. A different racer has been second to Krummenacher after the first three rounds. P.J. Jacobsen has to be careful, and he's crashed a couple of times in the last few races. Jacobsen is fifth in the championship, 31 points behind Randy Krummenacher. He has to hope his competition has trouble. Jacobsen has to start taking chances, but also, has to be aware that he cannot make mistakes. Pit lane is open, just before the sighting lap. Jacobsen was on course to tie Robbie Rolfo for the most ever consecutive points paying finishes in WSSP. But, Jacobsen, failed to break Rolfo's record.
Krummenacher won't push too hard, but as the year progresses, he'll have to get on the stick and push harder. We are not sure how Krummenacher will perform later in the season. We will have 30 or so riders on the starting grid. Many riders did not have dry running in practice, because of torrential rain in Holland at the time. Many riders also could not find enough speed to qualify within 107% of the pole position time. No less than eight riders, missed the show, here in World Supersport. Lachlan Epis, Angelo Licciardi, Cedric Tangre, Nacho Calero, Loris Cresson, Aiden Wagner (who dislocated his collarbone after a big crash in the mud), Christopher Gobbi, and Braeden Ortt.
32 riders will start this race. But, everyone (according to the warmup time sheets), from Javier Orellana on back, didn't qualify. Scratch that. Orellana is unfit to race due to hurting his right wrist. Anthony West, was here, on a Yamaha for a wildcard appearance. He was running well in Friday sessions. West could win this race. He won at Assen in Moto2 in a rain soaked race in 2014. He also won a 250cc race here in 2003. But, he won't be starting this event. It's a shame, because West was third quickest on Friday. Jules Cluzel, Randy Krummenacher, and Luke Stapleford all went through Super Pole 1. Luke Stapleford is second. He is riding a Triumph and it's pretty much the same motorcycle on which he won the 2015 British Supersport championship.
Stapleford also made a wildcard appearance in the WSSP British round at Donington Park in England, in 2015. Alex Baldolini will start fifth. Back to Stapleford. He is on the Triumph because he had a disagreement with Simon Buckmaster at PTR. Swedish rider, Christopher Bergman, moves up from Superstock 1000, onto that particular bike. It is the #71 CIA Landlord Insurance Honda CBR600RR. Because of injury, Glenn Scott, has been replaced by veteran rider of Supersport and Superbike, Ayrton Badovini on the Gemar Balloons - Team Lorini Honda.
The skies darken over Assen and there is rain coming down. It just hasn't hit the track yet. Will there be rain in this race? Kyle Smith starts in sixth place. If this race, scheduled for 18 laps, makes it to 2/3rds distance, that's the end of lap 12. If there's rain and the race must be stopped, lap 12 makes it official. It's an even whole number, sans any decimal places. The race could also be restarted depending on track conditions, and race to conclusion, after a rain delay. So, Randy Krummenacher is on pole, followed by Luke Stapleford, Kenan Sofuoglu, P.J. Jacobsen, Alex Baldolini fifth, Kyle Smith sixth, Ondrej Jezek is seventh, Gino Rea, eighth.
Rea is the only rider to start for his team. His team mate, Aiden Wagner, is out of action, due to his shoulder injury. Lorenzo Zanetti is ninth. The next round of this championship, is at Imola in Italy. That race, has been run. However, yours truly just hasn't blogged about it yet. So, stay tuned. Kevin Wahr, is tenth, on the sister Gemar Balloons - Team Lorini Honda. Five minutes, to the start of this race, folks. Illia Michalchik starts eleventh on the DS Junior Team Kawasaki ZX6R. Twelfth is Jules Cluzel on the MV Agusta. Michalchik had to race with a stock 600cc motor in practice. But for the race itself, he is using a proper Kawasaki race bred 600cc motor.
Randy Krummenacher, on pole, he is the man to beat, in this race. It is round four of FIM World Supersport, and we are ready to race, ladies and gentlemen. Again, no less than eight riders failed to make the show. But, a few of them, because of fast laps in morning warmup, have been given special dispensation, by the FIM, to race. Air temp in the high 40s, and track temp in the mid 50s, Fahrenheit, as we start this race. Kenan Sofuoglu has not led the championship. He wants to. The motorcycles form up on the grid, ready for a start.
Krummenacher has pole. Look out for Jules Cluzel on the MV Agusta. We're off in round four of WSSP at the historic Assen track! Krummenacher gets a flying start as the bikes head to Haarbocht for the first time. P.J. Jacobsen gets a good start, but is boxed in, behind Luke Stapleford. Kenan Sofuoglu takes the lead, and Randy Krummenacher loses three spots immediately! Jules Cluzel is in the thick of it right from the get go. Dark clouds loom over Assen and we could see rain during this race, for sure. Through the Strubben for the first time. Kevin Wahr has to sit up and try to control the Gemar Balloons - Team Lorini Honda.
They fly down the Veenslang and into Ruskenhoek for the first time. Jules Cluzel runs 13th right behind Kyle Ryde. Jules Cluzel will be playing catch up in this race. 18 laps ahead of us here, folks. Luke Stapleford has run well in dry conditions, and in the wet. Gino Rea moves up to sixth. Ales Baldolini gets a good start, and wants to attack Randy Krummenacher at the front. Sofuoglu leads from Jacobsen and Stapleford. Krummenacher still holds fourth. Nico Terol runs eighth with Lorenzo Zanetti just ahead. Jules Cluzel is back to 12th where he started this race from. He chases Kyle Ryde on the #77 Yamaha YZF R6 for Rainieri Med - SC Racing. All the riders have gone for softer front Pirelli tires except for Alex Baldolini on a slightly harder variant of the SC1, an experimental compound.
Illia Michalchik wobbles on his Kawasaki. He was being passed in De Bult, by Robbie Rolfo. Alessandro Zaccone has gone past Michalchik. Other riders have also blown past Michalchik. Davide Stirpe and Axel Bassani. Bassani, Michalchik, and Stirpe, run 19th, 20th, and 21st, together, on the road. P.J. Jacobsen sets fast lap so far at 1:39.327. Jacobsen wants to win, as another rider falls back in the field. Where is Jules Cluzel? He's dropping places. If rain came, the Supersport bikes, do not pit for tire and wheel changes, like their big brothers in World Superbike. It would be stopped, and we'd have a rain delay, and only be restarted if we hadn't reached 2/3rds distance.
The top five riders have broken away from Kyle Smith and Gino Rea who are next in line. Big wiggle for P.J. Jacobsen as he chases Kenan Sofuoglu! P.J. is pushing, coming into the Geert Timmer Bocht (or G.T. chicane). Jacobsen has to apply the blowtorch to Kenan Sofuoglu's psyche here. This is the home race for Jacobsen's team, the factory Honda World Supersport team. Sofuoglu sets fast lap and Jacobsen beats that time. Luke Stapleford on the Triumph Daytona 675, is coming, and coming fast. Kawasaki, Honda, Triumph, the top three, through the Ruskenhoek, the Veenslang, and Stekkenwal. Krummenacher has to push past Stapleford.
1.1 seconds separates Stapleford in third, and Krummenacher, in fourth. Right, left, right, through Geert Timmerbocht. Watch out for the red painted double curbs. Not easy to pass into turn one. Notice a difference under braking. Sofuoglu uses his whole leg and foot to position the motorcycle, while Jacobsen drags his knee. Jules Cluzel has made it into the top ten, passing fellow MV Agusta rider Lorenzo Zanetti. Assen is a very difficult track to overtake on. It is a one line track. No question of that. Meanwhile, Kyle Ryde looks for a way past Lorenzo Zanetti. Ryde has to book it because Roberto Rolfo is right behind him.
Jacobsen takes the lead from Sofuoglu. Fastest lap times appear for the top three. Stapleford is fastest at 1:39.175, followed by Jacobsen at 1:39.397 and Sofuoglu, at 1:39.428. Jacobsen now leads through the Ruskenhoek on lap five. The Ruskenhoek is taken flat in fifth gear on a 600cc bike. Luke Stapleford is hanging on with these blokes at the moment. Through Mandeveen, Sofuoglu is slower than Stapleford. Stapleford is making the Triumph work well under acceleration and braking. Sofuoglu is not used to racing Stapleford. So, he looks over his shoulder to see if Stapleford is still closing up. The pesky Britons are crashing the championship leaders' party right now.
The skies darken over Assen. It's a case of when, instead of if, it will rain. The wind is pushing the weather towards turns ten and eleven (Mandeveen and Duikersloot). There is blue sky around. So, we might be lucky and the wind will blow the storm clouds away. Randy Krummenacher has pased Alex Baldolini, and Gino Rea runs behind Baldolini. Kyle Smith, Nico Terol, Ondrej Jezek, and Jules Cluzel, round out the top ten. Lorenzo Zanetti is now tumbling down the order. The GT chicane is a tough corner. A few years back in MotoGP, we saw a collision there between Jorge Lorenzo and Alvaro Bautista.
Cluzel won't get a podium. Baldolini and Rea are separated by five seconds or so. Kenan Sofuoglu is really pushing P.J. Jacobsen. Kenan Sofuoglu is the most successful WSSP rider for starts, race wins, poles etc. Lap times begin to stabilize. The quickest times are Sofuoglu at 1:39.698, Jacobsen at 1:39.920, and Stapleford at 1:40 flat (1:40.081). Stapleford could keep playing a role here, because he has a strong bike that he knows well, and also knows this track. British Superbike, does race at Assen, later in the season. A real train of riders is coming at the back half of the top ten. Kyle Smith, Gino Rea, Ondrej Jezek, Jules Cluzel, and Robbie Rolfo.
Jacobsen still leads through De Bult and into Mandeveen. From Duikersloot it's a shot up to Meeuwenmeer (named after seagulls that fly around that part on the road), followed by Hoge Heide and back into Ramshoek. This corner, is cambered, similarly to the Bomb Hole at Snetterton in England. The GT chicane is named for Geert Timmer, and Timmer, is a former motorcycl racer, from Holland. Ten laps to go as Jacobsen has lost 3/10ths of a second to Stapleford. The white and red rain flags wave, as we see spots of rain towards the fourth corner at Ossebroeken. We're halfway through this race. 2/3rds distance is not until the end of lap 12.
It was thought the conditions would be OK to continue. But, halfway through this contest, folks, we see red flags out. Race Director Gianfranco Carloia calls the shots and says, put out the red flag. Oh dear! As the bikes slow down, P.J. Jacobsen proves how wet it is and Jacobsen falls and slides off the motorcycle! Jacobsen has to get the bike back to pit lane within five minutes, or, he will be out of it. Even when he comes back, can it be repaired? Rain is pouring now. It's bucketing down with rain. The clock is ticking. Jacobsen just lost the front end of the motorcycle, and was pitched off as it did a half spin, and went down.
Jacobsen is distraught and almost in tears. Andre Jezek also has a problem with his bike. Jacobsen has two and a half minutes to get the bike back, but has to ride it back under his own power. It won't work. Game over for P.J. Jacobsen! If the rain continues and the red flag stays out, we'd be into a half points situation in the championship. It is pouring with rain in northern Holland. Nothing to do now but wait. Jacobsen won't be able to restart this race. It's damaged and the handlebars are ripped off. Marc Marquez had a similar wreck in the 125cc race in Estoril, Portugal, years ago, where crews helped repaired the bike and got him into the race. One bike in WSSP. No spare bikes like in World Superbike.
It is very disappointing for Jacobsen because he's had two DNF's in a row. Randy Krummenacher has not been able to race in the wet. Kenan Sofuoglu is far more experienced in the rain. Luke Stapleford will be second if Jacobsen does not restart. Sofuoglu might have a surprise in store, from Stapleford. If we get a restart, we'll have a six lap dash for cash. Remember, we also had a dash for cash situation in Superstock 1000 at Aragon. Maybe Jacobsen will be back in this race if it restarts. They will work all the way through, to get the bike ready. Pit lane, when it opens, will be open for a minute. That caught out Superstock 1000 riders at Aragon. If more than three laps, but less than 2/3rds has been completed, in distance of the race, it will be restarted. If impossible to restart, (i.e. rain), half points will be awarded. Full points can only be handed out after 2/3rds distance.
In replay of P.J. Jacobsen's crash as the rain started to fall, we also see Luke Stapleford ditch his motorcycle. Three riders were caught out in the rain, because we also saw Ondrej Jezek with an issue earlier on. We now wait, to see what happens. We might actually restart this race and get it done. Pit lane will open in eight minutes. We will restart. The Honda team did get the bike back into the garage, in time. P.J. Jacobsen was so worried. This will be a six lap sprint for the finish of the WSSP race at Assen!
We will have the quick restart procedure to finish this one. The pit lane, again, will just be open for a minute. The race will be restarted. But, if it's impossible to restart, half points will be rewarded to the riders. Blue sky is starting to pop up in places. Tom Sykes and David Salom look on. Sykes is in World Superbike, and has worked with David Salom at Kawasaki. Salom rode the Pedercini Team Superbike, last year. He ran with Provec Kawasaki in 2014, winning the Evo title. Assen, with rain, in April? You're joking. It's something that has been seen here in Holland over the last few years, for the Dutch TT and World Superbike.
2014 was the last wet WSBK race at Assen. Hikari Okubo, the "King of Karaoke" looks on. The rain has stopped. We should be able to get through without rain. The track will begin to change. Leading the race, might be a challenge. Gino Rea is a good racer in the rain. It is very wet, and there's standing water around the far side of the track. Jacobsen's team is frantically fixing the bike. Even with damage, he'll have to go out. One mechanic gets to go onto the grid, in the quick start procedure. Jacobsen could still score points.
Everyone is coming down pit lane (probably the wettest section of track right now), to get to the grid positions for the restart. Luke Stapleford will be able to bring the triumph back into this race. 38 seconds remain before pit lane closes. Is P.J. Jacobsen set to go? They could start from pit lane if need be. Jacobsen is back on track. The green flag is shown, but the red light in pit lane is on and the clock is at zero. Well, no panic. Jacobsen will get back on track. Rivers of water flow across the track here at Assen. These last few laps will be tough, without a doubt.
On the sighting lap, the track, is drying up. If for any reason there's another red flag, they'd try to maybe restart the race. This is a very short hold, with the quick start procedure. The crowd is delighted to see P.J. Jacobsen out here. 32 bikes restart the race as they go out on the warmup lap. In the wet, there is very little grip off line, here at Assen, unlike most tracks. So much of this is a psychological battle. If you are hesitant, you'll get in trouble. Where do you put the power on in places like the Ruskenhoek or De Bult? This is a very flat track, and there are a few dips. The water gathers into turn one, though.
Puddles are everywhere, with a lot of standing water. Who is the most adaptable rider? Gino Rea is a very good racer in the wet. Will he push through to the front? A good number of riders cannot stand racing in the wet, Nacho Calero being one. A Dutch wildcard, Jaimie Van Sikkelerus, comes into the picture frame on his #74 Start Racing Yamaha YZF R6. The riders start, in the positions they were running in, before the red flag. Here we go, again. It's a six lap shootout, at Assen, World Supersport style!
Go! Randy Krummenacher gets swamped and drops from pole to fourth place, in one fowl swoop! He makes it back up to second place. Kenan Sofuoglu leads, and Alex Baldolini has had a great start. P.J. Jacobsen passes Baldolini's customer MV Agusta. Everyone tiptoes their way around Assen. Treading on eggshells or riding on ice, if you like. They tip it left into the Strubben. Sofuoglu had a small wheelie which opened the door for Krummenacher to come by. Krummenacher comes back into the lead. Gino Rea has moved from seventh to fourth.
Gino Rea, passes P.J. Jacobsen for third. Rea passes P.J. Jacobsen, and Jacobsen, runs wide. Baldolini also passes. Gino Rea is already right with Kenan Sofuoglu. Oh dear. Jules Cluzel has gone down in turn ten, at Mandeveen. Pardon me. Baldolini isn't up to fourth place. Rather, it's Kyle Smith. What happened to Cluzel? Baldolini slides, putting on the power. A couple of the European Supersport Cup riders have made it to the top ten including Illia Michalchik and Axel Bassani. Cluzel, has rejoined this race, folks. He should be in good shape. Cluzel has seen enough Dutch gravel to last him a lifetime.
Pressure begins to build. Five laps remain now. Lorenzo Zanetti spills it into turn five. The power is still on and the motorcycle is spinning 'round, 'round, 'round, like a record. Game over for Zanetti at the Strubben on lap two. Krummenacher leads with Sofuoglu second. Gino Rea still has a chance in third. Kyle Ryde is now up to eighth after starting 20th in the initial race. Krummenacher, Sofuoglu, and Rea, will fight for the WSSP victory here in Holland. Krummenacher would have a 18 point lead in the championship, and maybe, Gino Rea, will pick up a good haul of points at the end of this one. Kenan Sofuoglu, is defending WSSP champion, so he can't take a risk at this point.
Krummenacher is wide, allowing Sofuoglu through. A brave move for Sofuoglu into the second half of Ruskenhoek. Gino Rea knows he can pounces if these two at Kawasaki slam into each other. Halfway through the restart portion of the race, they hit De Bult. Krummenacher has more speed on corner exit. Into Mandeveen they go as wildcard rider Jaimie van Sikkelrus loses it. Jacobsen and Stapleford are still in this fight and Sofuoglu has to sit up, big time! Sofuoglu forces Krummenacher wide! Rea, Jacobsen, and Smith, take advantage, pushing Krummenacher down to fifth!
Krummenacher may still have a chance. Gino Rea has won a WSSP race, and has finished on the podium on four occasions. Rea is right behind Kenan Sofuoglu. Kyle Smith is also a winner. He won the finale in Qatar in 2015. Gino Rea searches for grip, and Jacobsen passes him. Kyle Smith is going to go for it. Sofuoglu gets passed by Jacobsen for the lead. Sofuoglu says, "no you don't, buddy" and takes the lead back. Jacobsen fights back. It looks to be a two rider scrap to the finish in this one.
Sofuoglu is really strong under braking. Kyle Smith passes Gino Rea. Two laps left as Jacobsen passes. Sofuoglu passes and so does Kyle Smith who has a big wiggle! Jacobsen passes again and Gino Rea is coming back! Almost four wide for a minute! Oh, my heart! Down the Veenslang they fly. Krummenacher is out of contention, and oh no! A nightmare repeats itself for P.J. Jacobsen! He's out, again, falling down, hard! Just over a lap to go as Kenan Sofuoglu takes the race lead. Kyle Smith is trying to get inside Gino Rea. The two Brits need to work together to run down Sofuoglu.
Kyle Smith passes Gino Rea for second. Gino Rea tries going inside Smith. He can't quite make it. Last lap. Fastest lap times are as follows, and not in race order.
1. Smith 2:01.244
2. Sofuoglu 2:01.357
3. Rea 2:01.467
Smith is now right on Gino Rea's rear tire! Smith passes Sofuoglu for the lead! Kyle Smith is opening a gap on Sofuoglu and Rea. Gino Rea gets around Sofuoglu. Rea wiggles and almost crashes! Lapped rider Stefan Hill moves aside. Kyle Smith scores his second WSSP race in five races!
World Supersport Race: #111 Kyle Smith GBR. Honda CBR600RR
The next race for World Supersport, happened in Italy, in Imola, at the Autodromo Enzo E Dino Ferrari. Stay tuned, to hear about that race, as it will be blogged, soon.
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