Jonathan Rea takes race 2 win in tricky conditions 


After a lengthy delay because of heavy rain and with conditions visibly better, compared to the situation that forced the Race Direction to red flag the initial race, the riders started a new Race 2 over a race distance of 10 laps. Eventually it was race one podium finisher Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) that emerged victorious ahead of Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) and Davide Giugliano (Ducati Racing Team) who completed the podium in tricky conditions. 
Rea achieved the 12th WSBK race win of his career, the fifth one at the Assen TT Circuit, whilst Lowes scored his maiden podium finish in the series and Giugliano the first top 3 placement of his new adventure as factory Ducati rider. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike) and Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team) rounded out the top 6. 
Sylvain Guintoli crashed at the chicane on lap 2 but was fortunate enough to be able to remount to salvage 9th at the flag, behind pole sitter Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team), seventh, and Chaz Davies (Ducati Superbike Team), eighth.





SBK Assen race 1: Guintoli wins! 

Sylvain Guintoli got his second win at the WSBK during the first race at the Assen track yesterday. The Frenchman was lucky since the race was red flagged when Tom Sykes was behind him trying to pass. Guintoli started from the second place of the grid, leading the race by a small gap. Jonathan Rea followed and Tom Sykes got between them soon after. Sykes nearly crashed loosing much time, staying behind Rea and his team mate (Loris Baz), whilst Guintoli increased his gap at the front to four seconds! 
However Sykes had a very fast pace, overtaking the two riders at the front! The British World Champion was in excellent condition and five laps before the finish he was preparing his last attack to his opponent since he was by then one sec. behind. However a crash by Geoff May (EBR 1190RX) would red flag the race.


Guintoli was the winner of the race and his decision to charge at the beginning of the race trying to set a gap. Sykes did not win, he got his 20 precious points though increasing the gap at the standings. The battle between Rea and Baz was long and Rea won, that was his fifth consecutive podium at the local track of his Team. Loris Baz finished fourth and Toni Elias fifth. 
The Spaniard was behind Marco Melandri who could not maintain a fast pace, slowing down 11 riders behind him. Eventually Elias managed to pass him at the 11th lap. The Italian rider of Aprilia upped his pace at the last laps of the race passing Chaz Davies and finished 6th.