2014 Assen TT World SBK Results from “The Cathedral”
Spoiler Alert: 2014 World Superbike results from the Assen TT circuit in the Netherlands listed below
The 2014 World Superbike Championship headed to the Netherlands this weekend four round 3 of 13 at the Assen TT circuit, known as “The Cathedral.”
Many riders impressed during Saturday’s Superpole qualifying sessions, including Kawasaki Racing Team’s Loris Baz. The Frenchman took his first SBK-career pole, and qualified ahead of Aprilia Racing Team’s Sylvain Guintoli and the reigning champion, Baz’s teammate Tom Sykes.
Superpole was held under dry conditions, but the weather wasn’t optimal for racing during Sunday’s doubleheader. The first 21-lap race was held under dry conditions, but the second was shortened to 15 – then 10 – due to heavy rain.
In the opening race, Guintoli – the winner of the first race of the 2014 WSBK season at Phillip Island – was victorious. The Frenchman was joined on the podium by Sykes and Pata Honda World Superbike’s Jonathan Rea.
In the shortened race two, Rea took the win under very tricky conditions. He was joined on the race-2 Assen SBK podium by Voltcom Suzuki’s Alex Lowes and Ducati Superbike Team’s Davide Giugliano.
Sykes, who doubled at Aragon two weeks ago, was able to retain the points lead due to his podium in race one and fourth in race two. He now has 108 points, and is nine ahead of Guintoli, and 12 ahead of Baz.
The 2014 World Superbike series now breaks for two weeks before resuming at Italy’s Imola circuit.
Following are reports from each race at 2014 Assen TT World Superbike.
2014 Assen World Superbike Race 1 Report:
Due to a drying Assen TT circuit, officials called race one a dry race. Starting from second, Guintoli earned the holeshot, followed by Rea, pole man Baz and Sykes.
As Guintoli began opening up a gap, Sykes charged forward, passing teammate Baz and Rea by the end of lap two.
Sykes would start chasing down Guintoli, but with five laps remaining, the race was red flagged due to a crash involving Team Hero EBR’s Geoff May. The race eventually finished under red, and Guintoli took the win ahead of Sykes and Rea.
Baz took fourth, followed by Toni Elias (Red Devils Roma Aprilia) and Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team) in fifth and sixth, respectively.
Niccolo Canepa (Althea Racing Ducati) finished a superb 10th position to end the race as the highest EVO category rider.
Christian Iddon (Team Bimota Alstare), Eugene Laverty (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), Davide Giugliano (Ducati Superbike Team) and Fabien Foret (Mahi Team India Kawasaki) all fell but were able to compete in race two.
As for May, he would not be able to start race two. His teammate, Aaron Yates, also wouldn’t start race two due to mechanical problems aboard the 1190RX.
2014 Assen World Superbike Race 2 Report:
Heavy rains fell before the start of race two, causing officials to shorten it to 15 laps. Guintoli immediately took the lead, but after three laps officials stopped the race due to rain.
There was a lengthy delay, and when conditions became better, the race restarted, now shortened to 10 laps. Sykes would take the lead, but Rea would make a daring pass to go from fifth to second, and eventually first.
Guintoli would attempt to pass Rea on lap 2, but suffered a high side at the chicane. He would remount to finish ninth.
Res would take the win ahead of Lowes and Giugliano. The top six was rounded out by Sykes, Pata Honda World Superbike’s Leon Haslam and Aprilia Racing Team’s Marco Melandri.
In the EVO class, it was once again Canepa taking top EVO-class honros.
2014 Assen World Superbike Race 1 Results:
1. Sylvain Guintoli, France, Aprilia Racing RSV4
2. Tom Sykes, UK, Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R, – 1.259
3. Jonathan Rea, UK, PATA Honda CBR1000RR, -4.116
4. Loris Baz, France, Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R
5. Toni Elias, Spanish, Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4
6. Marco Melandri, Italy, Aprilia Racing RSV4
7. Chaz Davies, UK, Ducati SBK 1199 Panigale R
8. Leon Haslam, UK, PATA Honda CBR1000RR
9. Alex Lowes, UK, Voltcom Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000
10. Niccolo Canepa, Italy, Althea Ducati 1199 Panigale R
11. Luca Scassa, Italy, Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R
12. David Salom, Spain, Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R
13. Leon Camier, UK, BMW Italia S1000RR
14. Claudio Corti, Italy, MV Agusta RC F4RR
15. Jeremy Guarnoni, France, MRS Kawasaki ZX-10R
2014 Assen World Superbike Race 2 Results:
1. Jonathan Rea, UK, PATA Honda CBR1000RR
2. Alex Lowes, UK, Voltcom Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000, – 2.222
3. Davide Giugliano, Italy, Ducati SBK 1199 Panigale R, – 4.955
4. Tom Sykes, UK, Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R
5. Leon Haslam, UK, PATA Honda CBR1000RR
6. Marco Melandri, Italy, Aprilia Racing RSV4
7. Loris Baz, France, Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R
8. Chaz Davies, UK, Ducati SBK 1199 Panigale R
9. Sylvain Guintoli, France, Aprilia Racing RSV4
10. Niccolo Canepa, Italy, Althea Ducati 1199 Panigale R
11. Kervin Bos, Netherlands, Winteb Honda CBR1000RR
12. Luca Scassa, Italy, Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R
13. Sheridan Morais, Russia, IRON BRAIN Kawasaki ZX-10R
14. Michel Fabrizio, Italy, IRON BRAIN Kawasaki ZX-10R
15. David Salom, Spain, Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R
