WSBK; Davies poursuit sur sa lancée aux Pays-Bas / Davies responds to head WorldSBK field after FP2 in Assen

Le Gallois a dominé la seconde séance d’essais à Assen après avoir décroché sa première victoire avec Ducati en Aragón.

Comme prévu, les conditions de piste se sont améliorées au long de la journée de vendredi à Assen et ont permis aux pilotes de continuer à progresser sur leurs chronos lors de la seconde séance d’essais du week-end. Cette dernière a été dominée par Chaz Davies (Aruba.it – Ducati Superbike Team), qui est ainsi passé en tête aux dépens de Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), battu par le Gallois de 0.320s après avoir été le plus rapide le matin.

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team), le leader du classement général, a signé le troisième temps et fini à 0.442s de Davies tandis que Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team - Red Devils) s’est classé quatrième.

Deuxième le matin, le rookie néerlandais Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) a perdu un peu de terrain au cours de la seconde séance mais finissait avec une encourageante cinquième position, devant Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team - Red Devils) et Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), qui passait de la 16e à la 7e place.

Le Champion en titre Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) a réalisé le huitième temps pour devancer Xavi Fores (Aruba.it – Ducati Superbike Team) et Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), qui complétaient le Top 10.

Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) et Christophe Ponsson (Grillini SBK Team) ont respectivement conclu la journée aux seizième et dix-neuvième positions.

Almost everybody improves their lap time in Dutch FP2.

As expected, almost everybody improved during this afternoon’s WorldSBK FP2, with Chaz Davies (Aruba.it – Ducati Superbike Team) responding to the challenge from former champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) and current championship leader Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) to top of the overall classification by a margin of 0.320s with his final lap.

Championship leader Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) moved into 3^rd (0.442s) just behind team mate Sykes who was 2^nd, while Leon Haslam worked hard with his crew between sessions to improve the setting on his Aprilia Racing machine, the former championship runner up elevating himself into contention with the 4th best time overall.

Pata Honda World Superbike Team rider Michael van der Mark maintained his strong start to the weekend in 5^th.

Jordi Torres improved on the second of the Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils machines to finish 6^th with the biggest improvement of the day coming from Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) who jumped from 16^th after FP1 to 7^th.

Reigning champion Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) lapped consistently to end the day 8^th overall with Xavi Fores (Aruba.it – Ducati Superbike Team) again inside the top 10 in 9^th.

The surprise of the day was Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who quietly went about his business, understanding the new electronics and posting the 10^th best time, making it 5 manufacturers inside the top ten, and giving MV Agusta their best Friday placing since they returned to the WorldSBK championship last year.

Looking ahead, there is only one opportunity remaining for the riders to make it into the top ten and avoid having to ride in Superpole 1 – FP3 will take place tomorrow at 0945.

To read the report from today’s FP1 please click here.