Victime de problèmes techniques qui l’ont privé de victoires en Thaïlande puis en Aragón, Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) a signé le meilleur des essais libres de vendredi à Assen, où il tentera de rattraper une partie de son retard ce week-end après avoir accumulé une victoire et deux abandons depuis le début de la saison.
Le Français comptait 0.132s d’avance sur Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) et près de trois dixièmes d’avance sur PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres).
Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) s’est classé quatrième devant Kyle Smith (Pata Honda World Supersport), cinquième malgré une chute en fin de séance.
Ratthapark Wilairot (CORE Motorsport Thailand) a terminé sixième, à 1.3s du leader.
La troisième et dernière séance d’essais du World Supersport à Assen aura lieu samedi matin avant les qualifications prévues pour 15h55. Des pilotes de la grille 2015, seul Sofugolu a déjà été en pole à Assen dans la catégorie, en 2010 et 2007.
As the opening day of World Supersport action drew to a close it was Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who was sitting pretty atop the standings after two closely fought 45 minute free practice sessions. The Frenchman, who is keen to put the disappointment of the Thai and Aragon rounds, where he suffered technical problems while fighting for the lead of the race, finished comfortably ahead of his nearest rival Kenan Sofuoglu (+0.132s) who finished 2nd.
Kyle Smith in 4th was having an encouraging first day with his Pata Honda World Supersport team entry until he crashed with 12 minutes to go. The Briton who has already been on the podium twice in his debut season in Supersport would eventually finish 5thjust behind PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) and the second MV Agusta Reparto Corse entry of Lorenzo Zanetti who were 3rd and 4th respectively.
Ratthapark Wilairot (CORE Motorsport Thailand) was 6th and another of the leading riders crash.
For German rider Kevin Wahr in 7th, it was his best result of the year so far since switching from Yamaha to the SMS Honda team for a full 2015 season assault.
Gino Rea (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda), Marco Faccani (San Carlo Puccetti Racing) and Alex Baldolini (Race Department ATK#25) completed the top ten after an eventful FP2 saw many riders fall. The session was red flagged with 20 minutes remaining following Dominic Schmitter’s. The Swiss rider dropping fluid from his Go Eleven Kawasaki. None of the riders who crashed were injured.
Qualifying for Sunday’s 4th round is set to take place tomorrow at 1555 local time, where from the list of current WSS riders only Kenan Sofuoglu has taken a Pole Position here, back in 2010. He also took the Pole in 2007.
